Uncertainty persists over whether the elimination of religion globally would improve the world's condition.
Check out this fascinating insight into the modern world of faith! Last year, the marketing powerhouse Ipsos conducted a massive survey on religious beliefs, spanning a whopping 26 different countries. The findings reveal a shift from the predictions of the secularization prophets of the 20th century - religion isn't on the decline as once believed.
In fact, across Europe, Generation Z is displaying a growing interest in houses of worship. Why is this, you ask? Well, research has shown that religion brings numerous benefits to communities and individuals. Let's look at some examples from the United States, where renowned sociologist Rodney Stark has carried out extensive studies:
• Regular worshippers have lower rates of criminal activities such as burglary, theft, robbery, assault, rape, and murder.
• Worshippers live an average of 7.6 years longer than non-religious individuals. They also report higher levels of life satisfaction and fewer problems related to depression and neuroses.
• Among worshippers, there are more marriages, fewer divorces, and more happily married couples compared to the general public.
Similar trends surface in Europe as well. A recent study in Denmark found that religiously active men required around a third fewer hospital visits than their secular counterparts. Shockingly, religious individuals hospitalized in Denmark had lower mortality rates, with men experiencing a 30% reduction and women experiencing a 44% reduction in mortality rates.
Now, one might argue that religion leads to harmful conflicts and wars. However, historian of religion Mattias Gardell reveals that more than 90% of all armed conflicts between 1945 and 2001 were primarily driven by factors other than religion. Moreover, American sociologist and political scientist Robert Woodberry found that Protestant Christian missionaries played a significant role in half of the variation in democracy in regions like Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania.
So, it seems that many Europeans might be mistaken in their assumption that the world would be better off without religion. In fact, it's far from certain that such a world would even exist!
Olof Edsinger, the jefe of the Swedish Evangelical Alliance.
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Courtesy of Evangelical Focus - European perspectives - Far from certain that the world would be a better place without religion.
Science and health-and-wellness often intersect when examining the benefits of religious practices. For instance, regular worshippers exhibit lower crime rates and longer lifespans, suggesting a correlation between faith and personal well-being.
Given these health and social benefits, it could be argued that a secular world might not offer the same level of wellness experienced by those who practice religion. This perspective, championed by Olof Edsinger, raises intriguing questions about the potential impact of religion on overall community health and wellness.
