I suspect that the underlying factor contributing to both secularism and welfare is education. We know that more educated people tend to be less religious, and we hope that they will be more productive and less violent. It would be interesting to correlate these figures with the proportion of students attending state schools and the average age of school-leaving across the various countries.

Might guess that most philosophers would prefer Hope, Faith and Charity to be just Hope and Charity, leaving Faith last.

Over here in WA, just heard Rudd's latest speech, and certainly agreed with the Keynesian flavour, but reckon as well as for Obama, Hope must come before faith.

Cheers, BB, WA.

<<The information presented in this discussion in no way proves that high levels of organic atheism>>> interestingly i noted that term throughout the article

so this organic athiesm thing,i thought agnostics wernt organic[or wernt nessesarilly athiest, or some such open minded thing..but organics must be agnostics..right?..so organic athiests are the combi-nation of greenie non god believers athiests and agnostics in their combi?

any-how [this discusion in no way proves]..these greenie athiest ferals<<..cause societal health or that low levels of organic atheism cause societal ills such as poverty or illiteracy.>>..im still not seeing how agnostics are organic

<<The wealth,poverty,well-being,and suffering in various nations are caused by numerous political,historical,economic, and sociological factors that are far more determinant than people's personal belief systems.>>..yeah i conqure..[but why hide this disclaimer near the end?

<<Rather,the conclusion to be drawn from the data provided above is simply that high levels of irreligion do not..automatically result in a breakdown of civilisation,a rise in immoral behaviour or in "sick societies"...Quite the opposite seems to be the case.>>

..funny how you state one thing[see previos paragraph]..then rebut it with the next paragraph..[seems almost phycotic]... but then athiests wouldnt note the inconguity..[agnostics would..[but hey lets join the two together to make the case in point;..re the athiest organic[sic] irreligionists

"Whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or Sikh, there is one common belief that all religious fundamentalists share: worship of God and obedience to his laws are essential for a peaceful, healthy society."

YEEEEEEAH, sorta. For me faith is about treating others as you want to be treated. Can't see that as a bad thing. Anything else - (to me) - is a cover for personal agendas. IF you leave me alone to do my thing I won't have to resort to beating you to a messing pulp of human tissue with a large but comfortably swung blunt instrument. And vice versa.

...it's about fear, as well, on some level.

Dear all,

I came from Asia and I am quite surprised that you guys (the westerners) have forgotten what made you great in the first place - your history of Christian heritage and Greek philosophy.
It is your Christian faith practiced by your ancestors that make your civilization great and spread to the whole world including Asia.
It is Christianity especially the Catholic Church who had brought civilization to the world.We need to study history and look at present day reality.
Your culture whether consciously or not is influenced by your Christian heritage whether its political, economic, culture etc
If you fail to appreciate this, you will have no roots and a nation without roots will not last

Is faith good for us?
Possibly, if we are ravaged by religion and unable to find fact.