So says the
Journal of Religion and Society in an elegantly titled study
Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies
In a great article in the Sydney Morning Herald (subscription required), Emily Maguire reports that;
"In general," writes the author, Gregory Paul, "higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies."
A striking example of this is the US, which has the highest degrees of religious faith and the highest rates of homicide, abortion, STD infection and teenage pregnancy. The least religious countries - Japan, France and Scandinavia - have the lowest rates of violent crime, juvenile mortality and abortion.
Her conclusion is brilliant;
No one is suggesting that religious faith is harmful, and, anecdotally, it seems it may even be beneficial on a personal level. But when it comes to working for a better society the religious need to stop sermonising, get up off their knees, unclasp those praying hands and work for measurable change in the here and now.
I have nothing to add, but think this is well worth further discussion.