4% of Sweden attends church, making it the 3rd least religious country in the world. Yet, Sweden's murder rate is 1.07 per 100,000 people -- among the lowest rates in the world. The US incarceration rate is 730 inmates per 100,000 people, while Sweden's is only 65 inmates per 100,000 people.
If morality stems from religion, how is it that Sweden, famous for is irreligious culture, boasts SUCH a low crime rate, while the notoriously pious United States is embarrassed by such a high crime rate?
2006-12-13 16:55:15 · 23 answers · asked by STFU Dude 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because Sweden provides its citizens with extensive social welfare benefits that rank among the world’s most generous. All citizens receive old-age pensions, health care, and workers’ compensation disability benefits. An unemployment-insurance plan is subsidized largely by the government but administered by trade unions. Other social-welfare benefits include free day care for parents with children, paid family leave for new parents, generous paid vacations, government-subsidized low-rent housing, and free tuition for students seeking higher education.
In short, Sweeden's government has managed to alleviate the stress that causes crime stemming from poverty.
You are confusing the issue here. Sweeden's 9,000,000 people cannot be compared with the USA's 300,000,000. There are still other issues for example Sweeden's suicide rates are comparable to those in the US.
2006-12-13 17:27:25 · answer #1 · answered by Freddy F 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Recently, Discover magazine produced an article, listing the happiest countries in the world. This was pooled from over 100 studies, which compared satisfaction scores with GDP, Life expectancy, and access to education.
Sweeden was # 7 on the list for happiest countries. This could attribute to the lower crime rate.
It is important to remember that morality and crime are not synonymous. Crime generally shares a direct correlation with economic stability. In other words, the motivation to commit a crime is lower, since the individual is doing well already.
It could also be due to the excellent level of education. Smarter criminals are much harder to catch after all. If the US didn't have so many dumb criminals, the prisons would be much harder to fill.
2006-12-13 17:02:45 · answer #2 · answered by Gregory K 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God gives general life principles that apply regardless of whether or not you believe in Him. Just like there are natural laws of gravity and physics there are spiritual laws as well. Take the verse from Galatians 6:7 that says a man reaps what he sows. The people in Sweden are better and following the spiritual laws than people in other countries and yes - that does indicate alot of hypocrisy on the part of people who say they believe. So, it doesn't matter what you believe - if you follow what the bible says about husbands and wives submitting to each other and having patience - etc - doesn't matter if you are an atheist - you could have a better marriage than a believer who doesn't show love for their spouse. Also, in case you haven't noticed, the US is no longer a Christian nation - come on - people are trying to outlaw the word "Christmas"! People can learn the Koran in school and all about atheism and the public school is teaching a worldview devoid of God. Therefore, it's not like we can say that people in the US have scruples, morals or values - sounds like the Swedes are much more civil than we are at his point. Prior to 1962 we had prayer in schools and now it's getting to where we can't even say the pledge of allegiance without offending someone. The bible was our textbook for schools early America! Now kids have to be afriad if they want to wear a Tshirt to school with the name Jesus on it - but satanist music groups shirts aren't a problem. We are doing this to ourselves. It's total freedom of speech - except for those who do believe.
2006-12-13 17:03:17 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
God is not the source for religion, that is something the religious say to make it okay when they try to force their ways upon you. Most people have the ability to tell right from wrong and will behave accordingly as proven with Sweden. You dont need God to tell you how to behave you do it because it is the right thing to do. People in the USA hijack and distort and twist religion into an ugly thing so people mock and fear it.
2006-12-13 16:58:06 · answer #4 · answered by Perplexed 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One doesn't have to believe in God for Him to be the source. It says in Romans 1: 18-19 But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who PUSH THE TRUTH AWAY FROM THEMSELVES. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. GOD HAS PUT THIS KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR HEARTS.
It would only make sense that if we were created in His image that he would instill in us how he would have us to behave. Now granted, there are exceptions to this rule when it comes to wickedness, but the Bible explains that as well. Accountability is one of the major differences between man and beast. If we were just an "accident", we would more closely imitate the creatures we evolved from. But we all know that right and wrong or "good" and "evil" stand at the very core of our entire existence. The only worldview that consistently explains the way we are is Christianity.
2006-12-13 17:08:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe because the entire country of Sweden is smaller than most states in the U.S.
There are 50 states....so maybe the fact that there are more people here may be a reason why there are more criminals.
2006-12-13 17:06:21 · answer #6 · answered by Pinkie_&_the_Brain 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because God is not the source of morality. Learning right and wrong can be a result of one's upbringing, society, culture,. laws, or many other influences. Religion is only one source of moral guidance. Someone that is not religious can still be moral - it just depends on the impacts of other sources of moral guidance.
2006-12-13 17:16:32 · answer #7 · answered by buffalobo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is because religion is not a prerequisite for having good morals. If anything, Religion is bad for morals. It teaches a notion of forgiveness rather than accounting for your life deeds.
2006-12-13 17:01:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps Satan specifically leaves Sweden alone so people like you can look at statistics and become convinced that God is unnecessary.
2006-12-13 17:03:44 · answer #9 · answered by Hate Boy! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the weed, man.
No, sorry, uhhh . . .
While many people get their morality from their religion, not all morality comes from religion. So, the basis of your question is slightly off . . . .
I just think they're less repressed than our Puritanical souls.
2006-12-13 16:58:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋