3rd world countries are arguably the most religious on the planet. Is this due to ignorance or enlightenment?

Answer 1

Well... ignorance, of course. BUT... interestingly... statistics show that the USA ranks right there among backward, poverty-stricken third world countries when it comes to supernatural (religious) beliefs, rather than among other advanced industrial powers.

Answer 2

I'm not so sure about this. My father's home country is a third world country (or at least it was). There are so many different types of people there that there is no overriding religious belief. Christianity does have about half of the country's religion, Hinduism falls next at around 35%, and Muslim is about 10% (according the the CIA World Factbook).

Now, Christianity does have a strong influence, but on the whole there is an almost symbiotic existence of religion in Guyana (sorry, thought I mentioned it earlier). My father's beliefs reflect both Christianity and Hinduism. The biggest conflict there is actually racial/ethnic. At least that is my understanding of it.

Anyway, assuming you are correct about every other third world country, and I think it's a safe assumption for most of them, there are probably multiple factors.

1) No technology-supported science to prove anything different.
2) Missionaries from other countries who have money to feed the citizens of the country.
3) Cultural beliefs passed down throughout the generations.

I would hardly call it enlightenment though. They usually have much simpler, though much harder lives, and maybe that amount of dedication to survival brings insights we lack in the spoiled Western countries. But I have a hard time believing that considering some of these very countries think that babies are gifts from god and not a direct result of sexual intercourse.

Answer 3

No. I think that in countries where people have work, and live comfortably, they are more likely to attribute there good life to themselves.
Of course this in a way, a form of the caste system of India. Meaning, many people here believe the Sam Kinison adage, "If they're so hungry, why don't they come over here, where all the food is".
Quite insensitive, I think.

Answer 4

Living in the country with the greatest number of Christians (over 10% of the worlds total), I have to figure this is total BS.

Answer 5

3rd world countries and the US! Completely throws the curve off, and drags down the rest of the planet.

CD

Answer 6

Probably both along with lack of education and poverty, especially the women, at whose knee most of us start out.

Answer 7

It is out of a desire for hope and a better future after death that third world countries embrace religion to such an extent. It helps them to make sense of the death and destitution which they see around them every day that makes them embrace God

Answer 8

least religious is Sweden, most religious is India, i can see what your trying to say but faith cant be measured, most people in the world do have a religion and are passionate about it

Answer 9

Probably out of desperation. When a situation gets bad, you'll notice that most anyone will start getting a bit more religious.

Answer 10

its due to poverty. gives 'em hope. why do you think the jews were so religious in slavery? and the african slaves here in america? everyone wants to believe that although their life here sucks, there's another that's going to be much better.