Society Without God by Phil Zuckerman.A friend of mine sent me a link to an article that addresses the question 'Does religion make you nice?' We might be inclined to think it does and then we look at the Swedes and the Danes and other atheist societies. Here are a few of the quotes that peaked my interest:
"...the Danes and the Swedes—probably the most godless people on Earth. They don't go to church or pray in the privacy of their own homes; they don't believe in God or heaven or hell. But, by any reasonable standard, they're nice to one another. They have a famously expansive welfare and health care service. They have a strong commitment to social equality. And—even without belief in a God looming over them—they murder and rape one another significantly less frequently than Americans do."
"Denmark and Sweden aren't exceptions. A 2005 study by Gregory Paul looking at 18 democracies found that the more atheist societies tended to have relatively low murder and suicide rates and relatively low incidence of abortion and teen pregnancy."Looks like it all adds up to community. Other atheist societies have strong communities and fair better than their American counterparts, who are often left out of community life. Intriguing idea.
5 comments:
I remember when I first met my in-laws (strong Catholics), my MIL told me she didn't understand how one could raise moral children without religion. This thought made me so sad (for her, more than anything) but also very motivated to prove her wrong. Recently, I heard Bill Maher refer to folks like us as "humanists," people who retain a moral and ethical standard, regardless of whether or not there is religion in their lives. I'd be interested to read that book... someday. I don't think I've read a grown-up book in about 6 months though. So sad.
Love it. I looked up humanism to see what the official definition was and found they have an icon called 'the happy human'. (I uploaded an illustration of the icon to the post.) I think from now on I shall be an agnostic humanist. Woohoo!
Yeah, I don't understand folks that think you can only be moral if you have religion. Where does that come from?
Another book I want to read is called The Year of Living Biblically. I have a friend who's going through it right now. Should be an excellent read.
Here's the International Humanist and Ethical Union's Minimum Statement on Humanism:
Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance, which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethic based on human and other natural values in the spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.
I realized last night (Andrew reminded me) that Bill Maher's term was actually "ethicist," people who are ethical even without religion in their lives. He argues that ethicists are actually more ethical non religious folks because they're not doing it just to be saved. That seemed like kind of generalization to me, but I like his thinking! ;)
Oh, and I really like the term "supernatural views of reality." I suspect that would really piss some people off.
I am religious, but I can say we religious types do not have the market cornered on ethical behavior, and unfortunately sometimes we just fail on that front. I embrace my religion and think it brings out the best in me, but I know plenty of people who have been hurt by religion. It's a human institution even if you believe it's a vehicle to God.
One need not look very far in Portland to see ethical, non-religious folk.
oh, I will email you in the next couple of days about a Sip and Kranz date!!!!!
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