Can someone show me an example of social degradation in a society or culture where religion is absent?

Question

I'm trying to find examples of social degradation in countries who are predominantly atheists and/or secular in history.

Answer 1

It depends on how far back in history you want to go. Most that are secular have been secular for only a relatively short time. The most secular are primarily in northern Europe:

1. Scandinavian Countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden): Very secular societies, with strong social safety nets. I don't think most people would consider them examples of social degradation at all. In fact, they offer model social & governmental systems.

2. The Netherlands: This country has legalized prostitution and has limited fines for drug usage. The results are lower STD rates among prostitutes and their customers, and relatively low HIV rates among drug users. The country has trouble integrating Islam into its society because they are so open, and Islam has such strict rules of conduct.

3. Great Britain: Even though there is a state church, most people do not believe in God. The social structure is not a great deal different since the loss of religious faith. They also are struggling with multiculturalism.

4. Japan: One of the most well-regulated societies on earth, and a large amount of individual freedom.

5. Vietnam: This country is still rebounding from a devastating war, but it has developed a strong capitalist-like economy, and the level of individual freedom, while still poor by western standards, is rising. It also has lost a lot of the corruption that characterized the South Vietnamese government.

6. France: Hardly a bastion of degradation. Vive la France!

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The top 10 failed states, according to Foreign Policy Magazine are:

1.Sudan (Muslim, Christian, & animist)
2. Iraq (Muslim)
3. Somalia (Muslim)
4. Zimbabwe (Christian)
5. Chad (Muslim & Christian)
6. Ivory Coast (Muslim & Christian)
7. Congo (Christian)
8. Afghanistan (Muslim)
9. Guinnea (Muslim)
10. Central African Republic (Christian, animist, & Muslim)

Answer 2

That would be difficult, because there is essentially no such thing as a society in which there is not some significant religious influence. Even in Communist nations which are 'officially' atheist, there is an undercurrent of surreptitious religious activity.

Genuinely non-religious societies have never been sufficiently large or long-lived to demonstrate a meaningful trend of 'social degradation;' though it could be argued that some, such as the Church of Satan, *are* examples of social degradation in and of themselves. However, these have only ever existed within the context of a large society - none have ever been large enough to constitute an actual nation.

Answer 3

Communist china is about as atheistic a nation as you can find.

In China, there is (or at least there was...) a cultural group known as the Na. The Na do not believe in marriage. People live in their mother's houses, and the only stable adult males present are the mothers' brothers. Men "go visitng" at night to reproduce with women in these houses, and as long as you are not visiting a mother or sister, it's OK. People rarely know who the genetic father of a child is, but as there is an adult male present, the "family" structure is fairly stable.

The chinese attempted to force the Na to begin marrying. Why a communist nation feels that mainaining traditional "Christian families" is important is a bit beyond me, but they did. This happened several times with no effect. Efforts to prevent men from visiting, to tax single mothers, and several other plans also seem to have failed. Now census takers ensure that every child is repeatedly asked to fill out a "standardized" form, with questions about their father. At a certain age, this generally causes the child to burst into tears.

Answer 4

Religion attracts the majority of people on the planet to some religion or another for whatever reason weather it be fear/love/honor/family tradition/whatever. If a religion has a large percentage of a population in a country they are going to be very influential on the laws and sway a lot of politics to vote according to their believes because of the large amount of votes they will get from that.

Answer 5

Sweden is really the only atheist dominate country. You will notice their crime rate, murder rate, etc. are all really low. It will be hard for you to find what you seek since it really doesn't happen. In history it will be nigh impossible since through most of history if you were an atheist publically they killed you.

Answer 6

You'll have a hard time finding a predominantly athiest country, I think. Athiest, meaning no belief in a higher power. Too many people think Athiesm only applies as the opposite of Christianity.

Answer 7

there aren't, at least to my knowledge any countries that are predominately atheist. your best bet is Antarctica- no religion+ no government +a few enviormentally conscious human researchers and the odd crackhead thrill-seeker= no problems.

Answer 8

Roman Empire.

you can see how the country degraded to nothing by the absence of religion or God.

Answer 9

in the united states, highly popular rap music is the epitome of social degradation--in that it reverses the progress of the women's rights movement. only within the last century have females gained any rights. now treatment of women as sexual objects is seen as admirable, and is emulated owing to its prominence in hip hop. ohhhh, how i mourn today.

Answer 10

Every great empire falls due to a lack of religion. ROME, GREEK, EUROPE, ENGLAND.
all of these were at one time great empires that lacked a religion. Each one fell because people no longer had the same beliefs and the same morals. the US will fall if we keep turning away from Christ.