Just Thinking

Many non-religious people have experienced religious people claiming that they are therefore less moral and related arguments. Of course this is not true, but this belief is common amoung the religious, that morality comes from religion.

Now some actual research has been done, looking at how prevalent various religious behaviours are in different countries and comparing this to various moral behaviours and healthiness of living. The results are bound to be a big shock to those that think that healthy and moral behaviour come from religion - quite the opposite is true. Consider these two lists - the first concerns itself with being religious and the commonly associated disbelief in evolution. The second is concerned with behaviours which most would agree are immoral and / or unhealthy.

Absolute belief in God
Attend religious services at least several times per month
Take the bible literally
Pray at least several times per week
Not being an agnostic or athiest
Disbelieve in evolution

High homicide rate
High rate of 15-24 year old suicides
High rate of under 5 year old mortality
Lower life expectancy
Higher rate of gonorrhea infection - adults and teens
Higher rate of syphilis infection - adults and teens
Higher rate of 15-19 year old abortions
Higher rate of 15-17 year old pregnancies

It turns out that countries that are higher in the first category items are also generally higher in the second category items. The two go together. It cannot be stated that religion causes immorality, as it might be that immorality causes religion, or something else causes both. But they do go together.

The full details of this report are available at website of the Journal of Religion and Society.

I would interpret these results in this way. If you look to God, prayer and religion to solve your problems, then when nothing happens you are lost. If you look to yourself to solve your problems, then you take responsibility for all your own behaviour. The latter is a much more healthy approach as it develops useful patterns of behaviour whereas the former develops dependency on something that is imaginary and then disappointment and upset is inevitable.

See also the follow up article Do unto others as you would have done unto you.