World Poll Finds Striking Connection Between Wealth And Belief In God

[Rachel20]

From the Pew Research Centre -

Worldwide, Many See Belief in God as Essential to Morality

Richer Nations Are Exception

Many people around the world think it is necessary to believe in God to be a moral person, according to surveys in 40 countries by the Pew Research Center. However, this view is more common in poorer countries than in wealthier ones.

The survey also finds that publics in richer nations tend to place less emphasis on the need to believe in God to have good values than people in poorer countries do. Two countries, however, stand out as clear exceptions to this pattern: the U.S. and China. Americans are much more likely than their economic counterparts to say belief in God is essential to morality, while the Chinese are much less likely to do so.

There are also significant divides within some countries based on age and education, particularly in Europe and North America. In general, individuals age 50 or older and those without a college education are more likely to link morality to religion. For example, in Greece, 62% of older adults say it is necessary to believe in God to be a moral person, while just 29% of 18- to 29-year-olds agree. In the U.S., a majority of individuals without a college degree (59%) say faith is essential to be an upright person, while fewer than four-in-ten college graduates say the same (37%).

I don't think this should really surprise any Christian. ( The headline is borrowed from a huffingtonpost article.)

I am reminded of this verse.

Proverbs 30:8-9


[SUP]8 [/SUP]Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
[SUP]9 [/SUP]lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.

 

[Crimson_Lark]

Hi Rachel, When I said I saw an article supporting your thoughts in the chat room, I didn't mean this one.

The article I saw was data collected from a dating site which showed that those who were the most sexually promiscuous were the wealthy. It would be interesting to do an analysis of those who claim to be moral without God and find out if their words match their actions.

 

[Rachel20]

Thanks Crimson! That would be an interesting one too.

 

[strong]

Often time people who feel they to be “moral” do not believein God. Maybe this is the blessing of the “holy spirit” Jesus makes availableto all. These people have not read the Bible or understand how God’s directionis available to all.
In the US where most people tend to have some amount ofeducation. Unfortunately the practice or study of any type of religion has beentaken out of schools from grade school through colleges.

 

[SonInMe]

What is moral?

To a poor person in a third world nation that could be something completely different to an executive in an industrialized nation.

To a muslim, its one thing.

To a christian its another.

You can find a 1000 dollar an hour prostitute, or a five dollar a night one. Money does not have to define access to sin.

Socialist countries tend not to consider God essential to morality. They have replaced God with government.

In islamic countries they might be afraid to tell the truth, in public, about God and morality.

Works based religions will always equate God with morality but that is a function of pride and self assessments more than actual morality. They hide behind laws and rules but in private are, often as not, more immoral than those with a faith based, freedom centered faith.