Posted: Nov 25, 2016 11:49 am
Sendraks wrote:archibald wrote:Yes, sure, but that's slightly different to asking why religiosity has not naturally waned there instead of Scandinavia.
Its an interesting question but one that isn't going to be answered without years of research into the social, economic, political history of the region.
However, if I were to entertain the idea that there was a simple answer to that question, I would like to offer 'Europeans.'
I think you are right, that it is bound to be a complicated issue.
There are some very interesting suggested/possible answers here:
WHY ARE DANES AND SWEDES SO IRRELIGIOUS?
http://tapir.pdc.no/pdf/NJRS/2009/2009-01-4.pdf
One of which is the one I was alluding to, the theory that in societies where there is lower existential security, there is a greater need for the balm that religion provides, even if the balm is an illusion and even if it doesn't actually end up working well at a societal level.