The number of Norwegian atheists now equals those who believe in God for the first time since a key survey began, in a sign of increasing secularization in the once god-fearing nation.
In this year’s survey by Ipsos MMI, 38 percent of those asked about their faith said they were atheists, the exact same share of the sample who said that they were believers. Only 24 percent said they were uncertain.
“It reflects the secularization that has taken place over time, and that is already apparent in lower baptism numbers,” Silje Kvamme Bjorndal, a research fellow at the Norwegian School of Theology, told the Vårt Land newspaper.
The poll, which was first carried out in 1985 has recorded a steady decline in belief over the last decade.
This may mark the first time ever that I wish I lived in Norway.
Sounds like heaven to me. Pardon the pun.
Yet here we are in America where the religious right is working hard to oppress women, gays, and the non-religious, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It's bound to get uglier before it's gets pretty since some Christians still don't get it.However, I do see hope .
ReplyDeleteOur Christian kin don't tend to reference God's will as much, every time something goes sideways .
When the North Sea oil reserves were discovered, Norway did not privatize, and so has billions of dollars in its government bank accounts. It is probably the most socialized country in the world (certainly knows how to maintain the general welfare of all Norwegians) and thus its inhabitants have no need to pray to a god for a better life. Interesting, isn't it???
ReplyDeleteNorwegians were not Christian until the church got there however many hundreds of years ago it was. They were pagans like the rest of the world
ReplyDeleteEurope "lived" "The Name Of The Rose"........enuff said....
ReplyDeleteI'have been fortunate to do a lot of travelling for leisure and for my husband and my own jobs. Every time someone calls America "exceptional", I wonder what they're talking about. There are countries that are much cleaner, the people are much happier and live productive lives. Where prostitution and drugs are legal, they have clean needle programs, free condoms and education. Humanists are treated as equals along with every other religion, and they have open and honest exchanges, discussions, etc.
ReplyDeleteHere we cocoon ourselves with similar people and we're not half as happy with life, yet we have so much to be grateful for.
Perhaps there is about to be a "Sane Drain" like the "Brain Drain" of past generations when educated people left for parts more conducive.
DeleteOr, just vote for progressives!
So so glad I married a Norwegian :)
ReplyDelete