Irreligious Nations Best Reflect Religous Values?

It is a great socio-religious irony — for lack of a better term — that when we consider the fundamental values and moral imperatives contained within the world's great religions, such as caring for the sick, the infirm, the elderly, the poor, the orphaned, the vulnerable; practicing mercy, charity, and goodwill toward one's fellow human beings; and fostering generosity, humility, honesty, and communal concern over individual egotism — those traditionally religious values are most successfully established, institutionalized, and put into practice at the societal level in the most irreligious nations in the world today.  

--Professor Phil Zuckerman, "The Virtues of Godlessness," The Chronicle Review.

It appears that two of the least religous countries in the world may most broadly and consistently reflect religious--certainly Christian--values in their societal behavior. The two countries are Sweden and Denmark. And this article by NYU's Professor Phil Zuckerman appears to relish the opportunity to advance that observation in all its irony. In support of his conclusion, he offers these three points in particular:

1. Many people assume that religion is what keeps people moral, that a society without God would be hell on earth: rampant with immorality, full of evil, and teeming with depravity. But that doesn't seem to be the case for Scandinavians in those two countries. Although they may have relatively high rates of petty crime and burglary, and although these crime rates have been on the rise in recent decades, their overall rates of violent crime — including murder, aggravated assault, and rape — are among the lowest on earth. Yet the majority of Danes and Swedes do not believe that God is "up there," keeping diligent tabs on their behavior, slating the good for heaven and the wicked for hell. Most Danes and Swedes don't believe that sin permeates the world, and that only Jesus, the Son of God, who died for their sins, can serve as a remedy. In fact, most Danes and Swedes don't even believe in the notion of "sin." 

2. So the typical Dane or Swede doesn't believe all that much in God. And simultaneously, they don't commit much murder. But aren't they a dour, depressed lot, all the same? Not according to Ruut Veenhoven, professor emeritus of social conditions for human happiness at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Veenhoven is a leading authority on worldwide levels of happiness from country to country. He recently ranked 91 nations on an international happiness scale, basing his research on cumulative scores from numerous worldwide surveys. According to his calculations, the country that leads the globe — ranking No. 1 in terms of its residents' overall level of happiness — is little, peaceful, and relatively godless Denmark. 

3. Just to be perfectly clear here: I am not arguing that the admirably high level of societal health in Scandinavia is directly caused by the low levels of religiosity. Although one could certainly make such a case — arguing that a minimal focus on God and the afterlife, and a stronger focus on solving problems of daily life in a rational, secular manner have led to positive, successful societal outcomes in Scandinavia — that is not the argument I wish to develop here. Rather, I simply wish to soberly counter the widely touted assertion that without religion, society is doomed.

In truth, the good professor does offer some valid points and worthy considerations, which should give pause to those of us who are people of faith, whether Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus or other faith traditions. And, while he concedes religion's positive contributions to most societies, his introduction observes that the more zealous and intrusive fundamentalist sects or organizations of all faiths have often been responsible for societal behavior that is least reflective of the highest teachings and expectations of those religions. But his point is broader, of course, incorporating the role and results of religious organizations and their inclination, too often, to reflect the worst qualities of humankind, and also implying that the ultimate responsibility lay at the doorstep of religion itself.

But he is remiss in failing to share more about earlier times when Sweden and Denmark were largely and happily confessing and practicing Christian peoples. And it would be interesting to know whether, in fact, they were any less moral, less happy, less socially responsible, or more violent then. I'm guessing they were not. I'm guessing that the values one sees reflected now are just the same values of their faith still carried on as societies, but without the same outward faith identity and faith community, without the same religious organizations.

Still, the question for reflection for all people of faith--certainly for all Christians--is this: what is it about some faith organizations and people, thier interpretations, applications or uses of faith principles, that causes them to reflect so little of the love, forgiveness, and humility, the compassion, charity and kindness that God calls us to? Why don't they reflect God's priority on serving the poor, the infirm, the unable? And why, instead, do they so often reflect self-righteousness, selfishness, judgment, unwelcome intrusiveness, and hubris, and so often co-opt those faith organizations and faith values to serve political or cultural goals?

The answers to those questions will help us better understand how so-called people of faith and faith institutions so often throughout history have been the authors of some of the least kind, most unforgiving, arrogant, hurtful, even violent and inhumane, behavior in the history of mankind--but also how those who seek identity and relationship in God can better love and serve Him, as they more earnestly love and serve their neighbors, those in need, and all humanity.