Are Secular countries more successful than countries that are Religious?

Question

What evidence supports that secular countries are more or less successful/prosperous than religious ones?

Successful as in prosperous and stable

In addition the quality of life for its citizens good

BTW, By Secular country I mean countries that are not influenced and or controlled by religion and are democratic.

Answer 1

Thus far, the US is on top. From what I have learned in R&S, the US is a religious (predominatly Christian) country.
Does this answer your question?

Answer 2

Assuming that you mean countries that are run under secular tenets vs. religious tenets.

Very interesting question, but difficult to answer. Most if not all, monarchies claimed divine origin. Would this make them secular or religious?

If the country was openly guided by religious principles, Tibet, for example, then how do you measure success - in material terms only?

The Jews are some of the most committed and devout people in the world. This has not stopped them from acquiring a reputation for astute business and trade practices.

I think that, on the whole, however, and with a few exceptions, it can be demonstrated that the greater the religious fervor, the less material and practical matters are mastered.

Answer 3

Two massive failures, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned, are USSR and DPRK - North Korea. Cuba is lumped in with Albania, Bulgaria, Romania and all other Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War.

On the counter side, the Balkans are highly religious, with Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and others all claiming to be doing God's work. And same thing can be said of Iran, Syria, Sudan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and some messy local stuff through-out India (ever hear of a 'Militant Buddhist?').

Answer 4

Well, many European countries had to unite because they were business speaking, going under. Russia doesn't seem to be doing so good, though China is doing well. Then as far as religious countries, besides Saudi Arabia, which is a led by a king, the isalmic countries don't seem to be very prosperous, except for the minority of wealthy people. So basically, I'd say there is no evidence one way or the other.

Answer 5

On matters such as crime rate, poverty, life expectancy, educational attainment, adult literacy, infant mortality, etc, secular countries are definitely more successful. Sweden is the most non-religious country, by the way.

Answer 6

Economic freedom is the key indicator to prosperity for a nation. To the extent religion plays a role, it's secondary.

Answer 7

Let's look at the most "secular" countries..the ones that absolutely outlawed religion.

Lennin, Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol-Pot....

so..after 60 million folks were killed...lets ask the question again...which countries were more successful.....?

Answer 8

Most European countries, France, UK, most of Scandinavia and Japan have secular governments, they have better economies than the current US one and lets not go comparing them to the Middle East.

Answer 9

No because as the Bible states in the book of Revelation we already know who wins at the end. God does. This includes the war of Armageddon which will be directed at Israel by other secular countries.

Answer 10

Successful at what? Religious states certainly seem to be good at execution and mutilation for minor crimes and so called "moral offences" Religous states are also very good at supressing freedom of speech.