So, why is the US the most religious country in the West?

[Deicide]

I have often wondered this. It could be because of large separated expanses of land, forcing communities together because of their social cohesion value but these days that does not seem like a good argument. Still, religiosity increases in parity to the level of ruralness. In places like New York, religiosity is lowest, so maybe the old argument does hold water, whereas a small town in Nebraska will likely have a high degree of relgiosity.

Some areas are less religious than others, the North East is the least religious part of the United States. I could think of reasons for this but overall Americans appear to be insanely religious.

I am not interested in whether or not this is a good thing (I already have an opinion of that and moreover, it's just the way things are) but in the principles of causation.

Has anyone done any proper research of the sources or causes of American religiosity compared to other developed countries?

[Deicide]

I found this, very interesting and plausible:

http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-are-americans-religious.html

One of the major questions in 21st century sociology is why are Americans so much more religious than citizens in other industrialized nations. The answer, if there is one, will help us understand why evolution is rejected by so many Americans.

Gregory S. Paul is a writer who has long been interested in this question. His latest contribution is published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology (Paul, 2009).

Paul examined the correlation between religiosity and the Successful Societies Scale (SSS). SSS measures things like crime rates, divorces, mortality rates etc. The United States (U) seems like an outlier compared to other countries.

Does belief in God cause a society to be dysfunctional or are less successful countries more likely to encourage religiosity? Or is there no obvious cause and effect behind this correlation?

You'll have to read the paper to see how Gregory Paul address these questions and how he rules out many possible explanations. I find his conclusion quite intriguing—I never thought of it this way.

Among the prosperous democracies all but the U.S. have adopted most or all of a set of pragmatic progressive governmental policies that have elevated these nation’s societal efficiency, success and security while reducing personal levels of stress and anxiety. These include reduced socioeconomic disparity and competition via targeted tax and welfare strategies, handgun control, anti-corporal punishment and anti-bullying policies, protection for women in abusive relationships, intensive sex education that emphasizes condom use, rehabilitative incarceration, increased leisure time that can be dedicated to family needs, and perhaps most importantly job security and universal health care that make it difficult for ordinary citizens to suffer catastrophic financial failure. Social ills are correspondingly suppressed. As a member of the 1st world the U.S. is an anomalous outlier not only in its religiosity, but in social, economic and political policies as well. Provided with comparatively low levels of government support and protection in favor of less restrained capitalism, members of the middle class are at serious risk of financial and personal ruin if they lose their job or private health insurance; around a million go bankrupt in a year, about half due in part to often overwhelming medical bills. The need to acquire wealth as a protective buffer encourages an intense competitive race to the top, which contributes to income inequality. The latter leaves a large cohort mired in poverty. Levels of societal pathology are correspondingly high. The evidence indicates that the modulation of capitalism via progressive policies is producing superior overall national circumstances compared to the more laissez-faire capitalism favored in the U.S.
       The relationship of religion to these patterns appears to be both passive and active. Starting with the passive, the middle class majorities of western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan apparently feel sufficiently secure in their lives that increasingly few citizens feel a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator, resulting in dramatic drops in religious belief and activity (Norris and Inglehart, 2004; Paul and Zuckerman, 2007; Zuckerman, 2008). With the implosion of the general religious belief, few subscribe to a fundamentalist world-view that provides the base for creationist opinion,. That there are no major 1st world exceptions to this pattern, and that a significant religious revival has yet to occur in a secular democracy, indicate that the socioeconomic security process of democratic secularization is highly effective even though it is an accidental side effect of progressive economic policies. The universality of the effect is further supported by Asian Japan experiencing the same basic secularization process as the EuroChristian heritage secular democracies. America’s high-risk circumstances, the strong variation in economic circumstances, and chronic competitiveness help elevate rates of social pathology, and strongly contribute to high levels of personal stress and anxiety. The majority of Americans are left feeling sufficiently insecure that they perceive a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator, boosting levels of religious opinion and participation. The nation’s good ratings in life satisfaction and happiness is compatible with a large segment of the population using religion to psychologically compensate for high levels of apprehension; America’s apparently high level mental illness (Bijl, 2003) may be in accord with this suggestion. The ultimate expression of this social phenomenon is the large minority who adhere to the evangelical Prosperity Christianity and Rapture cultures whose Bible-based world-view favors belief in the Genesis creation story. The results of this study are therefore compatible with and support the socioeconomic security hypothesis of democratic secularization.

[Dos Equis]

In large part because it was founded by "religious" people who made faith a central part of their lives. 

[Deicide]

In large part because it was founded by "religious" people who made faith a central part of their lives. 

That was a long time ago. I do not think it is necessarily relevant today as an explanation.

[Dos Equis]

That was a long time ago. I do not think it is necessarily relevant today as an explanation.

Sure it is.  Pretty much 100 percent of the country was "religious" when it was founded.  In fact, all of the schools were religious.  We didn't have public schools.  We even had mandatory prayer in public schools until the 20th Century.  It's all over our historical documents.  Every president has embraced it.  It permeates our city councils and state legislatures.  It is something that has been a deeply ingrained part of our country from its inception.   

[loco]

I found this, very interesting and plausible:

http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-are-americans-religious.html

One of the major questions in 21st century sociology is why are Americans so much more religious than citizens in other industrialized nations. The answer, if there is one, will help us understand why evolution is rejected by so many Americans.

Gregory S. Paul is a writer who has long been interested in this question. His latest contribution is published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology (Paul, 2009).

Paul examined the correlation between religiosity and the Successful Societies Scale (SSS). SSS measures things like crime rates, divorces, mortality rates etc. The United States (U) seems like an outlier compared to other countries.

Does belief in God cause a society to be dysfunctional or are less successful countries more likely to encourage religiosity? Or is there no obvious cause and effect behind this correlation?

You'll have to read the paper to see how Gregory Paul address these questions and how he rules out many possible explanations. I find his conclusion quite intriguing—I never thought of it this way.

"middle class majorities of western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan apparently feel sufficiently secure in their lives that increasingly few citizens feel a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator" - Gregory Paul

"The majority of Americans are left feeling sufficiently insecure that they perceive a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator, boosting levels of religious opinion and participation." - Gregory Paul


So he is saying that because people in western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan trust their government to provide them with free health care, food and retirement funds, they no longer "need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator."  Their government is their god.  

But most Americans on the other hand, since they do not "yet" receive these handouts from their government, they still have a need for God, right?


Yup, that is consistent with what the Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:10 (New International Version, ©2011)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Mark 10:24-25
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[1] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Footnotes:

   1. Mark 10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches




So by Gregory Paul's logic, when socialist policies fail in western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan, will people in these nations go back to seeking aid and protection of a supernatural creator?

[Deicide]

"middle class majorities of western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan apparently feel sufficiently secure in their lives that increasingly few citizens feel a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator" - Gregory Paul

"The majority of Americans are left feeling sufficiently insecure that they perceive a need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator, boosting levels of religious opinion and participation." - Gregory Paul


So he is saying that because people in western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan trust their government to provide them with free health care, food and retirement funds, they no longer "need to seek the aid and protection of a supernatural creator."  Their government is their god.  

But most Americans on the other hand, since they do not "yet" receive these handouts from their government, they still have a need for God, right?


Yup, that is consistent with what the Bible says:

1 Timothy 6:10 (New International Version, ©2011)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Mark 10:24-25
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[1] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Footnotes:

   1. Mark 10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches




So by Gregory Paul's logic, when socialist policies fail in western Europe, Canada, Austro-Zealand and Japan, will people in these nations go back to seeking aid and protection of a supernatural creator?

Apparently so.

[MCWAY]

Sure it is.  Pretty much 100 percent of the country was "religious" when it was founded.  In fact, all of the schools were religious.  We didn't have public schools.  We even had mandatory prayer in public schools until the 20th Century.  It's all over our historical documents.  Every president has embraced it.  It permeates our city councils and state legislatures.  It is something that has been a deeply ingrained part of our country from its inception.   

Some Ivy League schools were formed by churches. And Bibles were textbooks, in these schools.

[Dos Equis]

Some Ivy League schools were formed by churches. And Bibles were textbooks, in these schools.

Yep.  We also have chaplains who serve in the U.S. Senate and in the military.  Really not hard to see why we are such a "religious" country when you look at our history. 

[loco]

US Supreme Court Building, Moses and The 10 Commandments

[garebear]

Some Ivy League schools were formed by churches. And Bibles were textbooks, in these schools.

Um, every time I see your posts I think the same thing - you're stupid.

[Dos Equis]

Um, every time I see your posts I think the same thing - you're stupid.

He's smarter than you.  So what does that make you?   

[garebear]

He's smarter than you.  So what does that make you?   

Um, huh?

[MCWAY]

Um, every time I see your posts I think the same thing - you're stupid.

Let's see:

Brown University, formed by Baptists.

Columbia University, by the Church of England.

Harvard, by Puritan Congregationalists.

Next time you post this stuff, don't look in the mirror while doing so.

[loco]

Um, every time I see your posts I think the same thing - you're stupid.

Why?  MCWAY is a smart and educated man.  In his post which you quoted, is anything he said not true?

[garebear]

Let's see:

Brown University, formed by Baptists.

Columbia University, by the Church of England.

Harvard, by Puritan Congregationalists.

Next time you post this stuff, don't look in the mirror while doing so.

Hey, um, what's that mirror comment sposed to mean?

[Necrosis]

Hey, um, what's that mirror comment sposed to mean?

he is calling you stupid, stupid.

[garebear]

I don't think so. We're pretty tight.

Bros, in fact.

[Roger Bacon]

I know a lot of wealthy people that are extremely religious.  Some that were born that way, and some that became rich later in life.

Shouldn't they have lost their religion with the low stress life style that a big savings account brings?

[Butterbean]

I know a lot of wealthy people that are extremely religious.  Some that were born that way, and some that became rich later in life.

Shouldn't they have lost their religion with the low stress life style that a big savings account brings?

But why would they lose their belief just because they are wealthy?

There is more to belief in God than having physical needs taken care of.

And wealth does not automatically = low stress life.

[Roger Bacon]

But why would they lose their belief just because they are wealthy?

There is more to belief in God than having physical needs taken care of.

And wealth does not automatically = low stress life.

Oh no Butter, I agree with you... I'm just challenging Decides theory.

[Deicide]

But why would they lose their belief just because they are wealthy?

There is more to belief in God than having physical needs taken care of.

And wealth does not automatically = low stress life.

It's a general trend. Greater wealth and comfort tends to diminish existential worries and anxiety, one of the primary reasons for legitimate religious belief. The theory would need to be tested but I'd say it looks good on paper. No doubt there is a historical element to it as well, both in Europe and in the US.

[Butterbean]

Oh no Butter, I agree with you... I'm just challenging Decides theory.

Oh sorry!  I didn't read the whole thread

It's a general trend. Greater wealth and comfort tends to diminish existential worries and anxiety, .

The worry/anxiety of where your next meal is coming from or if you'll be able to pay your rent may be diminished, but other worries/anxieties may be increased in a wealthy person.

[garebear]

Maybe America's high religiosity is tied to its poor scores on nearly all academic tests.

Atheists are smarter people. The more you have of them, the smarter the citizenry will become.

A lot of/ most/ all those European or Asian countries that dominate us in testing have much greater percentages of non-religious people.

[MCWAY]

Maybe America's high religiosity is tied to its poor scores on nearly all academic tests.

Atheists are smarter people. The more you have of them, the smarter the citizenry will become.

A lot of/ most/ all those European or Asian countries that dominate us in testing have much greater percentages of non-religious people.

The higher test scores have ZILCH to do with the presence or absence of religion. It has everything to do with their focus and emphasis on education and discipline within schools.

Plus, you forgot about those Arab countries that also dominate us on those tests, with HUGE religiosity within its borders. In fact, wasn't another atheist blowhard, who whined about engineers, while making some correlation between a number of Muslim terorists, who happened to be engineers?

In case you forgot, some of America's most prestigious schools WERE FOUNDED by churches (I believe I pointed that out, the last time you spouted such silliness). And what of all them Jewish folks, who some complain about dominating banks and media?