What Are The Most Atheist Countries? The Most Religious?
Religion has played a major role in the development of the culture and society, but in recent years, more and more countries have turned their backs on the whole idea of believing in a central diety.
Source: Pew Research Center
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Religion has played a major role in the development of the culture and society, but in recent years, more and more countries have turned their backs on the whole idea of believing in a central diety. So, which countries are the most atheist, and why?
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Religion has played a major role in the development of the culture and society, but in recent years, more and more countries have turned their backs on the whole idea of believing in a central diety.
This chart doesn’t necessarily say anything about belief. Many people believe, but don’t consider religion most important. Surveys of Americans consistently indicate that the percentage who believe is much higher than those who belong to or regularly attend a church.
I think you are correct here, but I would add a subtlety. The question is 'in what do they believe'? If one only believes that there must be a sentient creator, then this individual might indeed be irreligious: basically a deist. To me, that is a rational view (if one is compelled to believe in a sentient creator). I suspect, however, that most believers believe in the god of their most recent religion. For example, I know plenty of non-practicing Catholics who believe in a purified abstraction of the Christian God (basically just take all the good of Jesus, Heaven, angels, etc. and ignore everything else). They hold, in result, Christian beliefs but do not buy the super majority of the religion.
Personally, I understand the logic of a deist as well as that of a pantheist (and panentheist). But it strikes me as odd that one can believe in a purified Jesus, etc. and reject the balance. If they have reasons (in their minds) to reject the balance, then what causes them to selectively believe in Jesus? It is all one package as presented, so what is the justification in selectively believing? Typically the selective belief is the good stuff (and the bad stuff is rejected), so maybe it is just wishful thinking.
Gallup has asked the question in different forms for several years. They actually ask it in different ways and get different responses based on the wording. If they just ask people, “Do you believe in God?” The affirmative bounces around 90%. In 2011, it was 92%. The last time they asked in 2017, they got 87%. When they allow people to equivocate a little, or give options for some doubt, the numbers are somewhat lower, but it doesn’t come anywhere near the 53% we see here.
Thing is, the term 'God' is vague. The question: 'do you believe in God?' no doubt means very different things to people such as:
I would be interested in a more specific poll (likely does not exist). One that, for example, distinguishes those who believe in God as defined by the Bible vs. those who believe in the concept of a loving God (an abstract Jesus). My guess is that at least half (in the USA) believe in God as defined by the Bible (they believe the Bible is true) while the balance have abstract beliefs and view the Bible, and similar works, as the work of human imagination.
Of course. But the point is almost everybody believes in something God-ish. This seed has come to the erroneous conclusion that religion being less important therefore means people are atheist. They aren’t.
Given.
I think the seed is simply looking at the continuum from theist to atheist (from extreme to extreme) and assuming that the less religious one is the more they gravitate towards the atheist extreme and away from the theist extreme.
Back to what I wrote, to me it is highly significant if someone believes in a particular, highly attributed god such as the Christian God, the Islamic Allah or the Judaism YHWH versus an abstract notion of a sentient creator. The former makes all sorts of very specific claims without a shred of evidence. The latter makes no such claims other than a strong feeling (belief) that surely there is a sentient creator.
The latter is still faith (belief sans evidence) but it is, IMO, a rational belief that does not contradict any well-known, accumulated knowledge. Thus one is free to discover reality (especially through science) and hold a supernatural belief that does not require one to make a choice between belief and knowledge.
A good point. Those in that category might also see great value in the core teachings of Jesus Christ whether Christ was the son of God, or a fictional character embodying the moral teachings of thousands of years of various religions, mythology and philosophy. I think it is likely that many fit in this category, but still might answer “yes” to the question about the importance of religion in their lives. Even though for some the actual traditions of an “organized religion” might take a back seat to viewing the moral teachings of Christ as an example toward which we might strive, though many of us will fall short. It is the effort that counts, not the title, and everyone has the capacity to do good.
I would favor a religion that promotes acquired wisdom (e.g. much of the moral teachings of Jesus), but does not profess beliefs that contradict acquired knowledge (e.g. biochemical evolution, DNA, cosmology, geography, ...).
While I found the list of most and least religious countries to be interesting, what I found to be even more interesting is the reasons why. (Why the most religious-- as well as the least religious . . . are that way)
So? Why? I was quite interested in seeing that the USA considers religion twice as important as Canada does.
I was quite interested in seeing that the USA considers religion twice as important as Canada does.
For some rerason that doesn't surprise me.
Although I'm not sure why its true.
(The U>S> is a very diverse country...although I believe Canada has also had a lot of immigration from diverse groups).
For whatever reason, the U.S. seems to have a fairly large number of...religious "fanatics". I'm not surte why.
One of the things I've found interesting is how The Czech Republic is fairly different than surrounding countries.
Some low rates of religion are in Communist countries, which shouldn't be surprising since Communism is so anti-religion ("Religion is the opiate of the masses")
Regardless of their governments, Russians have always been fairly superstitious, and also believers in the spirit world, reincarnation, etc.Its been part of their culture for some time.
A lack of bilingual proselytizers?
LOL. However, Although both English and French are legal first languages in Canada, and both are taught in schools, isn't Spanish taught as a second language in many American schools?
There is no "official language" in the United States. It's up to the state to communicate with the people. That means English almost everywhere, Spanish in lots of places, and then lots of other languages in particular contexts. Forty years ago there was a lot of Vietnamese, but the need has declined...
Many see it as a means to an end.
No fox news in Canada?
In the US first generation immigrants often only speak their native language. The second generation often speak both the native language and English. The third generation generally only speaks English.
Precisely.
Canadians would consider it a comedy channel.
That would probably apply anywhere.
I've noticed the same thing.
Seems to be true of most minority families I knew as a kid.