Essay:Atheism and world peace

Whether religion causes world peace has rarely been the subject of crucial research and scientific analysis, until now. The issue itself deals with whether religiosity or unbelief creates world peace. The recent analysis proves that countries with more atheists tend to be more peaceful.

Recent research

Recent research using the Global Peace Index has analyzed if religion or atheism was a major source for global peace. The results conclude that there is a negative correlation between religiosity and a nation's well-being. The results on average show that secular nations with high populations of atheists are more peaceful. This can also be seen when comparing more religious states in the United States with states with a higher population of atheists. The results show that religious states, especially the states found in the Bible belt of the south, all demonstrate higher teen pregnancy rates, homicide rates, and illiteracy rates. Secular states in the United States score better in societal health by having lower crime rates, more civic participation, better education, more civil rights, more income mobility, more income equality, and a more functional economy. These states include the northeastern and some western states. Of course, religious nations tend to be more dogmatic, more intolerant, and more hostile to progress, science, and civil liberties. Also, atheists tend to be wealthier and more intelligent.