tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post5233934568042231636..comments2024-03-27T11:13:34.520-05:00Comments on The Dunamis Word: Scandinavia...Atheism?...Really???Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-23680707234496582482012-10-05T06:50:51.880-05:002012-10-05T06:50:51.880-05:00I have a hard time believing you've done thoro...I have a hard time believing you've done thorough research. For example, you call Scandinavia "a state". Denmark, Sweden and Norway are seperate countries.<br /><br />You also write:<br />"Further, most Scandinavian citizens (some 72.9%) are part of the Church Of Sweden."<br />That is impossible. Only around 47% of Scandinavian citizens live in Sweden. 37% if you count Finland as part of Scandinavia.<br /><br />I live in Denmark. I can recall one single Christian person I know; that's it. Many Danes think that perhaps there's "something" bigger than us, but they don't know for sure - and one thing is sure: They do not practice religion. They do not pray, they do not care about what priests say, and they do not believe in the Bible.<br /><br />I am a member of the Danish church. Why? I was automatically made a member when I was baptized (although my parents are atheists - to most Danes baptism is simply a nice tradition without any real meaning or importance) and so far I haven't bothered cancelling my membership. I don't care about that tiny amount I pay in taxes for the church; it is less than 1%. But make no mistake: I have no reason whatsoever to believe in the existance of any god or another kind of higher being. You can't use church statistics for anything. Besides, even though people are members of the church, few people even go there besides at Christmas. The churces are closing one after another because no people come there.<br /><br />I live in an agnostic atheist country, and it all works fine. The health care and overall wellfare is one of the best in the world, and the education system is better than that of the USA. The economy is fine too. You should try living here, and you'll see what a good place it is to live. It is not impossible to be good and kind just because you don't have a god; I donate money to charity every month, I help people when they're in need, and I believe everyone will be better off in the end, if the strong support the weak. I know love and morality, and I have no excuse for not practicing it, as opposed to some religious people who suppress other people for not having the same religion.<br /><br />Regards,<br />Lasse David, Danish agnostic atheist.selvestesandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01023207034738950896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-63833816336464471652012-04-29T12:46:54.610-05:002012-04-29T12:46:54.610-05:00Anon,
Thanks for the commentary. As I state in th...Anon,<br /><br />Thanks for the commentary. As I state in the article, Zuckerman's claim of the success of "organic atheism" can't be supported with the examination of these countries. <br /><br />In addition, I think the questions are wrong. To claim that because 80% don't read their bible or that 40% don't adhere to religious doctrine, is simply misleading. I'll explain why. I believe that current practice is in line with past traditions and history and their attitudes seem to be a hold over from the Catholic church who's members didn't read the bible at all at the instruction of the Vicar. To think that the adoption of Lutheranism discontinued practices associated with this type of belief system could be an overstatement. <br /><br />I would like to hear the question posed and answered, "Do you follow the directions and or ordinances of your local minister or priest?" I think this would be far more telling and useful than asking if a person reads their bible for instance. Then, how many times does one have to read their bible before one is called a Christian? There is no particular answer although one would think that one should engage their belief regularly, however back to what I said, reading may not be important when one accepts what the priest has to say on certain subjects.<br /><br />So thank for the commentary and we appreciate the information.District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-70415771622629379572012-04-29T09:44:31.903-05:002012-04-29T09:44:31.903-05:00I live in Sweden, and have been to Finland on many...I live in Sweden, and have been to Finland on many occasions. (family)<br /><br />I must say, the countries you are describing do not correspond to reality.<br />Your numbers, as far as religion goes, are seemingly correct, but a few notes need to be made:<br /><br />1. The tax you speak of is 0.2%, and to my understanding, this money goes to maintain the churches.<br />2. If you ask someone if they "believe in god", apparently 40% or so will say yes.<br />2a. If you ask these 40% if they've ever read the bible, 80%+ will say no.<br />2b. If you ask these 40% if they practice(or adhere) to religious doctrine, 80%+ will say no.<br />2c. If you ask these 40% if they ever think about religion, or use religion in their decision making at least a few times per month, 80%+ will say no.<br /><br />In essence, Religion is a non-issue that almost no-one thinks about or adheres to, or makes decisions based upon.<br />If you call this a "Religious" nation, then, in that sense, every country on the planet is 100% "Religious".<br /><br />You also falsely make it seem like Religion is being persecuted in these countries - this is not true.<br />If someone says they're religious, they're generally met with a "don't really care" kind of attitude - but if you want to lose friends quickly, trying to convert them to religion X is a quick way to do so.<br /><br />In other words, "you can do whatever you want privately, but if you start bugging me I'll be annoyed" is a rather permeating attitude towards religion, in Sweden at least.<br /><br />Lastly, we have some seriously broken immigration policies that keep throwing people into the same communities while it simultaneously takes around 7 years for an immigrant to land a job.<br /><br />This situation is the main reason for the soaring crime rates.<br /><br />If you take care to read what I've said, you'll notice that I haven't blamed immigrants for this, but rather put responsibility where responsibility is due, on the crappy policies that keep putting people in bad positions that are really hard to get out of.<br /><br />Mind you, most of these get welfare so they can live, and while it's not a great life, they don't have to worry that much about food and shelter. (though apartments are hard to find, so they generally stay at relatives)<br /><br />I hope this message has given you some insight into one of the countries you are discussing.<br /><br />Kind regards,<br />-SwedenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04346403027083799857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-15152137286347873502011-10-09T19:44:46.682-05:002011-10-09T19:44:46.682-05:00Since I receive an extraordinarily high number of ...Since I receive an extraordinarily high number of readers from Denmark and the Scandinavian countries, please correct me if the material facts are incorrect.<br /><br />Are the US State Dept. numbers incorrect?District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-86438543453736236312011-04-06T20:02:05.269-05:002011-04-06T20:02:05.269-05:00Anon,
Maybe you should take your complaint up wit...Anon,<br /><br />Maybe you should take your complaint up with the current stats rendered by the US Dept. of State. After all that is the official record and information given from the Scandinavian countries to the US. So rather than asking where I get info, look up the links and do a primary search regarding this issue. Unfortunately for you, I have taken time to do thorough research and place such facts in my article to support what I assert. You simply make statements and point to no source, friendly or foe, to support what you say. <br /><br />Then if you don't agree with what I've set forth, or what the facts bear out, then I guess we can readily conclude that atheism must be the cause of the dramatic increase in crime, (over 700% based on facts) low education rate, increasing suicide rate and other social ills that are being suffered?<br /><br />So which is it? Obviously you can't have it both ways.District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-78714379759191302692011-04-06T19:36:40.320-05:002011-04-06T19:36:40.320-05:00Your facts are very wrong indeed! Scandinavia has ...Your facts are very wrong indeed! Scandinavia has a large, highly educated population, much more so than the US. In addition, you do not get taxed 1% if you are a member of the church! Where do you get this stuff, you couldn't be more wrong!! <br /><br />It is an embarrassment to say you believe in God, and few Scandinavians will ever admit to being religious. We just don't need it, after all.. life is for the living!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-28930826082165030062010-12-29T09:00:18.482-06:002010-12-29T09:00:18.482-06:00FM,
I think you're on point. There are too ma...FM,<br /><br />I think you're on point. There are too many factors left unassessed to determine or pin down one particular happening as being a cause for the crime rate. So it cuts both ways and that certainly could be a possibility.District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-25165502382926240652010-12-28T21:28:52.543-06:002010-12-28T21:28:52.543-06:00Don't mean to be the voice of controversy, but...Don't mean to be the voice of controversy, but the reason crime in those nations is increasing is because they are allowing third world immigrants into those countries. If you'll notice, the crime rate was real low in those countries before they started allowing immigrants in, and when they did, crime went up.<br /><br />As for gun control, I am opposed to all forms of gun control. Being a gun owner myself, I think gun control is one of the worst things to happen to the U.S. All gun laws in the U.S. are unconstitutional and should be abolished.FMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-46311953483150646452010-12-28T09:46:15.367-06:002010-12-28T09:46:15.367-06:00If "Christian" nations supposedly have m...If "Christian" nations supposedly have more crime and all, it's probably because of those who oppose all that is right and good and called by the name of God (implied in 2 Thessalonians 2:4a). Wherever God's goodness thrives, it is always opposed. I believe it is because of the mercy of God that the secular nations have not been consumed (yet). But, we are not to fret ourselves over those who "prosper in their own way" (Psalm 37:7; Proverbs 24:19) and to consider that their feet stand in slippery places (Psalm 73:18)...just some thoughts.gnp22noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2357475346759651140.post-17368695192844459042010-12-27T21:10:17.756-06:002010-12-27T21:10:17.756-06:00In a recent C-Span interview on the program Q &...In a recent C-Span interview on the program Q & A, British House Of Commons representative Diane Abbot asserted that the difference between British and American legal processes hinged upon the fact that there is no vocal religious right within Great Britain. <br /><br />There were 3 primary issues that, according to her, aren't even debated in Great Britain and certainly aren't politicized religiously. Those issues are:<br /><br />1- Abortion<br />2- Homosexual unions<br />3- Gun control (there is no right to bear arms as citizens)<br /><br />Her claim is that the British people believe that these are given "non-issues" socially and that no religious group has a say in the political process concerning these issues.<br /><br />First, I don't believe her to the extent that she was making her case to make it seem that the effect of religious belief on every day moral choices doesn't exist within Great Britain. While the society is certainly different than the US, within the US we know why the founding Fathers thought it was important that the citizens maintain the right to bear arms. Secondly, it seems to be somewhat of a mindless society that will not advocate for their values.<br /><br />I would rather have a set of values that are uncompromising rather than allow anything or endorse everything for fear of offending. <br /><br />As I have watched the British House Of Commons on television, I find the Brits to be anything but mindless, so I have little regard for Ms. Abbott's assessment of her country's value system even though she's a Sistah!District Supt. Harvey Burnetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15315686602819371111noreply@blogger.com