[Video] Religion Is Linked to Immoral Behavior In New Study

[CaptainObvious]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-E-FaeVVsw

[laconicsax]

1. You don't say.

[elleng]

2. Primarily Christian countries studied?

.

[struggle4progress]

3. Without knowing exactly what Gregory Paul did, no interpretation is possible

First, there is a definitional problem: "religious faith" is a word, used to describe a variety of phenomena, that might include certain superstitious complexes, social conventions, ritual behaviors, ethical systems, ontological or teleological philosophies, and so on. Even if the associated "religion" is clearly identified, different "adherents" may "believe" quite differently and have entirely different motives. Thus, a particular "religious belief" may reflect a level of scientific knowledge, or gregariousness, or desire to conform, or enjoyment of ritual, or ethical presuppositions, or philosophical tendencies, or any of a number of things -- without designating any definite particular collection of personal preferences. A clear and meaningful definition is necessary

Second, there is the issue of cross-comparison between different societies. Crime statistics between different countries, for example, are known to be difficult to compare

Third, there is the question of identifying relevant variables, and appropriately reducing the collection of variables. One expects, for example, that crime levels may depend on socio-economic features; if so, one should correct for those variates, in order to investigate the expected effect of "faith" when "all else is equal." Absent a careful attempt to do so, one is left with possibilities such as both crime and expressions of religious faith are more common in poorer communities, but since poverty levels were not measured, the study finds crime correlated with faith

Fourth, there is the question of causality. Assuming that "religious faith" has been defined and measured in a meaningful way, and assuming that the cross-comparison is valid, and that proper corrections have been made for relevant variables, one should still ask: "Does an increase in the crime rate precede or follow an increase in expressed religious belief? Is there a coherent theory that explains the correlation?" and similar questions

[Steepler0t]

4. The study is from 2005

But the subject matter is a big no duh. It found Christians who believe in heaven/hell to be more violent.
It says the non-fire and brimstone Christians are not more violent.
Makes sense.

[TWiley]

7. There is an interesting study I once read.

It compared the image of God worshiped by a culture steeped in luxery and excess. (Romans) Right across the creek, the Jewish folks were miserable, impoverished, and wandering the desert. Their image of God was one of a cruel and often brutal taskmaster.

It is as though the harshness of ones actual lifestyle tends to dictate the level of violent tendencies as each individual rationalizes their experience as the product of "Gods Will". The creation of God in the image of the believer.

[cosmik debris]

8. That certainly confirms my bias! n/t

:)

[DeSwiss]

5. Naturally.....

[TWiley]

6. The "Bible Belt" is the cornucopia of social horror.

Highest rates of divorce, child abuse, incest, and assult. Remember too that the "good book" brought slavery and the politics of "The manifest destiny" where preachers took to the pulpits to encourage and justify killing native Americans.