Why doesn't anyone do a study about prosperity's of countries in relation to most popular religion followed?
541220
I also think there is a direct link between prosperity and religion. I live in South America (mostly catholic) and many countries in this part of the world are struggling very hard, too much poverty and illiteracy. Same with Islamic countries. The more ignorant and dependent you remain, the poorer you will be. No offense meant. A good religion is that one that allows you freedom of thought.
706647
All websites support your thesis. It's a well known fact that religion has a major impact on society and the law which governs the society.\n\nHence why we need Hindu Law, Muslim Personal Law etc etc...
115193
More than ever.  The debackle in Iraq is a perfect example why religion has no place in politics.  The Iraqi people  will not succeed in having an effective government until they employ this theory. Religion kills more people in the name of war than any other single factor, this is especially true in most Islamic countrys because anyone who wishes to interpret the Koran can do so, and many will do it to achieve their own objectives.  Look at Turkey, this is an Islamic country that has acheived much success because thet do seperate church and state.
768214
click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religions#Largest_religions_or_belief_systems_by_number_of_adherents
652644
i disagree with chilling_charlie cause developed countries could simply consume poor countries natural resources, process them and sell to other developed countries therefore making billions, i wouldn't call it a conspiracy though it's obvious that the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer nothing hidden to that, but i also say developing countries don't prosper because their populations are to cowardly to face their rulers, i live in one and i know how it works, until a mojor and organized movement happens there will be no hope, people have to do something if they want things to change
315924
I think religious people are just under-educated.  I was raised in a strict Lutheran home, and I sounded just like all the religious folk on this site when I talked.  I went off to college and learned a lot about the world I live in and gradually drifted away.  I still believe in a God of some sort, I'll even go as far as saying I still believe in the Christian God, but I will never again subscribe to any organized religion.  There are just too many questions the church has no good answer for, and as an educated person, I need answers.  I think if everyone branched out and learned about all the things they could, there would be far fewer religious people in this world.  It's easy to soak up everything a pastor or preacher says to you if you don't know any better.
728490
It all has to do with power and money. The protestants,\ncatholics and muslims are all the same, preying on the\nfollowers gullibility that heaven awaits them after they die.\nIn the 16th Century. the catholics had their inquisition\nso that they can confiscate your wealth. Too little have\nbeen done by the religious leaders to help out the poor\nstarving african nations. I can go on and on about all the\nstupid religions meddling in politics and inciting the\nfollowers to kill rather than love their fellow men.
176633
Actually, in the US, we do not REALLY know.\nPublic Law 94-521 prohibits us from asking a question on religious affiliation on a mandatory basis; therefore, the Bureau of the Census is not the source for information on religion.\n\nYou can check out the link below, but many people claim a religion that they do not actually practice. Many others are unaccounted for. So always take statistics like these as helpful but never completely as fact.
860324
Yeah.   Of course you need people to follow it...and then there is the problem of getting it recognized which in most ocuntries is both expensive and time consuming.   Then there is coming up with the various moral and ethical restrictions for the adherants to follow as well as the information on the deitiy (dieities) that the religion is dedicated to.   But the hardest part is getting other to follow it....IF you can mange it...more power to you...but it is a LOT of work...
309529
Wow, are you ever way off.\n\nIt is only recently that the East has had such poverty.  They were advanced beyond the West in many eras.  \n\nTheir spirituality is so pure.  They do not have this limited vision of God, that there is one way and one way only to God, and that if you don't follow that way, then you are off to hell.\n\nThey encourage spiritual seeking, thinking deeply, searching the soul, looking deep within, and realizing the ultimate Truth.  Whereas in the West, you just read a book, and mimic whatever it tells you to believe.\n\nEDIT:  I also want to add that you are possibly judging spirituality by materiality, and that is not correct in my opinion.\nI would rather be happy and poor than wealthy and miserable.  I think in the West, people are wealthy and miserable.  Those who live simpler lives are often much more fulfilled spiritually.\n\nI once heard a Chinese man say that he "tried Taoism" but was so unimpressed, because he never got rich practicing Taoism!  How silly!  You do not practice a religion to get rich!  His mind was focusing on the wrong goals.
461923
There is no BEST religion. In order to find yourself spiritually, you should do some research, look around, study what it is that people really believe. Then you can make you own decision. The world would probably be a better place if more people would try this and not blindly follow the first Leader to come along. Just be informed.
440609
It could be the weather, the small towns and cities, the close quarters.  The size of the country may lend to the creativity that comes from the UK.  The role religion plays in growing up, the need to stand out and stand up for something...? It could be all or none of these things.
828865
I don't think it'd be a particularly bad thing for there to be a religion course in public schools.  Religion is a huge part of modern society, and to be ignorant of (or worse, prejudiced about!) it is to lack understanding of a key factor in today's world.  You just can't fully understand events in Iran, Saudi Arabia, India, England, Tibet, Israel, France, Norway, the United States, or a myriad of other nations if you don't understand religion.  As for which religions should be taught, it should naturally be all the major ones, not just Christianity.
142499
Considering everything we do know that religions have supported, nothing would surprise me.  I would be more curious to know what has not been perpetrated in the name of religion.
183226
Mainly it's because people listen to other people instead of studying for themselves. God is the same God now that He was 2000 years ago. He didn't change. Not really a good answer but it's the best I can do for now.
797159
simply because their religions are just cults and they need more believers to continue the cult and make the leaders rich!\na2a
973862
After reading the article you linked to I can only say that one would probably need to read the research to really understand where the study is coming from. I really have to challenge some of the assumptions that are made such as Britain being a secular society and US being a religious one. My personal experience is exactly the opposite so I wonder what they based that assumption on?\n\nUntil I know exactly how they measured what societies are religions and what are not it is impossible to comment on their conclusions. But one thing I can say is that nowhere in the article do them mention any native religions or non-western ones so that would be a bias that invalidates the study anyway.\n\nNeed to read more on this.\n\nPeace and Blessings,\n\nSalim