Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 11, 2011 at 1:24pm

Came to think about looking at a slightly different map.  The map "shows the Atheist, agnostic, nonreligious, irreligious, religiousness populations by country or area for 2006 as percentage of total population. The darker the more irreligious. I cannot say how accurate it is but I found it interesting."

 

 

Congrats to China, Japan, Vietnam, and some European countries is in order it seems. Is it bad to cheer a bit for Venezuela and Belarussia in this one..?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on May 11, 2011 at 1:42pm

It would be nice to know if the completely grey areas on the map all represent religiosity, or if some of them represent insufficient data.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 11, 2011 at 2:00pm

Most likely missing data. But I think you can extrapolate as to why...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kris Feenstra on May 11, 2011 at 2:29pm

I can in some cases, but not in others.  Maybe I'm just whining, but I do wish any nations where data was not included on the graph had been marked differently.  You can barely tell that Nigeria has been shaded in with a tinge of blue.  A country like Egypt, on the other hand, probably really is pure grey as far as the data is concerned.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 11, 2011 at 2:38pm

The interesting is China though. Has this factor helped China grow in any way, and since religion tends to wave due to migratory patterns, what will happen when that dam of people bursts open?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Akshay Bist on May 11, 2011 at 11:23pm

The Chinese society is set up like another religion. Isn't fair to call them a progressive society - a comparison with The Party in the Book 1984 would be more apt.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 12, 2011 at 11:31am

Their ideology certainly has a lot in common with religion, certainly in many of it's acts, it is quite different due to leaving a lot more leeway. Other books than just a short red one is promoted.

But my post was more of a China vs. Religion speculation. China cracks down on religion quite hard (it is one of the large criticisms against it), but are we criticising China from a position of having found a better way to deal with religion or not..?

The consequence of freedom of religion has been strong enduring presence of religion. And the combined consequences of religion I think we agree on are tilted towards the negative. I guess it comes down to: What's worse, clamping down on religion or let it continue to corrupt society.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Orpharion Oroborus Bestheneme on May 13, 2011 at 3:03am

It depends at what price you are willing to accept this. At the price of losing as many liberties as china has lost? Having a completely narcissistic opinion of world history? Regularly violating human rights? Unfortunately, the clamping seems for worse a situation, and I'd rather fight the slow fight of re-education

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 13, 2011 at 11:59am

I tend to agree. Though instead of choosing one of the extremes, I wouldn't mind tightening up on religion,. It's just so frustratingly slow to watch in many places.

Though copying and deleting electronic versions of holy books does provide some relief. ;)

Permalink Reply by Robert Karp on May 11, 2011 at 1:53pm

Interesting! Thanks for posting Arcus. I would of expected the USA the be much lighter, closer to grey.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Arcus on May 11, 2011 at 2:02pm

It helps to have a high level of education. 

Schools are to Atheism what Holy Buildings are to Religion. Questioning vs. not questioning everything. :)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Akshay Bist on May 11, 2011 at 10:48pm

I never liked school >./p>

My books, computer, google, wikipedia & wolframalpha are to me what holy stuff is to the religious :P

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next ›
• Page