Why are teen pregnancy, crime and divorce rates always higher in religious countries than non-religious ones?

Answer 1

I've asked and seen different versions of this question here before, and have yet to see an actual answer from the religious. Usually they deny it, or blame secularism (!?)

It is an unarguable FACT, that the United States is the most religious modern industrialized country, with polls regularly reporting belief in God etc to be 75-90%.

It is also an unarguable FACT that the USA has the highest rates of illiteracy, abortion, teen pregnancy,rape, infant mortality, child sexual abuse, murder, incarceration, lowest percent with highschool graduate, lowest percent with university degree, highest poverty, highest property crime etc. among all modern industrialized nations.

More secular countries with lower levels of religious belief , higher percentages of professed atheists, such as Canada, Japan, and pretty much all of Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries have far far lower rates of all of the above problems.

I don't say that religious belief causes those problems, but it certainly does not support religionists view that faith in god decreases any of those problems.

Answer 2

I will say this- I am a Christian, and I totally agree that America has one of the highest teen pregnancy numbers and abortions in the world. I could write that it is not the Christians that are getting divorced or getting pregnant and having abortions- but that would be a lie. I am going to be completely honest here, the divorce rate among Christians is just as high us non-believers, and for all of this I am truly ashamed. Not too many people would admit this. Because people call themselves Christians, it does not always mean that they will do what God desires- I am not perfect either. No one is. This nation that was founded as a nation under God, is going farther and farther away from those beliefs- and for those of us who say that we are believers, need to remember that even though 2 Chronicles 7:14 was written to the Ot Isrealites it is still the same today- "If my people who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins."

Answer 3

Teen pregnancy - because abstinence is the only thing children in many religious households are taught, so they don't understand that yes, you can absolutely get pregnant your first time. Also, sex is a huge taboo, therefore it's much more appealing because of the mystique.

Crime - well, two of the big three religions teach violence as a way to convert. "My way or the highway" is an inherently violent way to look at the world and different viewpoints.

Divorce - I'm not so sure that has as much to do with religion as the changing times. In this day and age, we're living a lot longer, and because of our socio-economic structure it takes people longer to discover who they are as people. When you get married in your early 20s, you aren't the person you're going to be in your early 30s. You aren't even close. Now, I'm not saying there aren't many people out there who were married young and completely happy, but all of the marriages I know that are rock solid are between people that didn't meet or marry until their very late 20s or somewhere in their 30s. If people would wait a little longer, the divorce rate might not be so high.

)O(

Answer 4

Lower crime, eh? Doesn't mean I want to live there. As other have said, some of those countries have a much stricter "legal" system. Count your blessings that you abide under the law of this "Christian" nation (though, it really isn't anymore) and not theirs! Some countries will chop a finger off if you steal. Here, you may get some time in prison (all cushy with its TVs and "square meals"). Some countries would castrate you or kill you if you raped someone. Here, you get time in prison. Hmm... I don't think RELIGION has anything to do with it. It's the judicial system, and America is the ONLY (well, Australia too) country with a common law system.

Answer 5

More people have died in the name of religion then any other cause. Hell, even the great George dubya claims God told him to invaid Iraq - good man he is.. God that is.

Muslims have killed many because of "holy war"..

Ireland's been going at it for a fair while now..

But then, I ask myself this... where are your facts to support such claims? America would have high rates, but look at the population (Per Capita would be a better way of judging) and not all are religious. Even those that do follow a religion often do it because of their family, not by choice, and often "sin" without care or second thought.

My answer though: Because people are human. We like pussy, we like having whats not ours, and we disagree often. Happens in EVERY country, not just "religious" ones.

Answer 6

It's *do what I say, not what I do... because I'm saved/chosen/special/respected by God*. The more religious a person the less they feel they are held to the laws given by their God &/or Religion (I am beginning to think some worship their Religion more than their God)

Answer 7

Because they don't teach or provide birth control.

They force people into bad marriage decisions that eventually cause problems.

Because religious people are usually more worried about their reputation in front of other religious people, so they hide their "bad habits" secretly until it becomes criminal conduct.

Answer 8

the answer is actually within your question.
religion = stupidity
stupidity = teenage pregnancy = divorce = crime

Answer 9

Haven't you heard there's over a billion people in China.

Answer 10

people don't like doing what other people say they're supposed to