Maybe Herk's earlier statement should have been. "Those that actually follow the teachings are etc."

Just because you profess faith does not mean you live your life the way that faith advises.

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Jones:- We're going to teach them climbing, abseiling, canoeing, archery, shooting...

Interviewer:- Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible isn't it?

Jones:- I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on the range.

Interviewer:- Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?
You're equipping them to become violent killers.

Jones:- Well, you're equipped to be a prostitute but you're not one are you?

Exactly. I could say, I'm "Buddhist" but saying and being are two different things.

If you can show that these single parents were non-theist to begin with, you would have a point. I personally haven't seen a direct or a series of indirect studies showing either way.

There could be a correlation, but it does not mean causation. Those social ills are usually attributed to other issues like poor education and low income. Tho religion can be an issue when it comes to sexual education for certain secs and churches, religion doesn't cause one to be poor (with the exception of Scientology).

Thanks for adding to my case, herk.

The study I linked looked at several measures of societal wellbeing within westernized democracies, and then linked them to religiousity within those countries. the higher the level of religious faith, the higher the level of problems.

Thus, religion does not make people better.

Keep linking, though. It just keeps proving the truth of this statement.

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Job 13:5 (New International Version)
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

I've seen the decline in values with my own two eyes. I don't need a study.

This can be DIRECTLY linked to our secularized public school system, which quite frankly is a laughing stock for a Nation claiming to be the leader of the Free World.

A large proportion of children today are being raised in value-less environments where Materialism has replaced Spiritualism.

and you think it's just hunky dory?

Still, that would just show that the teaching method is out of date. It's becoming a failed Meme among many people. Such things like the Pope telling African Christians not to use condoms and to stay abstinent is a failing policy which doesn't work with human nature.

I don't think your claims have anything to do with religion. The U.S. had record homicide rates compared to other nations even back in the 1800s. There is something about hardcore religion that makes people want to kill.

Not sure why, but there you go.

My kids may not believe in an imaginary friend in the sky, but they can understand this simple concept:

Don't do to other people what you wouldn't want done to you.

It's pretty easy, really.

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Job 13:5 (New International Version)
If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.

The Quakers opposed Slavery.

In 1668, Quakers in Germantown, PA adopted the first resolution opposing slavery.

You can thank Christians for this.

Yes, but many other nations face even less faith but don't have the same amount of issues.