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Interestingly enough, the time I lived in Japan (which is number 5 on both lists!) was about as close to heaven as I have come. I would move back there again in a heartbeat. Not just because of the non-religious atmosphere but the culture, the way of life, everything about it was wonderful.
Yes. I have been interested in Japan as a culture because it seems to have developed relatively independent of Biblical influence.
I may spend half a week there during a trip next year or so. If there is something in particular that I should not miss, or a good tour, I would appreciate knowing.
Location: In the North Idaho woods, still surrounded by terriers
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Yeah, I love America, too, but I have always loved to travel and meet new people and learn new customs. Sweden is one of the nicest, friendliest countries I have ever been in. The people are healthy, happy, generous and extremely accepting. There are tons of ancient churches and many profess Lutheranism, but it is also the land of Odin and the Vikings.
My other favorite country is Australia. The animals!!!
Thanks for the bump. This is (rather like irreligion stats) always of interest. I was surprised to see Ireland in there. Things have certainly changed over the last few decades. I take Vietnam with a pinch of salt. They put down what their government tells them to. Their real views they keep to themselves. The Scandinavian nations and the former communist ones have always figured well. It certainly puts paid to the idea that lack of religion leads to anarchy and collapse. The religious apologists point to high rates of suicide, but in the Northern countries, drinking and gloom have been known before the days of irreligion. nobody seems to know why. In Japan, the tradition of suicide and honourable and the pressures to compete, do well and have Face can surely lead to that way out.
Thanks for the bump. This is (rather like irreligion stats) always of interest. I was surprised to see Ireland in there. Things have certainly changed over the last few decades. I take Vietnam with a pinch of salt. They put down what their government tells them to. Their real views they keep to themselves. The Scandinavian nations and the former communist ones have always figured well. It certainly puts paid to the idea that lack of religion leads to anarchy and collapse. The religious apologists point to high rates of suicide, but in the Northern countries, drinking and gloom have been known before the days of irreligion. nobody seems to know why. In Japan, the tradition of suicide and honourable and the pressures to compete, do well and have Face can surely lead to that way out.
I wouldn't just assume the Vietnamese numbers are hugely false. If you look at stats on the former communist nations, they are still significantly atheist even now that there's no one telling them what to say or what to think. Russia itself is one of the major exceptions, and even it has a pretty significant atheist demographic. In fact I was really surprised to not see more communist and former communist nations on the original list, my guess being that it would undermine the authors narrative that being irreligious is associated with great countries to live in, so they probably selected a metric that favoured the selection of NATO countries.
I wouldn't just assume the Vietnamese numbers are hugely false. If you look at stats on the former communist nations, they are still significantly atheist even now that there's no one telling them what to say or what to think. Russia itself is one of the major exceptions, and even it has a pretty significant atheist demographic. In fact I was really surprised to not see more communist and former communist nations on the original list, my guess being that it would undermine the authors narrative that being irreligious is associated with great countries to live in, so they probably selected a metric that favoured the selection of NATO countries.
Yes, you may be right. But I suspect there may be a lot more latent religion (mainly Buddhism) that would come out in the figures if they really had a democratic system instead of one party rulers. I could be wrong of course. I was surprised Not to see the Uk in there. Maybe it is some residual Limey delusions of God, Harry and St. George that needs to be knocked out of us.
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