Subscribe to End Hereditary ReligionNews FeedSubscribe to End Hereditary ReligionComments

Home > Blog > Religion > Religion and society > Why Don’t Northern Europeans Believe in God?

Why Don’t Northern Europeans Believe in God?

Posted by

Estonians have branded themselves as the least religious European nation according to a new Gallup poll that lends credence to the notion that faith is closely tied to living standards.

The northern Baltic state abutting Russia and Latvia counts only 14% of its population as believers. Nearby Sweden and and Denmark ranked similarly at under 20%. The Gallup people said highly developed countries with a strong social welfare state tend to see lower levels of religiosity. The United States ranks highest among developed countries with two-thirds of the population professing their faith. Much regional variation is noted in the US however with southern states resembling “tribal societies in Southern Africa” but with only 42% of Vermonters going to church.

via Following Experts and Ideas — Big Think Blog.

Posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 am in Religion and society, Secularism.

Related Posts

No related posts.

Share/Save


Bookmark and Share

Subscribe via RSS! or Follow EndOfReligion on Twitter!


Comments (18)

 Follow this discussion | Leave a trackback | Login

James Tracy

Vermont suddenly sounds like a lovely place.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Ariel

Hey. I'm not religious but I do live in a southern State Georgia actually for all the bad rap it gets. And just a heads up we aren't freaking "tribal societies" Good grief.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 8:05 pm

William

I am religious and I tell people about science and spirituality every day. You should too.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 9:10 pm

yortuk

I believe it's merely referring to a similar ratio of believers in african tribal societies.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 11:02 pm

James Tracy

I think you are right.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 11:21 pm

Tom

I am from Estonia and only even closely religious people I know are just trying to keep some ancient local traditions alive. Everybody remembers how christians came here with swords and fire and tried to "make us believe".

So I would bet good part of this 14% is not some "world religion" but just local close to earth traditions that have been forced to adopt some sort of religious terminology to be "classified" as religion by laws. Mostly to "enjoy" the same financial benefits as imported religions have taken advantage for years.

Only people I have met, making serious face talking about religion, are scammers and obviously sleazy folk looking for a fast buck to squeeze out from even bigger idiots than themselves. Of course there are also few seemingly decent religious people here with just a "weird hobby".

Also talking about religions "importance" is usually nothing more than a publicity stunt, as such people are viewed mostly as well paid lobbists just keeping everybody aware, that we live on the same planet with lots of easily manipulated nutjobs.

AND we are not afraid to insult back people who are living insults to humanitys collective intelligence.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 3:32 pm

James Tracy

Now Estonia suddenly sounds like a very lovely place.

» Posted on April 2, 2009 at 11:36 pm

Richard_Collins

Ingrid Tarien has to come and read this thread. I'll see if I can get her attention.

» Posted on April 3, 2009 at 1:59 am

A.Celes

I am a non-religious geologist and hate it when people talk to me about spirituality. Please stop.

» Posted on May 6, 2009 at 2:08 pm

Where did religion go? « KelsinLund

[...] link: Why Don’t Northern Europeans Believe in God? | End Hereditary Religion [...]

» Posted on May 7, 2009 at 9:22 am

Where did religion go? « DevChange

[...] link: Why Don’t Northern Europeans Believe in God? | End Hereditary Religion [...]

» Posted on July 1, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Stu P.Dass

Religion is the failure of this world. Causes all the wars. Get real. I refuse to sit here.. and think about something that took place over 2 millennial.. ago,,, we are just talking meat.. nuff said

» Posted on January 28, 2010 at 11:07 pm

Chris W

Richard, are the people from Vermont who do attend church also like southern African tribesman? Oh, and don't forget to insult people from Utah, who also tend to be religious.

» Posted on January 29, 2010 at 2:33 am

James Tracy

Stupid beliefs are always fair game, no matter where you happen to live.

» Posted on January 29, 2010 at 3:18 am

ThisISit

Why dont they believe in god? Sensibility, realism, pragmatism, practicality, rationality, simple sanity, self awareness, compassion and a stark absence of people who fear truth, and, in turn, a stark absence of those who seek to profit from people who fear truth. Religions.

If you fear the truth, you will believe almost anything to not have to accept it. religion just fills the vacuum created by the inability of some to accept that they are meaningless in the grand scheme of things, and that there is no predetermined purpose for you. It is what you make of it lad. Thats all. Born, Live, Die. Be nice, compassionate and open minded and it will all come back around. If it doesnt, too bad. No guarantees, because again, there is no predetermined path or purpose from god or anyone else (short of maybe mum and dad convincing you to be a lawyer or doctor, thats in their minds long before you're there lol.).

Anyway, all this fuss over the need to believe we dont just end when we die. I think we do, and I'm good with it.

peace, love and happiness to you all, cause that's all there is.

» Posted on January 29, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Richard Collins

In as much as religious people follow a hierarchical structure in their religious organizations they do indeed resemble tribesmen with a leader and a bunch of followers. No one can challenge the leader and there are strict rules. People in the tribe: good. People not in the tribe: bad. Personal freedom or autonomy, not on offer. The Mormons you cite are some of the most rigid people in our country. Go live in Utah as an out atheist if you don't believe this.

» Posted on January 30, 2010 at 1:15 am

dan

hey you may enjoy our silly site http://www.god-defined.com! submit your god defintions, everyone, please! Thanks, Dan, Chicago

» Posted on February 18, 2010 at 4:21 pm

SchwarzRitter

Agreed

» Posted on February 1, 2012 at 5:15 am

Post a new comment

« »