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by Scientologists like to measure their followers with a peculiar device known as the Hubbard Electrometer. Other groups prefer to conduct statistical surveys to establish a real basis of study. The Kaiser Family Foundation and the Pew Global Attitudes Project interviewed more than 45,000 people across the world in an attempt to determine cultural perception of various life attributes (pdf). One of these was the relationship between economic status and "religiousity" - defined as how much religion drives daily life based on some common questions. Despite a small number of outliers, by and large it was found the most religious cultures were those struggling with economic strife whereas wealthy people were more secular. Does religion find its growth primarily through the helpless and uneducated?
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4 Nerd-Its
Correlation between wealth and pride
This isn't necessarily an unexpected trend. There are stories all throughout the Christian scriptures about the tendency of those who are poor to accept the gospel much more willingly than those who are wealthy. The difference, however, is those writings relate the phenomenon to pride, while the final question in this post insinuates a link to education.
I guess my question is, how do you differentiate whether the poor accept religion because they are uneducated or because they are humble?
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3 Nerd-Its
Scientology Uses Similar Tactic
It's an easy phenomenon to understand how the down trodden get drawn into religion. In modern America, however, its more difficult for an upstart cult to get moving into full religious swing thus requiring a different tact. In New York City, you see scientologists all over Times Square with their little Dianetics tables set up and blood pressure cuffs. Here, their tactic is not to offer "something better" after passing on from poverty but an escape from the stress of NYC's hustle and bustle. While I think the whole thing is a joke - I have to admit that it's a clever use of "knowing your audience." A friend and I faked our identities and came up with a backstory of problems to go into the scientology lair on 46th street. The whole thing is such a play on psychology that somebody who really is depressed or overly stressed could easily buy into their lines. The older religions acquired their base following in much the same way with promises of a better life (from slavery and oppression and beatings) and an afterlife to enjoy (from poverty and starvation and disease). Wouldn't you want that too?
0 Nerd-Its
Western Bias?
The study suggests a correlation between religiosity and poverty, but that doesn't prove that one causes the other.
It would also be interesting to know more about how these survey questions were framed. At the bottom of the summary page, they note: "Religiosity is measured using a three-item index ranging from 0-3, with "3" representing the most religious position. Respondents were given a "1" if they believe faith in God is necessary for morality; a "1" if they say religion is very important in their lives; and a "1" if they pray at least once a day."
That seems to me a rather simplistic way of measuring a very complex topic, and one biased toward Abrahamic religions. Faith in God is a much more complicated question in Hinduism or Taoism, and is (along with prayer) almost meaningless to most forms of Buddhism. Christianity and Islam do represent about half of the world's population, and non-religious about 12-14%, but what about the remaining third?
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Maybe the last question should be ... by Anonymous :: NR0 :: Show
Do pompous pseudo-intellectuals riding the wave of continuing comfort forget their true place in the universe and responsibilities on earth while viewing themselves as gods each with their own equally valid religion?