Connection Between Quality Of Life And The Spread Of Religion?

[Thrive]

A mountain of evidence demonstrates that stable, egalitarian economies correlate strongly with higher rates of atheism. It seems that the government’s demonstration of faith in its people and commitment to their well-being has gone a long way towards keeping the citizens from rekindling religious faith, whereas in places like Russia, where citizens are more desperate, looking to God for answers perhaps becomes more appealing.

 

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/29/eight_of_the_best_countries_to_be_an_atheist/

 

I came across this quote in an old article the other day and it raised a point I found interesting.  Is there a connection between quality of life and the spread of religion?  For those who are suffering poverty, war, social injustices, etc. would they be more likely to seek religion to find answers and comfort, or would they be turned off by religion due to a god not answering their prayers for relief?

 

I wonder if studies were done on this idea in former communist countries.  Did people return to old family religions, seek out new ones or continue to live secular lives?

 

In the US I beleive the majority of religion comes from youth indoctrination, however it would be interesting to see how many adult converts came to religion during times of struggle in thier life.

 

 

[florduh]

Welcome, Thrive.

 

I think a simple observation of our communities says at least something. Drive through the poor neighborhoods and you're likely to see a storefront church on every block. Now take a tour of a community of more affluent and better educated people; few if any churches and they're never "holiness" this or "abundance" that. Adversity seems to breed religious belief out of desperation; no atheists in foxholes, remember?

[Vigile]

"whereas in places like Russia, where citizens are more desperate, looking to God for answers perhaps becomes more appealing."

 

I have no idea how they justify this position.  I've lived in Russia for 10 years now and the people are neither desperate nor seeking god.

 

My friends who call themselves orthodox are in no way religious like people in the US who call themselves christian.  You wouldn't know they were orthodox if you didn't get into a debate with them over Pussy Riot or notice the good luck icon they keep in their car.  They certainly aren't going to church, the support the theory of evolution, etc...  American evangelicals would call them heathen in every sense of the word. 

 

Perhaps life in some villages are different, but the one's I've been to are certainly not. 

[florduh]

I've lived in Russia for 10 years now and the people are neither desperate nor seeking god.

 

Yeah, I've seen some of the "real russia" vids and others   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkt0wzOLfgmPoLAAwkbHYQ   and it seems very similar to America, whether visiting a supermarket, a McDonald's or barber shop. I could easily live there (except for the weather and language, of course).

[Vigile]

 

I've lived in Russia for 10 years now and the people are neither desperate nor seeking god.

 

Yeah, I've seen some of the "real russia" vids and others   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkt0wzOLfgmPoLAAwkbHYQ   and it seems very similar to America, whether visiting a supermarket, a McDonald's or barber shop. I could easily live there (except for the weather and language, of course).

 

 

Your heart might have trouble handling all those discos full of pole dancers too.

 

I really like that kid who does the Real Russia vids.  Has a nice personality. 

[Thrive]

Thanks for the insight Vigile!  I wonder if it is similar to what flordah mentioned here where it would be more prominant in lower economical areas.  I have a co worker from Albania who converted to Mormonism. She loves to talk about her life there so I'll have to see what she thinks about it.

[directionless]

I suspect that bad quality of life promotes religion, but one thing to consider is that quality of life is in the eye of the beholder.

 

So many people today are depressed, and I can't believe it has always been such a common problem. I would use depression rates as a measure of quality of life instead of disposable income, purchasing power, and things like that.

[Vigile]

Thanks for the insight Vigile!  I wonder if it is similar to what flordah mentioned here where it would be more prominant in lower economical areas.  I have a co worker from Albania who converted to Mormonism. She loves to talk about her life there so I'll have to see what she thinks about it.

 

I just asked my wife about it and she said that definitely, those in the rural villages are far more religious than here in the city.  I pressed her trying to understand what it means to be religious in Russia as I just haven't seen anything like religious fundamentalism here.  She said it basically means they are superstitious and if they have a church, they will go there and light candles and pray, but they don't go around preaching and they otherwise live just like their secular neighbors.  I explained to her that religious folk in the US will go to church 2 or 3 times a week, run around preaching to their friends, subject themselves to loads of guilt, etc...  She was emphatic that Russians, religious or not, would never preach to anyone and if one did they'd likely no longer be considered friends by their target as it's totally unacceptable behavior in this culture.  They aren't overburdened with rules and guilt and such.  If I got it right, they are following customs, but aren't anything like fundamentalists.

[♦ Fuego ♦]

For years, my view of Russia was through the eyes of Brother Andrew who smuggled in Bibles during the Soviet years. So it was always portrayed as people either hardened communists or desperate to even touch a real Bible. Atheists or Pentecostals and not much in between. The Russian families I know here came over as refugees from the end of the Soviet years and are Pentecostals, so that is the view they present also.

 

For those on the outside of Christianity looking in, it isn't that way at all. Just normal life and normal people.

[Vigile]

Yeah, I know some Russian pentacostals in the US too as my late uncle used to be their pastor.  They are a completely different breed from the ones they left behind in Russia.  Maybe they emigrated for that very reason.  I'm not sure. 

 

Funny story about my uncle, btw.  The Russian word for blue (goloboi) also means gay.  My uncle was an extremely gregarious guy and he learned a few Russian words.  For instance, he knew that 'droog' means friend and 'goloboi' means blue.  So when he saw his friend Sergei walking up with another Russian wearing a blue shirt, my uncle reached out and grabbed his hand and said loudly "Sergei! Privet moi goloboi droog!" (Sergei, hello, my gay friend!)