Religion may become extinct in nine nations, study says

[ericlp]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197

Wow! Great news! About time... People have grown a brain to think for themselves! I might have to jump ship and move!

The team took census data stretching back as far as a century from countries in which the census queried religious affiliation: Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.

I find it funny Canada is on the list. But I'd much rather move to New Zealand or Australia.

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[lord_emperor]

People have grown a brain to think for themselves!

I doubt this, more likely they'd rather just sleep in on Sunday or otherways avoid the obligations expected of their religion.

 

[Elfear]

Wow! Great news! About time... People have grown a brain to think for themselves! I might have to jump ship and move!

Boy, I can't wait until I grow up and can think for myself. 🙄

Must be pretty awesome being you.

 

[wuliheron]

Nothing new. For years the growing majority of the world's thriving democracies have been moderately socialist and overwhelmingly secular. On the other hand, another study showed that the more classist and capitalist a country the more fundamentalist Christian, thus explaining why the US today is by far the most religious in the developed world.

Notably, the moderately socialist countries also do not have the same extreme social problems the US has such as high rates of murder and abortion. The implication is that when people feel their government actually takes care of them and effectively promotes social harmony they no longer feel the need for organized religion. However, most still describe themselves as "spiritual" rather then religious.

 

[JSt0rm]

good.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

So when is stupid becoming extinct?

 

[silverpig]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2152192

 

[Zebo]

It's unfortunate I don't see any ME countries on there.

 

[JSt0rm]

It's unfortunate I don't see any ME countries on there.

They are about 200 years behind the rest of the world.

 

[RabidMongoose]

This study is very wrong. If the head of state of your country must absolutely be the head of a religion, then religion will never become extinct in your country.

Canada and Australia are among the most religious countries on the planet for this very reason. People can say whatever they want, but it's how they actually behave and structure their society or government that matters. So, really, Canadians and Australians are just speaking but not following up with action.

 

[Doppel]

I doubt this, more likely they'd rather just sleep in on Sunday or otherways avoid the obligations expected of their religion.

In great part this. Many are replacing religion with tv and gadgets. It has nothing to do with any great awakening.

 

[1prophet]

Another flawed study that assumes Christianity and its demise is equal to the demise of religion.

http://www.hudson-ny.org/1536/islam-religion-of-europe

 

[RabidMongoose]

It's also a joke that Finland is on this list. They have a national church, thereby proving to be one of the most religious societies on the planet.

 

[reallyscrued]

Boy, I can't wait until I grow up and can think for myself. 🙄

Must be pretty awesome being you.

Don't worry, it'll happen one day.

 

[KeithP]

From the article...

The study found a steady rise in those claiming no religious affiliation.

It is amazing how many people are taking this story as meaning more people don't believe in God/supreme being/whatever. It says nothing of the sort. At best it indicates only that people are turning away from organized religions.

-KeithP

 

[Fern]

The study found a steady rise in those claiming no religious affiliation.

I'm not persuaded that 'no affiliation' means the same thing as 'no religion'.

I.e., the article's title is incorrect.

Fern

 

[silverpig]

This study is very wrong. If the head of state of your country must absolutely be the head of a religion, then religion will never become extinct in your country.

Canada and Australia are among the most religious countries on the planet for this very reason. People can say whatever they want, but it's how they actually behave and structure their society or government that matters. So, really, Canadians and Australians are just speaking but not following up with action.

Uh WTF?

 

[Sinsear]

So when is stupid becoming extinct?

I dont think all the liberals are just going to die off.

 

[Patranus]

I find it funny that it is ok to bash entire religions but calling a group of criminals savages is unacceptable.

 

[Ronstang]

I dont think all the liberals are just going to die off.

At least not until an apocalyptic world event happens that renders the governments across the globe incapable of functioning. It that ever happens they will die off pretty quick without anyone to take care of them.

 

[Darwin333]

I find it funny that it is ok to bash entire religions but calling a group of criminals savages is unacceptable.

If it makes you feel any better I think both are perfectly acceptable although I might change the "entire religions" to "all religions". The group that really aggravates me is the one that is ok with it unless it is their particular religion (or some other single religion for whatever reason) being bashed, then its not ok.

 

[Darwin333]

At least not until an apocalyptic world event happens that renders the governments across the globe incapable of functioning. It that ever happens they will die off pretty quick without anyone to take care of them.

While I don't fit in that category I sure as hell ain't looking forward to outliving them in some mad max post-apocalypse fucked up world.

 

[Dominato3r]

So when is stupid becoming extinct?

Dunno :hmm:

This study is very wrong. If the head of state of your country must absolutely be the head of a religion, then religion will never become extinct in your country.

Canada and Australia are among the most religious countries on the planet for this very reason. People can say whatever they want, but it's how they actually behave and structure their society or government that matters. So, really, Canadians and Australians are just speaking but not following up with action.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Uh WTF?

Canada's head of state is the British Monarch, who must be the head of a specific church. If you cling on to such beliefs, then you can't make religion extinct. If you demand that your head of state be of one specific religion, then you truly are among the most religious in the world.

 

[irishScott]

The general standard of living in many countries is becoming such that people have better things to do on Sunday than pray to a God to make their sucky life better. Is this the end of faith or a sign of a forthcoming sweep of Atheism/Agnosticism? Not in the slightest.