Scandinavians have a low crime rate. Only 5% go to church. WHY?

Question

They also have Universal Health Care, free college, good old-age pensions. They have much personal freedom, no "victimless crimes."

THEY ALSO HAVE GREATER LONGEVITY AND LITERACY THAN THE USA.

Answer 1

I think they have spent much time making laws that favor the people as opposed to laws that favor the rich or the governing. They are also not bogged down by our Puritan limitations.

Answer 2

The reason is because only 5% go to church. The majority probably realize that this is the only life we get, so they do their best to make good use of it. They live by the Golden Rule instead of making wars because of religion. They let others do whatever they want as long as it doesn't cause harm to anyone else. The US would do well to follow their example. I bet Scandinavians are some of the smartest people in the world too.

Answer 3

You're implying an oversimplification. I think the low crime rate has more to do with the education, the welfare, the protection and so on, than with the religion they have (or don't have).

Besides, religion only causes violence in societies torn between different faiths. If everybody agrees (or if most people do) there is usually no religious crime. Take Latin America, for instance. Here, most people (over 80%) are Catholics. The remaining 20% don't exert violence on the majority. And the majority doesn't need to do so with people of other faiths, or unbelievers.

Answer 4

Any country who can minimize, if not totally eliminate crime, deserves all of our respect. It's irrelevant if they are not Church-going people or non-Christians for that matter.

Larry sure got a lot reactions from you people. Now, why don't we do something like opening our eyes and try to make a better country rather than provoking religious debates and inciting non-Christians to unfavorably respond to Christians' questions?

Answer 5

5% or 50% church attendance has no longer something to do with crime fee. it incredibly is the share of something of the inhabitants committing crimes that produce a "crime fee." And bear in mind, the inhabitants of this u . s . a . is diverse than Japan or the Scandinavian international locations.......or France, Germany, England, etc. Len

Answer 6

I wonder if it's the relative wealth of those countries which leads to a combination of extremely high living standards and personal satisfaction.

Content people don't live in desperate cirmcumstances and think more rationally about their actions than those who are unfed, have to pay for healthcare (what is that about, America?!) and have relatively few meaningful opportunities to participate in society.

Answer 7

Once again, they are less emotional and more rational than many Americans. They, like the Japanese, hate war. Americans glorify war and violence.

Rational, educated people tend to be less violent, have better governmental practice, and are generally much less fanatical about religion.

Answer 8

Did you also know that on average people with short hair are taller than people with long hair? What do you hope to achieve with meaningless statistics? Do you have any evidence to show that practising christains are significantly more likely to commit a crime than the general population? I doubt it, in fact the reverse would be true. Get a life!

Answer 9

Sweden also has one of the highest tax burdens per capita in the world and high unemployment. Sweden also has no freedom of speech...They also have a Socialist economy.

Answer 10

Because its toooooo cold in Scandanavia to do anything!