I'm one of those you refer to, and you've reacted to one of my artciles to, so here's my reaction:
Your arguments are purely based on what you think or believe, utter fantasy! Let's look at some actual, factual data shall we?
You've painted a vivid picture of a world where belief in God is the cornerstone of morality and societal well-being. However, let's take a moment to examine some real-world data that might offer a different perspective.
Happiness and Religion:
Countries with lower levels of religious belief often rank among the happiest. For instance, the World Happiness Report consistently places nations like Finland, Denmark, and Sweden at the top. These countries have high percentages of individuals identifying as non-religious or atheist.
Safety and Religion:
When it comes to safety, less religious countries tend to have lower crime rates. The Global Peace Index ranks countries like Iceland, New Zealand, and Portugal—nations with significant non-religious populations—as some of the safest in the world.
Ethics and Religion:
The idea that morality requires religious belief doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Studies have shown that secular societies often have strong ethical frameworks. For example, the Netherlands, with a high percentage of non-religious individuals, has progressive social policies and a strong sense of community responsibility.
Charitable Giving and Religion:
While religious individuals often engage in charitable activities, secular countries also demonstrate high levels of generosity. For instance, Norway and Sweden, both with significant non-religious populations, are among the top contributors to international aid.
In summary, the data suggests that societies with lower levels of religious belief can and do thrive in terms of happiness, safety, and ethical standards. It appears that human beings are quite capable of building harmonious and prosperous societies without relying on religious frameworks.
And isn’t it strange that believers would expect humanity to descend into chaos without divine supervision when every other species seems to be managing just fine? Just take a look at the animal kingdom: from elephants to wolves, dolphins to chimps—entire societies of mammals live together, take care of each other, and even grieve for lost members, all without a single holy book, moral code, or cosmic referee in sight.
If nature itself thrives on cooperation, empathy, and balance, why would humanity, of all creatures, need a God to achieve the same? It’s a bit like believing that a lion pride would suddenly fall apart without someone reading aloud from The Savannah Ethics Manual. And yet here we are, the self-proclaimed pinnacle of evolution, apparently in desperate need of divine babysitting just to keep from eating each other.
It’s almost as if morality and social harmony aren’t gifts from the heavens but are simply part of being, well, alive. Perhaps humans are capable of goodness for the same reasons elephants protect their young or bonobos resolve conflicts with… unconventional methods. We, like every other creature on Earth, might just be naturally inclined toward survival, compassion, and connection.
