Friday 18 March 2011

Why Atheism will replace religon

"Atheists are heavily concentrated in economically developed countries, particularly the social democracies of Europe. In underdeveloped countries, there are virtually no atheists. Atheism is thus a peculiarly modern phenomenon. Why do modern conditions produce atheism?"

1 comment:

  1. Yeah, but isn't there also the social norm argument as to why the behaviour of the majority can appear self-perpetuating. Of course it's always easier to 'go with the flow' and fit in.

    But in western Europe, for example, many have an equation between 'having a religion' and 'going to church'. Ever since the rise of television fewer people have bothered to go to church - simply not feeling it was either the social norm nor something they wanted to do. We have a fatter, lazier, couch potato culture which mitigates against going to church.

    Mind you - is it still true that even in western Europe - most people are baptised, marry and are buried with the help of the church?

    And no, I don't think 'sport' is the 'new religion' as she argues in another article - but I think the watching of it on Sky Sports perhaps is for a number of lager-drinking twenty- and thirty-somethings. But are Sky Sports a prime cause of our high divorce rates?

    This is a can of worms!

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