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One thing that has buggered my mind for a while is why religious insanity is so much bigger in the USA than basically anywhere in Europe. Even in the most religious European countries, such as Poland, Romania, Portugal, Malta and Ireland, the American religious insanity cannot be compared to it.
For example, in Malta, 94% are practising catholics, only 2% is atheist. Abortion is illegal in Malta because of entirely religious reasons, and there is no exceptions, not even in cases of rape. Divorce used to be strictly illegal in Malta until a couple of years ago, for entirely religious reasons by the Catholic-controlled government, the reason why it was illegal was because the Bible says so. Porn is also illegal in Malta for religious/conservative reasons. But even though a country like Malta is so strictly and politically religious, the cultural insanity such as megachurches, street preachers, people shouting openly about their faith and enormous "you're going to hell" billboards cannot be found there.
Another example is Poland, also one of the most religious countries in Europe where abortion is almost entirely illegal and the vast majority are practising Catholics. But the cultural and social religious insanity of America cannot be found there either.
There is countries in Europe that are statistically much more religious than the USA in percent of practising Christians, but even those cannot measure with the religious insanity in the US.
And in the conservative European countries, percent of young earth creationists is very low as well, but in the US it is estimated to be over 40% who believes the world and the universe is merely 6,000 years old.
So what I have been wondering about is why religion has through the years got such an important status in everyday life in the USA compared to anywhere in Europe, even though the USA is of European origin and is ethnically mostly European. Not anything against Americans here, just wondering why it has become this way. If I got anything wrong feel free to correct me.
Some European countries that are statistically more religious than the USA:
Countries in Europe where number of atheists is high and religion does not have much importance at all is Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the UK.
I guess it is because certain types of Christianity are all but missing in Europe, you know, evangelism and that kind of crap.
I live in Portugal, and I would not say that people are very religious. Older people are quite superstitious, yes, but in a rather introverted way, they don't go round trying to convert people etc. Most people really have other things on their mind but religion. This is a very open-minded, tolerant country, one can even get divorced via the Internet.
I also know Germany, basically the same thing, nobody gives a crap what you believe in. The only exception are certain parts of the Muslim community, who are also rather aggressive and always want to force their views on everyone else, similar to many Americans.
But apart from that religion is almost as unimportant as weapons in Europe. We are an old, experienced continent, whereas the US is like a teenager, all riled up about all kinds of things, still looking for a lasting identity, maybe insecure because of all the diversity and change...
The Pilgrims and Puritans came here seeking religious freedom and the great hype of religious tolerance in American began. Religion then came to be used as a weapon and form of discrimination, so the founding fathers separated state and religion. As you can see, that war is still being fought, as religious extremists attempt to enforce their dictates upon the entire country. i think a lot of the religious extremism is a way to try to exert control over oneself and others when people are feeling impotent. Way back before Christianity, people believed in superman gods controlling the world. Also, the fact that so many people in this country lack an education in science and have no understanding or belief in science promotes mythological and religious beliefs. If you don't really believe in science, you can believe in magic and religion because ideologies do not actually have to be proved, they are based on faith, unlike scientific theories. In the 2008 election it became obvious that many republicans do not believe the theory of evolution. So there needs to be a magical religious explanation of how man came to be on this earth. I would put the lack of a feeling of control and a lack of scientific knowledge and education right up there as reasons for religious extremism. So that I'm not accused of bigotry, I am adding this info: http://www.gallup.com/poll/27847/maj...evolution.aspx
Last edited by Enigma777; 11-09-2013 at 12:31 PM..
Reason: formatting
As far as I know the Catholic Church doesn't deny the theory of evolution so maybe that's why the amount of creationists is lower in European countries (as most-religious European countries are mostly Catholic).
The other thing being Americans committed to their religion than e.g. Poles. Poland is indeed a country with a overwhelming Catholic majority (~85%) but Poles doesn't follow their preachers a lot. Poles are indeed very pro-life (abortion was legal in Poland until mid-90s and it was limited because the nation wanted it to be) but on the other hand 65% of Poles support euthanasia rights, 40% supports civil partnerships for same-sex couples and 31% supports same-sex marriage. Not to mention some less important issues as going to church every Sunday, not-buying on Sundays (it's actually the violation of one of the commands and the Catholic Church fights it a lot, yet Poland is one of the few countries in Europe where all shops are open on Sundays) or not-being superstitious. I think Americans Christians are more tied with what their shepherds say.
But apart from that religion is almost as unimportant as weapons in Europe. We are an old, experienced continent, whereas the US is like a teenager, all riled up about all kinds of things, still looking for a lasting identity, maybe insecure because of all the diversity and change...
A good and valid societal observation. I'd also offer that a declining level of US science education is a considerable factor...
A good and valid societal observation. I'd also offer that a declining level of US science education is a considerable factor...
Another reason might be that in the US people can basically say everything, no matter if it offends other people. That is perfect for radicals and everyone else with an agenda.
In Europe there are stricter laws regarding freedom of speech.
The control of sects is also much tighter. The US frequently complains about what it considers an obstruction of Scientology in Germany (makes you wonder if the US government is infiltrated by Scientology), which is considered a sect there and treated accordingly, i.e. it is on the watch list of secret services, courts, etc.
Another reason might be that in the US people can basically say everything, no matter if it offends other people. That is perfect for radicals and everyone else with an agenda.
In Europe there are stricter laws regarding freedom of speech.
The control of sects is also much tighter. The US frequently complains about what it considers an obstruction of Scientology in Germany (makes you wonder if the US government is infiltrated by Scientology), which is considered a sect there and treated accordingly, i.e. it is on the watch list of secret services, courts, etc.
I don't think there is any country in Europe where it's illegal to say that the world is 6,000 years old, people in general would just consider you as extremely stupid and ignorant.
What is illegal though is to openly say anything against gays and ethnic minorities, in Sweden you can get jailed for openly preaching against homosexuality, that is considered as a hate crime in Sweden even if no violence was involved.
There is some religious countries in Eastern and far-eastern Europe though where gays has no legal protection and you can discriminate and say anything you want about them, like in America.
But even though not illegal, young earth creationism is almost non-existent in Europe. And so is those church billboards that you see everywhere in America but not Europe.
It seems that Europeans just aren't that obsessed to spread their religion and force it on others and shout about it, even in cases where it would be legal. For example, due to some eastern countries lack of protection of minorities, there would not be any problem for some priest in Russia, Ukraine, Albania, Serbia, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia or Georgia (the country) to put up a huge billboard saying that all gays are going to hell and preach about it openly and loadly on the streets, but it's not going to happen cause not even religious people in Europe are like that.
Last edited by Helsingborgaren; 11-09-2013 at 02:45 PM..
What is illegal though is to openly say anything against gays and ethnic minorities, in Sweden you can get jailed for openly preaching against homosexuality, that is considered as a hate crime in Sweden even if no violence was involved.
Sweden is very similar to the UK in this regard.
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