Does Secularism Make People More Ethical?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,777281,00.html

08/11/2011

Going Godless

Does Secularism Make People More Ethical?

By Hilmar Schmundt

Non-believers are often more educated, more tolerant and know more about God than the pious. A new wave of research is trying to figure out what goes on in the minds of an ever-growing group of people known as the "Nones".

Barry Kosmin is a different kind of market researcher. His data focuses on consumers targeted by companies like Lifechurch.tv or World Overcomers Christian Church TM. The sociologist analyzes church-affiliated commercial entities, from souvenir shops to television channels and worship services.

But the most significant target of Kosmin's research is the consumer group most likely to shy away from such commercial products: secularists. "The non-religious, or Nones, hold the fastest-growing world view in the market," says Kosmin. "In the past 20 years, their numbers in the United States have doubled to 15 percent." snip

Secularists make up some 15 percent of the global population, or about 1 billion people. As a group, this puts them third in size behind Christians (2.3 billion) and Muslims (1.6 billion). Despite their large numbers, little is known about this group of people. Who are they? And if not religion, what do they believe in?

This is more BS about how our 'values' are based on Christianity....they aren't.

that ethics "must" be derived from religion in "The God Delusion." Not a brick was left standing. From what I see of the most loudly and devoutly religulous, I'd say that there is an inverse correlation - approaching causation - of religulous belief and ethical behavior.

depend a lot on tradition and ceremony while I, as a secular humanist, view how my actions as they relate to the people around me.

Also, this forgiveness for your sins stuff really gives a person with low ethical standards cover to behave like a scoundrel for his or her whole life and then be granted salvation at the end as long as they take god into their life...

Now that's a setup for amoral activity if I ever saw one...

a good portion of Dr. Dawkins' argument! :hi:

to not see another as equally human. I'm not trying to brush stroke as I put in "abused". Bad leaders will on most occasions abuse religion or take advantage if it for their personal gain. However, an ethical person is an ethical person no matter religion, creed, or absent one.

Dammit, do I have to spell this out again???

But does true-believing religion make people less ethical -- I do not doubt that.

Likewise, true-believing secularism. But, then, secularism may tend to lead to less true-believing.