Comments on: WHAT THE WORLD THINKS OF GOD http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/ A weekly podcast exploring Mormon culture and current events. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: James http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86435 James Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:37:48 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86435 "A month or so ago he went on a rampage telling me how he hated the British. He told me how arrogant and insolent they are." I'm an American living in Britain and can relate some what to what your saying. Most Brits that go to the States are surprised on the whole of how kind and gracious Americans are. When they get back they tell me I am mad for living here!! But its probably like any where the bigger cities are less friendly and as you go farther out the kinder they are. Paris the Parisians have a reputation of being very unfriendly to strangers , new Yorkers worst road rage. It makes me wonder if their is a correlation per capita of faith if the population is dense less believing and as you come out of the cities faith increases. “A month or so ago he went on a rampage telling me how he hated the British. He told me how arrogant and insolent they are.”

I’m an American living in Britain and can relate some what to what your saying. Most Brits that go to the States are surprised on the whole of how kind and gracious Americans are. When they get back they tell me I am mad for living here!!

But its probably like any where the bigger cities are less friendly and as you go farther out the kinder they are. Paris the Parisians have a reputation of being very unfriendly to strangers , new Yorkers worst road rage.

It makes me wonder if their is a correlation per capita of faith if the population is dense less believing and as you come out of the cities faith increases.

]]> By: Diligent Dave http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86280 Diligent Dave Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:59:01 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86280 A Catholic friend of mine who lives in Utah is very much a world traveler. A month or so ago he went on a rampage telling me how he hated the British. He told me how arrogant and insolent they are. His angst with them seemed to match what I read led Benjamin Franklin in turning against his previous opinion when he was scolded by the British Prime Minister and other leaders of government back then. I wonder if there is a correlation between their arrogancy and their apparent lack of belief in deity. I would have guessed, having served a mission in France, that the French would be more atheistic than the Brits. I once even met a Catholic Priest in France who told us he was an atheist. When we asked him why he was a priest, he said, "It's a job!" (LOL)! Of course, I've heard tell a few Mormon bishops essentially saying things similar (arrrrgh!) I don't wonder but we have perhaps a case of Ammonihah syndrome. News from Scotland (which is, of course, part of the UK) from a month ago said that Scots had the highest alcoholic consumption per capita of ANYWHERE in the world, beating Russia, Scandinavian countries, etc!! Maybe if you don't believe in God, you still may say (as the saying goes), "I believe I'll have another (alcoholic) drink"!!! Well, its one way to get the "spirit/(s)", I suppose! A Catholic friend of mine who lives in Utah is very much a world traveler. A month or so ago he went on a rampage telling me how he hated the British. He told me how arrogant and insolent they are. His angst with them seemed to match what I read led Benjamin Franklin in turning against his previous opinion when he was scolded by the British Prime Minister and other leaders of government back then.

I wonder if there is a correlation between their arrogancy and their apparent lack of belief in deity. I would have guessed, having served a mission in France, that the French would be more atheistic than the Brits. I once even met a Catholic Priest in France who told us he was an atheist. When we asked him why he was a priest, he said, “It’s a job!” (LOL)!

Of course, I’ve heard tell a few Mormon bishops essentially saying things similar (arrrrgh!)

I don’t wonder but we have perhaps a case of Ammonihah syndrome. News from Scotland (which is, of course, part of the UK) from a month ago said that Scots had the highest alcoholic consumption per capita of ANYWHERE in the world, beating Russia, Scandinavian countries, etc!! Maybe if you don’t believe in God, you still may say (as the saying goes), “I believe I’ll have another (alcoholic) drink”!!!

Well, its one way to get the “spirit/(s)”, I suppose!

]]> By: Aaron Reeves http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86143 Aaron Reeves Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:15:14 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86143 Jehovah's Witness and Seventh Day Adventists. They out grow LDS(which is not much admittedly) by 5 times, at some points. Their retention seems higher as well. However, the basis for my information is cumorah.com. Recommneded by Armand Mauss, so defering to his authority i think it is fairly relaible. Also atheists praying, might be like mormons drinking, everyone has lapses and experiences temptation. Jehovah’s Witness and Seventh Day Adventists. They out grow LDS(which is not much admittedly) by 5 times, at some points. Their retention seems higher as well. However, the basis for my information is cumorah.com. Recommneded by Armand Mauss, so defering to his authority i think it is fairly relaible.

Also atheists praying, might be like mormons drinking, everyone has lapses and experiences temptation.

]]> By: James http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86007 James Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:29:07 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86007 2 "Moreovoer for a pretty irreligious nation some churches still experience growth in the UK" What religions are those? 2 “Moreovoer for a pretty irreligious nation some churches still experience growth in the UK”

What religions are those?

]]> By: James http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86005 James Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:26:37 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86005 6 GEB "I was surprised at how many atheists sometimes prayed. That seems counterintuitive." Could be because of the wording of the survey the word prayer was the closest word to meditate so they put yes. 6 GEB “I was surprised at how many atheists sometimes prayed. That seems counterintuitive.”

Could be because of the wording of the survey the word prayer was the closest word to meditate so they put yes.

]]> By: James http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-86003 James Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:24:22 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-86003 The poll showed the poorer nations(besides America) had the highest belief in God. I wonder as they prosper if that faith diminishes? That sounds familiar!! The poll showed the poorer nations(besides America) had the highest belief in God. I wonder as they prosper if that faith diminishes? That sounds familiar!!

]]> By: Hawkgrrrl http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85990 Hawkgrrrl Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:15:17 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85990 Well, I blame Henry VIII. However, I would agree with Aaron Reeves that the US is the country out of kilter. We are a prosperous nation, but largely isolated and considered naive by many other nations. Also, to an American a belief in God, especially if you believe he prospers the righteous, is nicely self-serving. To an impoverished nation, the hope that God will prosper the righteous may also be self-serving. I suppose looking to God as a vending machine (the way many kids look at their parents) is probably not a great spiritual foundation, but it is a common religious one. Well, I blame Henry VIII.

However, I would agree with Aaron Reeves that the US is the country out of kilter. We are a prosperous nation, but largely isolated and considered naive by many other nations. Also, to an American a belief in God, especially if you believe he prospers the righteous, is nicely self-serving. To an impoverished nation, the hope that God will prosper the righteous may also be self-serving. I suppose looking to God as a vending machine (the way many kids look at their parents) is probably not a great spiritual foundation, but it is a common religious one.

]]> By: geb http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85983 geb Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:34:40 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85983 Having worked and traveled in Europe, I would say the UK is in line or even more religious than most of western Europe. The USA is out of line with developed countries. I was surprised at how many atheists sometimes prayed. That seems counterintuitive. Having worked and traveled in Europe, I would say the UK is in line or even more religious than most of western Europe. The USA is out of line with developed countries. I was surprised at how many atheists sometimes prayed. That seems counterintuitive.

]]> By: bewarethechicken http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85881 bewarethechicken Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:11:15 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85881 Just in reference to my comment in the other post, I note: "The highest levels of belief are found in the poorer nations of Nigeria (98%), India (92%) and Indonesia (97%)." Just in reference to my comment in the other post, I note:

“The highest levels of belief are found in the poorer nations of Nigeria (98%), India (92%) and Indonesia (97%).”

]]> By: Aaron Reeves http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85850 Aaron Reeves Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:55:42 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85850 I guess i would be less interested in whether it is right but in when did this happen (if at all) and why? I don't think Britain is out of kilter, i think America is. I bet the UK is very similar to most western countries, is that controversial? I guess i would be less interested in whether it is right but in when did this happen (if at all) and why? I don’t think Britain is out of kilter, i think America is. I bet the UK is very similar to most western countries, is that controversial?

]]> By: James http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85847 James Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:42:05 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85847 So,Are us inhabitants of the UK completly wrong or completly right and everyone else out of kilter, since we are so out of step with other nations?However, I think that if the survey had included France, Germany or Sweden it would probably show that the UK has a European view whereas the US view of religion has always been out of step with the rest of the rich world and more in line with the poor. SENT TO ME BY A FRIEND BUT DIDN'T REPLY ON POST So,Are us inhabitants of the UK completly wrong or completly right and everyone else out of kilter, since we are so out of step with other nations?However, I think that if the survey had included France, Germany or Sweden it would probably show that the UK has a European view whereas the US view of religion has always been out of step with the rest of the rich world and more in line with the poor.

SENT TO ME BY A FRIEND BUT DIDN’T REPLY ON POST

]]> By: Aaron Reeves http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85844 Aaron Reeves Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:36:01 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85844 I think it would interesting to see how the world sees God rather than a do you believe yes/no type question. Like the question about dying for God, it would be good to put some context around that. Responses like that can be easily used as fodder for the negatives of belief, but I think we need to be careful in assuming what other people mean by that question. I think questions like do you think God punishes the wicked, or would God ever ask you to kill someone (and would you do it)? Questions that revolve around what a person believes about God is important. Further, this research seems conducted from a judeo-christian monotheistic perspective and so the questions are leading and constrain the diversity I bet is there in the details. Moreovoer for a pretty irreligious nation some churches still experience growth in the UK, so it would be interesting to see where they fit (are they the serial monogamists of the religious world)? I think it would interesting to see how the world sees God rather than a do you believe yes/no type question. Like the question about dying for God, it would be good to put some context around that. Responses like that can be easily used as fodder for the negatives of belief, but I think we need to be careful in assuming what other people mean by that question. I think questions like do you think God punishes the wicked, or would God ever ask you to kill someone (and would you do it)? Questions that revolve around what a person believes about God is important. Further, this research seems conducted from a judeo-christian monotheistic perspective and so the questions are leading and constrain the diversity I bet is there in the details. Moreovoer for a pretty irreligious nation some churches still experience growth in the UK, so it would be interesting to see where they fit (are they the serial monogamists of the religious world)?

]]> By: Christopher Smith http://mormonmatters.org/2009/06/23/what-the-world-thinks-of-god/#comment-85835 Christopher Smith Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:47:27 +0000 http://mormonmatters.org/?p=5860#comment-85835 Fascinating! Thanks for posting this! Fascinating! Thanks for posting this!

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