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Least Religious Countries
When you travel to Europe, don't be surprised to find that many Europeans don't believe in God. I have even witnessed some alcohol-infused conversations between Americans and Europeans that almost ended in fistfights over His/Her existence. When you travel to the following countries, you might want to pick a less controversial topic of conversation ... umm, maybe George W?Here are the Top 10 least religious countries in the world:
1. Sweden (up to 85% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)
2. Vietnam
3. Denmark
4. Norway
5. Japan
6. Czech Republic
7. Finland
8. France
9. South Korea
10. Estonia (up to 49% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)
The one that surprised me was Israel, ranking 19th, with up to 37% claiming to be non-believer, atheist, agnostic. Compare that with the United States, ranking 44th, with 3-9% non-believers, atheists, agnostics. (I think I have met them all on the streets of New York City, too.)
The survey concluded that "high levels of organic atheism are strongly correlated with high levels of societal health, such as low homicide rates, low poverty rates, low infant mortality rates, and low illiteracy rates, as well as high levels of educational attainment, per capita income, and gender equality. Most nations characterized by high degrees of individual and societal security have the highest rates of organic atheism, and conversely, nations characterized by low degrees of individual and societal security have the lowest rates of organic atheism. In some societies, particularly Europe, atheism is growing. However, throughout much of the world -- particularly nations with high birth rates -- atheism is barely discernable."
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 19)
KJD Mar 9th 2009 10:57AM
The American myth about high suicide rate in Sweden originates from a study conducted by two American researchers in the 1970's. It found its way into all American social science books. The study was conducted at a point in time when Sweden experienced a sudden economic crash, from having had the highest GNP/capita in the world. It had nothing to do with religiousness.
KingM Mar 9th 2009 11:12AM
Read the Quran? Join Islam? Right, because I want to be backward, superstitious, poor, and uneducated. The best thing that could happen to the Muslim countries would be for the younger generation to slip into disbelief and join the modern world.
(And no, this is not a plea for Christianity, but we've broken the back of Christian power in the West and if we're lucky, it will never return.)
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 11:26AM
Who knows!!!
that u are...
backward!!!
superstitious!!!
poor!!!
& uneducated!!!
"Only god Knows"
KingM Mar 9th 2009 11:30AM
Well, I'm pretty sure that I'm not poor, superstitious, or uneducated. Backward is subjective, but I hope not. Whatever I'm needing, I'm sure it's not the Quran.
I've traveled extensively through North Africa and have made many friends both there and here who are Muslim. I don't think the religion is helping those countries, however, and I'm certain the world doesn't need *more* Islam to be a better place.
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 11:49AM
since becoz of ur statement that your muslim friends cant do nothing for the nation doesnt comes to a conclusion that islam will not effect much more...
then..
just think of "what you have done for ur nation"!!!
and is it shows ur religion is wrong??
and see my friend..
"Quran doest have a single mistake"
Just go through it and see!!
best regards
KingM Mar 9th 2009 12:06PM
That's hilarious. Not a single mistake? It's riddled with errors, some quite funny, others minor, and others very dangerous. For a start, the Quran teaches that the sun revolves around the Earth.
Both the Bible and the Quran teach that the Earth is fixed and does not move. We now know that the Earth is hurtling through the universe at all times.
Bible-
"He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. (Psalm 104:5)"
And Quran -
Is not He Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof, and placed firm hills therein, and hath set a barrier between the two seas? Is there any Allah beside Allah? Nay, but most of them know not! An-Naml (27:61)
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 12:33PM
Science has limits!!!
Science ..decades before says that earth is flat...
people at that time believes that it was flat...
but quran says Earth shape is like Ostrich Egg!!!
people like u told quran is wrong at that time..
After a long time...
science found that earth is not flat but same shape like ostrich egg!!
All the People agrees with quran...
this makes us understand that...
science has limits...
Think!!!
Mohammed Mar 9th 2009 12:44PM
my mail ID:
mdhidayathullah@yahoo.com
Keep in touch
i will try to give more knowledge about quran.
Please dont forget to mail me.
Best regards.
Zach Mar 12th 2009 6:44AM
your cousin is full of shit Emmanuel. scandanavians are just a little shy, thats all. and if you think its caused by a lack of religion your an idiot. i'm an aussie and i live in sweden and i'll tell you all now its thought of as bad manners to ask someone about thier beliefs. which is refreshing. better than some yank trying to shove it down your neck.
Jim Mar 9th 2009 12:45PM
Greetings from the Netherlands to all. I was born as a Catholic, but religion has no real priority in my life.All our grand-grand children will spit on our graves for wasting time with religious wars, building nuclear weapons etc, etc, instead of finding solutions for problems of major concern such as: global warming, rising sea levels, etc. etc. Did you know that almost every year the population of a small Island in the pacific is been migrated to a bigger island and given some money as compensation? But France still keep on testing nuclear weapons under the sea without being stopped by the rest of the world...
We'll leave them with so many problems we could(should have) solve now.
I celebrate Christmas and most Catholic holy days, but also stay realistic and aware...
naela Mar 9th 2009 12:54PM
true religion is islam.. believe in allah and u will enter paradise.. belive in the unseen is the true faith. how could you not realize the true religion? why do you pray to a statue or a god u blelive made of wood, or stone or why do u pray in the forest? the true God is unseen. he has no son and no wife.
naela Mar 9th 2009 1:10PM
ver true mohammed, i agree with u.."Quran doest have a single mistake"
hope everybody realize that islam is the true religion.
allahu akbar.
Teressa Mar 9th 2009 1:12PM
It seems like the article makes an assumption that God = Religion. That's just not true. The article should read, "The Top Ten Least Evangelical Christian Countries..." Also, it is almost combative in the statement that religious countries have a higher crime rate, etc... While it's an interesting correlation, I think there are far too many factors involved in crime rates to really label religion as the scapegoat.
Rooz Mar 9th 2009 6:51PM
I disagree Teressa. A person who follows a religion is different in a very fundamental way; that person has to have FAITH in something they cannot see. In other words, they have to learn how to put logic aside, as it can interfere with believing in something that doesn't make physical or logical sense. At that point, anything that interferes with that belief is deemed "evil" or at best a "distraction."
It's all downhill from there; in a sample of people that choose to make logic secondary, maybe half of them could be normal stable people, but there will be 20% or so people on the lower end of the intelligence spectrum that will become defensive, progressively more close minded and zealous. They stop thinking, growing, and most importantly, on average breed like crazy. :)
Teressa Mar 10th 2009 7:29AM
At the risk of being philosophical... Faith is Trust and I put Faith in the other person on the road to stay in their lane while driving... not just in God.
There are many religions that aren't "Christian" (Sorry, should have specified) God centered. Buddhism, Wicca, even Atheism is starting to develop its own set of "beliefs" in order to raise children with some sort of concept of 'right & wrong'.
What goes wrong with any religion or beliefset and almost every one has at some point or another (some more than others)... is that they start to think theirs is the "right" one... and start to repress any opinion to the contrary... and find fault with every single aspect of the 'enemy' beliefset, while overlooking the good.
So, on that note... Thanks for the comment. I agree to disagree. You are indeed right that logic has little to do with belief... or trust. :-)
Sophia Lee Mar 10th 2009 8:39PM
Thank God for this interesting survey. I say this all the time and I do not believe in God. I have some Q & A below;
1. For Japanese it is more of tradition to go to ShintoTemple not because they are religious.
2. How could Vietnam be the second least religious? Before or during Vietnam war the Catholics would fight with the Buddast constantly. Perhaps what survey is saying they became non religious last 40 years after the war?
3.How about China? Isn't this country suppose to be the first?
4.I learned long ago that Swedes commit suicide not having enough sun light, not for having too much sun.
Mark Mar 9th 2009 2:45PM
Finally, people are getting it through there head that the worship of dieties is a barbaric outdated practice. It does not surprise me that the USA (I am also American) is 44 on this list. Religion is forced down peoples throats since birth and they really down have a choice in the matter. Through domination, Christianity has survived for as long as it has and has become the most destructive force on this planet. I don't know what I would consider myself. I have the belief that there are higher forms of life in the universe. Humanity is still in its infancy as far as the evolutionary path goes. But finding a higher life form and calling it god and worshiping it is akin to slavery. I hope that one day the whole world realizes the truth and abolishes Christianity and all the tentacles that have sprung from it, that way we, humanity, will be free as a species to learn, grow and evolve.
Cindy Mar 9th 2009 3:00PM
There is GOD. Our GOD today, Yesterday and tomorrow is the same. ONE GOD who created us, the heavens and earth and everything that is on it. OUR GOD is perfect and He sees everything, He knows everything.
All we have to do is to trust HIM, have faith everyday and read HIS word day and night. He is alive. He is Faithful answering all our prayers ACCORDING TO HIS DEVINE PURPOSES.
LETS US ALL READ THE BIBLE AND SEEK GOD AND WE WILL ALL BE BLESS.
God Bless You All.
Harry Mar 9th 2009 3:08PM
Think of all the indescribable pain and suffering that mankind has endured. Those who believe in an all-knowing and all-powerful god, and are faithful to him/her, will say that their god has a reason for mankind's suffering--he/she has a plan and requires faith. Really??.....People who follow a religion, are merely HOPING that there is a god. In the meantime, observe the actions of many of the believers.
Marizha Mar 9th 2009 4:00PM
How do we think, by our brains? Why are we walking, talking? we are perfect, isn't it? why do flowers bloom? Trees gives fruits that we can eat. Why is there a night and a day? everything that we see and touch, where did they came from? who owns the world, the universe, the planets, moon and sun...our MIGHTY GOD! he created everything and everyone in HIS perfect image BUT why
people are ruining those perfect gifts from our HOLY GOD? Why did they allow evil to rule in their life?
My friends it is not to late to ask forgiveness and accept God in your life through HIS Son Jesus Christ. He was the one who died for our sins.
My BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
READ THE WORD OF GOD AND THANKED Him every single seconds of your life.