Why are atheists more prevalent in Europe than the US?

Question

Atheists are estimated to be around 18% of the population in Europe as a whole (as high as 25% in Sweden and Finland), whereas only 5-10% in the US.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism

To concerned; How does "socialism" instill materialism?

Answer 1

Because Europe has more of a secular, rationalistic tradition. Europeans are more tolerant and less likely to be pressured to conform religiously.

Answer 2

There's little bits of truth in several answers above. I'd just like to add another contributing factor.

First, I agree that the number of atheists are higher than 10%. I'm college educated, and have traveled the country. From my experience, much more than 10% of college graduates are atheists, or at least discredit religion as a logical choice for spirtual answers. Simply, your belief in religion dirrectly correlates with your level of education. Based on numbers alone, I could safely say that there's more atheists in the U.S. than Europe; however, I'd agree the percentage is greater in Europe.

Second, i'd also agree that social norms manipulate the numbers. There are several reasons why it is more socially acceptable to throw off the yoke of religion in Europe (i.e. puratians). Yet, here's one you will rarely hear:

Since WWII, the U.S. solidified a position as the premiere world power. In order to expand the sphere of influences, the ruling elite quickly fasioned an ideological battle. The two camps emerged as the 'godless' Soviets vs. the morally just United States. For those in Britian, Britain passionately promoted this division in order to maintain a status of major contributor or core state. They aligned themselves more closely with the U.S., but they never adopted the scale of ideological propoganda.

After 1991, the Soviets were ruined and the United States weakened. To replace the void, the ruling elites quickly fasioned a new idological battle between Americans/West and Islamists. Religion has been central to 20th and 21st century geopolitical and geoeconomic strategy. As a result, it is not socially acceptable to, in general, expel religion. To do so is an offense much greater than dening God. To do so is an act of treason.

I hope this resinates a little?

Answer 3

Look, we've got a country here with a 9 trillion dollar debt, which nobody in the multiple Iowa debates has even mentioned.

If we were Argentina or Belgium we would long since have gone bankrupt, but we own the DOLLAR.

Can such a country deny reality in every other respect? Yes, we can.

I doubt the figure for atheism here is really that low, as people are afraid to admit it to pollsters. It is, however, undeniable that no admitted atheist can aspire to national office.

Answer 4

I don't know...
maybe because European countries have been exposed to many types of religious rule, in the course of having been both conquered and conquerer. They probably figured out already that invoking God as exclusive property or protector of any geographical boundaries wouldn't increase the odds for those boundaries being held. Personally, I doubt that putting God on their currency would have made any difference either, one way or another.

Answer 5

Secular Humanism is a very popular European ideal. It's very "cool" to reject god. However, it's simply another step in the cycle. Eventually god will become popular again with the young people as they see their elders reject it, and rebel against them.

In all reality, Atheism is simply just another religion - a dogmatic mindset of following the crowd without thinking for yourself of what you want to believe.

Look up the Enlightened movement in France...this is nothing new. They even dug up all the graveyards and moved the bones into the catacombs. An interesting thing to see the next time you're in Paris.

Answer 6

Europe has soaked it's self in religious wars for over a thousand years, and they know that religious leaders align themselves with extremists too often, Millions of dead later....
they stop buying it....Most Europeans I know believe in God but not religion and so are considered by the religious, to be atheists. But they are good people and that's what counts to me.

Answer 7

Because after experiencing war and fascism in WW2 they became secular liberals in response to their parents experiencing it and not wanting any part of it ever again.

The same thing temporarily happened in the USA (the 60's)

Humanity goes in a cycle, I'd recommend you look into the book "generations"

Answer 8

It grows out of a system where there was a state sponsored religion and forced adherence. Government has always meant God in Europe.

Answer 9

The development of the Socialist Elite mindset in Europe disavows faith and instills belief in materialism and egocentricity.
Where their is no faith... there is less hope of a positive world outcome overall.
Why its more prevalent there than in the US?... The rise of Socialism can be closely correlated with the decline of organized religious beliefs.

Answer 10

Europe doesn't have Billy Graham.