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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 1 of 18)
pradeep Jan 25th 2008 11:57PM
to all readers
this is pradeep
i want to tell u one thing
christ is the Lord of all
Bible is the only book to lead us in the right way
and believe that there's another life after death, if we want to have a better life even after death, please believe that Lord Jesus is the only saviour to cleanse all our sins, all of us are sinners,
please pray to Lord jesus and read bible every day
cpradeep9@gmail.com
Harry Sep 27th 2009 8:29AM
to all readers
this is pradeep
i want to tell u one thing
christ is the Lord of all
And I want to tell you something. If you want people to take what you have to say seriously, express it in proper English. Otherwise it's a short distance from disregarding the means of expression as juvenile to disregarding the content as juvenile.
Perhaps we American Christians have something to learn from the rest of the world if we can just shut up long enough to listen to what they have to tell us.
pradeep Feb 9th 2008 2:34AM
believe in Jesus christ he is one and only God that we have. . He shed his precious blood for the whole manking to save us from all of our sins,. he lead a very simple life on this earth, just becaue to save all of us.
Jesus is the only Lord.....
He is the savious for all.....
He'll come again soon....
but remember this time not as a lamb......
but will come as a roaring lion......
pradeep
a guy from Estonia Jun 7th 2008 3:53PM
Jesus was the king of jews.
People just thought up stories about him.
It's a long story why people started to take them as truth.
anduarto Feb 29th 2008 12:52PM
Has anyone found the source for this article. I think it would be very interesting to see rankings for all the countries, but haven't had any luck finding it.
Religious or not, I do think religion has taken up WAY too much importance in the United States. It seems very regressive to me.
anduarto Feb 29th 2008 5:30PM
Sorry...hit the wrong key. See the source material above.
Matt May 20th 2008 3:26PM
True atheists are very depressing types? What evidence are you basing that claim on? The assumption that people need to believe in some higher power that's looking out for their spiritual selves due to ill-concieved paternal callings is naive and immature.
Matt May 20th 2008 3:26PM
Saying that Europe is 'closet religious' is idiotic. Even the phrase 'closet religious' is idiotic, did you hear someone else say it and thought you'd repeat it out of context to make youself sound clever? The reason that calling Europe closet religious is ridiculous is because for the past 2000 years Europe has been home to some of the most overt displays of faith that have ever been seen. Europe is finally -leaving- this stage, it was never in the closet about it's faith, now it's smashing that closet to pieces to make sure there's no chance of any religious people hiding inside at all.
Arcturus Jun 10th 2008 4:35AM
"How is it that South Korea makes this list when over 60% of their population is officially catholic. And one short glimpse of the night skyline in ANY city in South Korea will reveal a sea of RED neon crosses. There are more churches per square mile in Korea than anywhere on the planet....."
Actually, you are very wrong. Wikipedia: "As of 2005, approximately 46.5% of the South Korean population express no religious preference.
Of the religious people, 29.3% are Christian (of which 18.3% (on total) profess to be Protestants and 10.9% to be Catholics), 22.8% are Buddhist, and the rest adheres to various new religious movements including Jeungism, Daesunism, Cheondoism and Wonbuddhism."
And yeah, a person can be very happy without Christian beliefs, or any beliefs at all. Reasons for suicides vary... Branding atheism as sole reason, or even a reason sounds very much like normal Christian mentally challenged overconfident thinking.
If there's no heaven for you after you die, so what? There's no hell either. And that can actually make you want to live more passionately.
utri007 Jun 12th 2008 4:31AM
I'm from Finland.
Just want to say my opinion about this. I don't belive that difference is so big, but I understand why some americans would understand it that way
Explanation follows :)
I think that religion is more private thing here in Finland than in U.S.A
People just don't want to talk about it with strangers.
More 80% of finnish are members of Finnis lutherian church
Religion is totally private thing like sex ;)
And one thing is allso that finnish people don't like to smalltalk/chitchat, we consider it to bullshit
Dave from the US Jun 17th 2008 12:20AM
"And one thing is allso that finnish people don't like to smalltalk/chitchat, we consider it to bullshit"
then how do you get to know people...ie; "break the ice"? just wondering as i plan to soon visit Finland.
Pete Jul 1st 2008 5:53PM
I don't mean to sound harsh or anything but you religious folks keep blabbing about how the bible or the koran (or what ever) is historically accurate, morally conscious, and filled with story that guide human life, so where is it? This is where religion becomes absurd. First comes the the phrase, " ...the more I study Bible History, the more I am amazed at its accuracy as a history book." and then it stops, no proof and nothing else. Well in the 21st CENTURY we use the scientific process, or other words the burden of proof, if it doesn't survive the scientific process it doesn't have a valid place in actual science. So where is your proof? Because every time I ask that question to christians ( I live in texas ) they never provide evidence, they only go off on a spiritual rant and ask me if jesus was ever in my life. So if we already know that the earth is not flat, and that we are not the center of the universe, then why do we still believe in this psuedo-science we call organized religion? The answer? You be the judge.
matteo from uk Jul 7th 2008 8:27PM
found this site while looking to see how irreligious the uk and was disappointed to not find it in the top 10. It seems that alot of the posts have been hijacked by the christians in the last 40 posts but understand its not mostly their fault. Indoctrination of religion to their offspring is fundamental to their continued existence and so continue their ignorance( as bliss) for generations to come. So it is for all religions!
When you really challenge your beliefs and question your existence, surely you must realise that one cannot know if there is an after life or reincarnation or hell and can only ever realise this one existence. Just be good and compassionate and show empathy. The christians are sadly blinded by a belief in writings written when the earth was believed to be flat and unfortunately repeat them endlessly to society thinking they are great philosophers. This is akin to doctors believing in blood letting from leeches a hundred years ago providing good health in patients today times a thousand years or is it two thousand years? lol. Science has progressed and religion ,due to its teachings of self sustenance continues to exist but it will diminish in generations to come. (I hope) The wars and hatred produced from religious intolerance will just go on and on otherwise. I feel religion is to blame and I hope the world is waking up to this but fear it will not when the religious spout their ancient ideologies over and over. The scriptures may have seemed relevant at the time when the romans were sacrificing humans in the arena but now it is boxing rings as entertainment. The wars remain the same though, christians and islam at loggerheads and killing each other for dominance in power and money for hegemony in world dominance.
Challenge your beliefs in your scriptures; they are old and lost meaning in translation and modern ideology will be better if you follow the least religious societies rather than the neo fascists or conservatives found in any religion.
Be at peace with yourself not at the preachers falsehood of peace.
cheers
Deepwest Aug 7th 2008 9:57AM
Ha ha silly sweeds, i've been to your country a couple of times and :he he Slow, silly,cold,kinda undeveloped people made me so bored. Don't know how to LOVE and tell about your feelings to your Parents or relatives. Never ever seen so many heartless people than in Sweden. I feel like an idiot when i listen to your ideas about rules or style of living. Gotta be so SUCK to be you.
Deepwest Aug 7th 2008 2:19PM
Estonia? what can i say? your dumb president said ones "We are Europeans , not Slavic" Can you see how stupid does it sound. He licks more developed European countries ASSES ha ha. That's what you do it here too "hey swedes We ARE LIKE YOU", "we are almost swedes too ,russians are bad , we are not like them" sooooo silly . Remember you are nothing but a "Bread Crumb" the whole world is laughing about your silly behaviour. So long Estonia.
matteo from uk Aug 8th 2008 6:47PM
hi deepwest,
can't you see nationalism and patriotism sucks and is debasing to all? Swedes , estonians etc. The competition to say one is better than the other is never ending and only creates hate. Demeaning each other is pointless, though you don't say where you are from? Deepwest indicates USA and fruitless conservatism and bias, please tell me i am wrong? Have you been hurt by a nordic beauty and thus become hateful?Or is it just patriotic ideology or "national pride"? or worse? i.e christian fascism?
I look forward to your response
Matteo from UK
Andrew Sep 10th 2008 5:58PM
I'm moving to Sweden!!!
Andrew Sep 10th 2008 6:07PM
We can go back and forth all day about this, but it all boils down to one thing. Nobody's ever seen the pixie fairy.
We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round.
suresh Oct 4th 2008 7:57AM
Having faith in god is just to power us to do our work successfully.It is a power or imagination which helps to increase our confidence.I an indian.we beleive god as nature.
Kaybee Nov 24th 2008 7:42AM
It surprises me to see Japan, Vietnam and South Korea on the list! The local culture and traditions in these nations are very strong. Unlike western nations, these nations have still strong presence of traditional faith and beliefs... So I am amazed... Who collected the data?