Godlorica

Correlation does not imply causation. I would hazard that being some of the nations with the best standards of living would be what is causing their "atheistic" attitudes more so than the other way around.

It's not so much that people concerned about God don't get rich, it's that rich people are not concerned about God.
 

And a consideration, a slight one, with regards to religion and morality and such decisions.

Religion provides (or can provide, at least) a mollifying influence on matters addressed by game theory, like the Prisoner's Dilemma applied to all of life. You can be honest at life, or you can "cheat" when you can get away with it: lying or stealing or other bad stuff that builds you up and puts others in society down a little. Rationally speaking there is no reason you should not cheat. But if you're religious, then you risk retribution from some sort of cosmic justice system, even if you are fully safe from an earthly one.


I don't think any purely secular value system can provide the world with this sort of a notion. It shifts the weights of the options of the decision- so that lying/cheating/stealing will always harm you more than they help you.


Now, this isn't meant to demonstrate unequivocal religious superiority of some sort- it's just a little consideration.
 

That would be "Religion", Cliff,...
not "Relgion"

(Or is there a relgion I've not heard about)?
 

For some reason, the title of this article reminded me of this infamous video. In a nutshell, this is a prime example of why religion does not (or should not) work for some people.

http://www.videosift.com/story.php?id=154
 

And we are surprised by this information?
 

I betcha most wars find their source in religious intolerance or the proselytizing sword of righteousness. Every Christian nation and culture other than the Irish were initially brought to Christianity by the sword. And now we of 'dar al harb' (the territory of war )are visited with 'gihad' (never ending koranic war of proselytization), a not so unpredictable gift from 'dar al islam'.

Give me that old time religion old time religion!!!
 

Note: The original post does not list the US. Why do Americans presume to spread their way of life and version of militant christianity on a global scale when they don't even make the U.N. list of "healthiest" nations?