Religion
Related: About this forumA surprising map of where the world’s atheists live
By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, Published: May 23, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Pope Franciss pronouncement that God has redeemed all of us
even the atheists Wednesday surprised both believers and nonbelievers around the world, who are used to stricter edicts from the Catholic church. It also got us wondering where the worlds atheists live.
Theres surprisingly little data available on the subject. But a 2012 poll by WIN/Gallup International an international polling firm that is not associated with the D.C.-based Gallup group asked more than 50,000 people in 40 countries whether they considered themselves religious, not religious or convinced atheist. Overall, the poll concluded that roughly 13 percent of global respondents identified as atheists, more than double the percentage in the U.S.
The highest reported share of self-described atheists is in China: an astounding 47 percent. Faith has a complicated history in China. The state is deeply skeptical of organized religion, which it has long considered a threat to its authority.
In the Taipei rebellion of the 19th century, a religious cult started a Chinese civil war that killed millions of people and left the country exposed to European powers. The official ideology of the Communist government scorned both new Western religions and more traditionally Chinese faiths, destroying countless temples and relics during the Cultural Revolution of 1967 to 1977. While todays Chinese leaders do not seem to share Mao Zedongs fervent belief that Chinas rich religious history was holding it back from modernity, nor do they seem prepared to bring that history back.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/
LostOne4Ever
(9,289 posts)By asking if respondents are religious, not religious, or convinced atheists they have already skewed the poll in one way or another. What they should have asked was a simple "do you believe in any god or gods?" We already know from census data that the US is between 10-20% depending on how many "nones" believe in any god(s).
But these type of poll are seldom interested in finding out about the actual atheist population and more about finding out the number of people who believe there is no god (a subset of atheism).
dimbear
(6,271 posts)It's part of the common knowledge base here.
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If you compare it side by side with a map of world poverty, you're getting into surprise territory, at least for some.
rug
(82,333 posts)dimbear
(6,271 posts)comparison of the income gap exists, but the Chinese are ahead by a factor of '3 or 4 or 5.' All, as you say, capitalists. The ones who seem to be laying ground for their future? The Chinese.
rug
(82,333 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(101,322 posts)I hope it hadn't started a diplomatic row with Taiwan