Atheists & Agnostics

RSherman

(576 posts)

16. "The Founding Myth" by Andrew L. Seidel

Sun Mar 3, 2024, 11:33 AM

Mar 2024

Seidel cites a Phil Zuckerman study:

The least religious countries

have the lowest rates of violent crime and homicide
are the best places to raise children and be a mother
have the lowest rates of corruption
have the lowest levels of intolerance against racial and ethnic minorities
score highest for women's rights and gender equality
have the greatest protection of political & civil liberties
are better at educating their youth in reading, math, and science
are the most peaceful
are the most prosperous
have the highest quality of life

There are similar findings in "We of Little Faith" by Kate Cohen.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

11 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

c-rational mountain grammy 90-percent Goddessartist SamKnause DBoon dchill kcoates redqueen Ruby Zee mopinko

61 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I'm so tired of religion being treated like a special set of beliefs [View all] redqueen Mar 2024 OP

I'm with you HAB911 Mar 2024 #1

I keep saying it should be taught in school redqueen Mar 2024 #4

Religion *is* taught in schools Roy Rolling Mar 2024 #21

Studies also show that among "fools like them" are the 48% of scientists who claim a religion. ancianita Mar 2024 #28

What are government -run religions? redqueen Mar 2024 #47

Not enough time. LiberalFighter Mar 2024 #39

We bend over backwards for religions. jimfields33 Mar 2024 #7

The very thought HAB911 Mar 2024 #8

True! jimfields33 Mar 2024 #10

It pisses me off, too. All religions are the tops in being criticized & rational believers shouldn't be pissed off ancianita Mar 2024 #32

I agree. Croney Mar 2024 #2

It's fucking exhausting arguing this idiocy. Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #3

I saw you apologizing for educating someone about the fact redqueen Mar 2024 #5

I try to not be obviously rude. Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #6

MANY special sets of beliefs. And many are the only true set of beliefs. keithbvadu2 Mar 2024 #9

Exactly. Of all world views, why is religion exempt from rational discussion? paleotn Mar 2024 #11

It shouldn't be exempt. The history of many standing religions shows that they have not been exempt. ancianita Mar 2024 #37

Religion-- helping stupid people feel important since the dawn of time. OMGWTF Mar 2024 #12

"Religion is the opiate of the masses." Karl Marx rubbersole Mar 2024 #33

It's more like meth mixed with random shit. Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #52

Marx didn't mean that as a bad thing DBoon Mar 2024 #57

Religion enigmania Mar 2024 #13

If I wanted to be ruled by Opus Dei intolerance I would join Opus Dei. They can keep their mystical cloud daddy. Comfortably_Numb Mar 2024 #14

Hi redqueen, thank you for starting this discussion. Pendrench Mar 2024 #15

"The Founding Myth" by Andrew L. Seidel RSherman Mar 2024 #16

Not surprising at all redqueen Mar 2024 #48

We have a family member who made us to all join hands while he said grace, a very long grace with lots of Jesus. CrispyQ Mar 2024 #17

I grew up Catholic. redqueen Mar 2024 #49

I have a few friends who are very religious mountain grammy Mar 2024 #18

Let me rec this post 50 times. Orrex Mar 2024 #19

It is quite clear to me that the establishment clause of the First Amendment edhopper Mar 2024 #20

I think it was meant to work both ways. bluescribbler Mar 2024 #58

I think it's both bluescribbler Mar 2024 #59

Moi aussi. malthaussen Mar 2024 #22

"religion should be strictly prohibited from being mentioned in political campaigning at all" redqueen Mar 2024 #50

Sure, but candidates bragging about their religion should be unacceptable. malthaussen Mar 2024 #55

Agree so very, very strongly. redqueen Mar 2024 #56

We should be embracing critical thinking skills Flatrat Mar 2024 #23

"Theology is the effort to explain the unknowable in terms of the not worth knowing." - H. L. Mencken sop Mar 2024 #24

Are there any proveable facts in the bible? Science relies on years of research and peer reviews to establish...... usaf-vet Mar 2024 #25

None that I know of. Lunabell Mar 2024 #29

There were two of them anyway. Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #43

The 'old testament' has some more or less accurate history. Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #42

And there's no evidence at all for Jewish enslavement in Egypt. Lunabell Mar 2024 #44

Yeah that one is ludicrous Voltaire2 Mar 2024 #45

For me, religion is a waste PJMcK Mar 2024 #26

Agree. Too many Elmer Gantry types selling quackery. kairos12 Mar 2024 #27

There are a lot of lies a Society promotes Farmer-Rick Mar 2024 #30

Ali G gets them. LOL! kairos12 Mar 2024 #31

Overwhelmingly, religion is the public sphere supports far right wing policies .. DBoon Mar 2024 #34

It annoys me that on crime programs, or newspapers aka-chmeee Mar 2024 #35

Thank you for this. CTriverYankee Mar 2024 #36

Napolean said it best notKeith Mar 2024 #38

A bit of wisdom once taught to me -- byronius Mar 2024 #40

I've long described religion as... GiqueCee Mar 2024 #41

Religion should be treated... Shermanator Mar 2024 #46

Christianity is just a big death cult. Sky Jewels Mar 2024 #61

Nuns...tv shows always had characters apologize if cursibg around a nun..as if she was more delicate Demovictory9 Mar 2024 #51

Some of the most vicious, vituperative people I have ever met were nuns. Act_of_Reparation Mar 2024 #60

Thanks for posting this. Think. Again. Mar 2024 #53

gottta have that fear of hell to make people turn over their power and cash nt msongs Mar 2024 #54