Progressive Societies and Atheism.

[PassingFair]

http://www.alternet.org/belief/156007/do_people_get_less_religious_when_societies_grow_more_egalitarian


snip> Previous research indicates that when countries embrace progressive social policy, that tends to create a decline in religious belief. The theory, often called the “secularization thesis” is that the combination of good education of its citizens and the fact that citizens can rely on the government instead of the church for poverty relief means that more people will turn away from religion. But could the reasons go deeper than that? Few people base their choice of whether to believe in God or not on something as simple as whether they can go to the church or the state in times of need. Perhaps it’s more that economic insecurity itself increases the desire to believe in God. And if atheists want to minimize the power religion plays in society, should they start by demanding a more secure and egalitarian society? <unsnip


Most of the Democratic atheists I know call themselves Progressives.

[notadmblnd]

1. It's been my observation that people turn to a church/religion at the lowest points in their lives.

Or because it benefits them in some way (not necessarily monetarily).

For example: people that get sent to prison often get religion in that prison pretty darn quick. When they get out they get out and feel they're doing better, god is suddenly forgotten and they are back to their old ways. Some turn to church/religion after a horrific tragedy and they are looking for answers as to why the tragedy occured. When they get through their grief process and have accepted their loss, many of them also decrease their attendence.

Others may use religion/church for what they think will benefit them. I had a manager once who was complaining about having to go to church on Sunday, when I asked him why he wnet to church if he didn't like it, he replied that they needed someone to perform wedding and funerals for their families. I also have a sister who became a Catholic for a man. He was a church going guy. He turned to the church when he and his alcoholic wife divorced leaving him with 3 kids to raise. he ended up leaving her at the alter and she stopped attending. He decided he needed the company of many other women and stopped attending too.

Another man I knew began attending church because he thought it would be helpful if he had a preacher testifying in court against his ex-wife in a custody battle.

So no, I don't think it is economic insecurity itself that increases the desire to believe in God. It's more of a last resort type of thing for what ever a preson feels that they need and can't get elsewhere at that particular time.

does that make sense?

[PassingFair]

2. My mother goes for the high. She gets high on the concept of "everlasting life".

She bitches about having to put up with all of the other old people there,
driving them to and from church, etc, but she LOVES the singing about
eternal life.

I'm too tired to care about eternal life.

Eternal sleep looks pretty good to me some days.

[notadmblnd]

3. Eternal sleep.

boy, aint that the truth?