Level of faith: Phillipines vs USA

[Mr Rayon]

Hey, everybody!

 

In regards to the Christian faith, which country do you believe is most religious?

 

That is, Phillipines or USA?

 

And also, worldwide which countries are most religious in terms of Christianity?

 

What does everyone think?

[Marat]

I spent a summer in the Philippines and asked a few people about atheism there. The universal reply was that 'there are no atheists in the Philippines.' Since most of the population is extremely poor, and the government does not offer free primary schooling, people are simply not given the intellectual equipment to develop a critical perspective on the ideological stranglehold of the Roman Catholic Church. There was also a well-deserved, nascent revolt against the government of Gloria Aroyo when I was there, but as soon as the Church expressed its disapproval of this movement, it exaporated.

 

Mexico at least has a strong tradition of criticism of accepted cultural dogma, and so along with its occasionaly forays into a sudden, revolutionary spirit, socialism, or even communism (Trotsky was given asylum there), it has opened a few windows of insight into atheism. Poland is so strongly Catholic that even its Communist government didn't dare displace the faith, as it did in Soviet Russia. Ireland as well has developed that peculiar integration of Catholicism, government, and culture that hardens into a type of cement which blocks all critical insight into its flaws among nearly all of those born into it. Many Islamic countries seem to suffer from the same phenomenon, although in their case the problem is even worse, since these countries lack the historical experience of the Renaissance, the Reformation, Historicism, Relativism, and Existentialism, so the cultural resources for radical criticism of existing belief systems are lacking.

 

Protestant belief, since it originates in a critical perspective on traditional Catholic dogma, is always more open to self-criticism, especially given its emphasis on the private faith and conviction of the individual believer, so it never produces as strong a hindrance to critical, atheistic insight as Catholicism does.

 

A useful if indirect measure of the strength of religious belief in various countries is to consult international tables of suicide rates. Since suicide is the ultimate and most radical act of critical insight into life possible, where suicide rates are very low -- such as in Mexico and the Philippines -- it is a sure sign that the critical insight necessary to escape religious dogma has not developed, so religion is irremovably strong.

[thinker_jeff]

A useful if indirect measure of the strength of religious belief in various countries is to consult international tables of suicide rates. Since suicide is the ultimate and most radical act of critical insight into life possible, where suicide rates are very low -- such as in Mexico and the Philippines -- it is a sure sign that the critical insight necessary to escape religious dogma has not developed, so religion is irremovably strong.

I think that this statement has to be limited in the world of Christianity.

Look the suicide rates in Middle East, and look the suicide rate in Japan especially in their past. In fact their religious belief have been too strong and over developed.

[Mr Rayon]

I think that this statement has to be limited in the world of Christianity.

Look the suicide rates in Middle East, and look the suicide rate in Japan especially in their past. In fact their religious belief have been too strong and over developed.

 

What exactly are the suicide rates in the Middle East?

[Hal.]

Marat said ,

 

Ireland as well has developed that peculiar integration of Catholicism, government, and culture that hardens into a type of cement which blocks all critical insight into its flaws among nearly all of those born into it.

 

The Irish people are free to exhibit a critique of Catholicism if they wish . This is the 21st century , not the 1920's .

 

 

[Marat]

I agree, you're perfectly free in law to express a criticism of established belief in Ireland, it's just that I costs you a knuckle sandwich in practice.

[Hal.]

Marat , In the 21st century there are books , magazines and newspapers written to communicate views as censorship has changed dramatically in recent decades . People appear on state television and radio and commercial television and radio to communicate their views to the public as again there is more freedom . Also , discussion in schools , colleges and universities takes place , for example . Lastly , a knuckle sandwich is bad practice unless you morally deserve it . But , be aware that , there are plenty of cases of people who have received one over the years and due to how they took it or how they landed on the ground it became their end .