Religion Dying Out In Secular Countries
Parts of the world are literally losing their religion, according to a new study.
The study, conducted by the American Physical Society, finds that religion is dying out in nine countries.
The findings unveiled at an APS meeting in Dallas show that religion may become extinct in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The study, conducted by Richard Wiener of the University of Arizona, and Daniel Abrams and Haley Yaple of Northwestern University, took data stretching back 100 years for those nine countries.
"In a large number of modern secular democracies, there's been a trend that folk are identifying themselves as non-affiliated with religion; in the Netherlands the number was 40 percent, and the highest number was in the Czech Republic, where the number was 60 percent."
The study also found that "Americans without affiliation comprise the only religious group growing in all 50 states."
"In 2008 those claiming no religion rose to 15 percent nationwide, with a maximum in Vermont at 34 percent," the study says.
The study concludes that religion in these societies might one day disappear.
"The model predicts that for societies in which the perceived utility of not adhering is greater than the utility of adhering, religion will be driven toward extinction."
The study, conducted by the American Physical Society, finds that religion is dying out in nine countries.
The findings unveiled at an APS meeting in Dallas show that religion may become extinct in Australia, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
The study, conducted by Richard Wiener of the University of Arizona, and Daniel Abrams and Haley Yaple of Northwestern University, took data stretching back 100 years for those nine countries.
"In a large number of modern secular democracies, there's been a trend that folk are identifying themselves as non-affiliated with religion; in the Netherlands the number was 40 percent, and the highest number was in the Czech Republic, where the number was 60 percent."
The study also found that "Americans without affiliation comprise the only religious group growing in all 50 states."
"In 2008 those claiming no religion rose to 15 percent nationwide, with a maximum in Vermont at 34 percent," the study says.
The study concludes that religion in these societies might one day disappear.
"The model predicts that for societies in which the perceived utility of not adhering is greater than the utility of adhering, religion will be driven toward extinction."
posted by chickcomics | 2:50 PM
1 Comments:
Where to begin...
The most striking thing about this report: those nine countries--as well as the US--combined do not come even close to the populations of the rest of the world where religions are growing, thriving and/or dominant.
As a side note, Russia now considers the Eastern Orthodox Church--the one and the same that was viewed as complicit with the Tsar during the Revolution--to essentially be a National Treasure (paraphrased Putin's words).
In addition, the "modern secular democracies" are not even dominant as far as population is concerned. China is indeed secular, but still not a Democracy, so it's not included in this study.
No mention would likely be made of the House Church movement in China (or Russia for that matter), even if included in these numbers.
This study also appears to assume no migration/immigration will occur over time.
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