religion and progression?

Question

in general is it fair to say that the more religious a country is the more backwards thinking it is?

is america the exception that proves the rule or just as bad as the others?

your thoughts please

Answer 1

I think that religion will always be prevelant and always be necessary, however I agree because of this:

The stronger the religion is within society-

- The more other cultures become left out, promoting intolerance
- The more acceptable answers such as, "God did it" become vs. investigation.
- The more faith is substituted for process, the less logic, reason, and similar skills are used
- Religion is often (not always, but often) substituted for education...and rarely are the differences highlighted.

So yeah, I agree with you to a point. I don't think religion makes a country backwards, but I DO think that EMPHASIZING religion within society definately does...just look at the Middle East, or Utah(heehee)!?!

HAND: Don't forget, the church has also DESTROYED (or attempted to destroy) much information over the years. Libraries were burned during the crusades, gospels that Nicea didn't find useful were banned, text not approved by the church were burned. Today several sects of Christianity are attacking Harry Potter, The Da Vinci Code, etc...this is NOT an organization that promotes extensive bookkeeping.

Answer 2

Your timing is very interesting because I was re-reading "The Color Purple" last night. I was at the part where Celie reads a letter from her missionary sister who is telling her about the African tribe whom she is trying to Christianize. It's very interesting to hear about cultural and tribal practices.

To answer your question: I would say 'No'. I say this simply because there are still places were people don't have a specific religion (just traditional beliefs and/or cultural values) but they are socially backwards or deficient.

Granted every place has some sort of deficiency. Sometimes it's moral, sometimes it's technological, sometimes it's social, etc. But you get what I'm saying.

And if you look at certain places like the Middle East or Africa, a lot of their actions (like female mutilation or honor killings) predate Islam or Christianity. It's simply a left over set of ideals and practices that they have integrated with their new religion. Like Yule and Christmas.

Answer 3

No, it is not fair to say that the more religious a country is the more backwards thinking it is. You can only ask and answer that question from your own point of view, and that makes each persons answer unfair to another.

What you consider backward, I may consider normal...

Answer 4

America is one of the most backward thinking countries in the world.

Seeing as your great nation is incredibly religious while not even remotely christian, I guess you can say you prove the rule.

Answer 5

Not at all. Without Gods blessing or allowance no country ever progresses.

Actually the reverse is true, the more people reject God, the more foolish and dark their thoughts become.

America is only proving the example is you can never hold onto Gods blessing for long as far as nations go. That eventually nations take a big slide in morality and faith.

Answer 6

Do a search on the founding of the great American universities such as Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, and Princeton, then ask this question again. Also, investigate who kept many of the records of the ancient world that we have today. If not for the Church many would be lost.

Answer 7

What does "backwards thinking" mean to you?