Atheists And Income

China has the largest atheist population in the world.^[1]

As far as the issue of atheists and income, it depends on the geographic region where the particular atheists or group of atheists live.

The current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia primarily among whites.^[2] See: Global atheism and Western atheism and race

East Asia contains about 25 percent of the world's population. China's population represents 20 percent of the people on earth.^[3]

Chinese and Soviet atheists and income[edit]

See also: Atheism and China

During the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, it was required for every Chinese citizen to own, read, and carry at all times Quotations from Chairman Mao, also known as "the little red book".

The little red book advocated communism and atheism and it is estimated that about 5 billion copies were printed during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.^[4]

Razib Khan points out in Discover Magazine, "most secular nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “Confucian societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."^[5] See: Asian atheism

China has the world's largest atheist population.^[6][7]

China has state atheism. See also: China and atheism

According to the website Trading Economics, "GDP per capita in China averaged 1762.12 USD from 1960 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 7755 USD in 2018 and a record low of 132.30 USD in 1962."^[8]

Chinese, atheist communists and corruption[edit]

See also: Atheism and stealing and Atheism and communism

A requirement of being in the Chinese Communist Party is being an atheist and many of the elite Chinese government officials are wealthy and often corrupt (See: 'One million' Chinese officials punished for corruption, BBC, 2016).^[9] See also: Atheism and stealing

Sloth in atheistic, communist countries vs. Protestant work ethic[edit]

See also: Atheism and sloth and Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Atheism and economic prosperity

Atheism is a part of Marxist-Leninist and Maoist/Chinese communist ideology (See: Atheism and communism).

Widespread sloth in the former Soviet Union helped cause much poverty.^[10][11] A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: Atheism and alcoholism).^[12] In the former Soviet Union, a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.^[13]

In 1982, the website Foreign Affairs indicated about the Soviet Union and food production:

In China, the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.^[15]

On the other hand, the atheist and Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the Protestant societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."^[16]

In China, the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.^[17] Christianity is seeing rapid growth in China and the historian Niall Ferguson attributes this recent economic growth to the Protestant work ethic being more incorporated into Chinese society.^[18] See also: Protestant work ethic and Growth of Christianity in China

Atheistic communism and forced labor[edit]

See also: Atheism and forced labor and Atheism and slavery and Religion and abolitionism

In atheistic communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day.^{[19] [20][21][22]}

The black conservative author and commentator Thomas Sowell wrote in an essay entitled Ending slavery: "The anti-slavery movement was spearheaded by people who would today be called 'the religious right' and its organization was created by conservative businessmen."^[23] See also: Religion and abolitionism

Secular, European atheists and income[edit]

See also: Secular Europe

From a global perspective, Europe is more secular/atheistic than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: Secular Europe and Global atheism).

According to the website Trading Economics, "The Gross Domestic Product per capita in European Union was last recorded at 37417 US dollars in 2018. The GDP per Capita in European Union is equivalent to 296 percent of the world's average."^[24]

Secular Europe's economic crisis[edit]

Euro banknotes

The Eurozone crisis is an ongoing economic crisis which has been negatively affecting Eurozone countries since late 2009. It consists of a sovereign debt crisis, a banking crisis and an economic growth and competitiveness crisis.

See:

• The Eurozone Crisis explained in 5 simple graphs
• Why is there a Euro Crisis?
• Is Europe In Decline? One Professor Thinks So - Forbes magazine, 9/16/2014
• What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid, Forbes magazine, 5/30/2012

Economic productivity and the Protestant work ethic[edit]

See also: Protestant work ethic and capitalism

Developed countries with greater wealth, better educational systems and nutrition often have a cultural heritage of Christianity and often have significant Christian populations within them (see also: Protestant cultural legacies).^[25][26] In terms of economic development, biblical Christianity has historically had a positive affect on countries.^[27] Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the Protestant societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history." (See: Protestant work ethic and capitalism).^[28]

The mentality of many irreligious Europeans is not one of hard work and thrift which typifies the Protestant work ethic. It often more closely resembles the citizens of failed atheistic communist states (see: Communism). In addition, many irreligious states (includes various countries in secular Europe) engage in an economic policy of tax, spend and sovereign debt accumulation (see also: Atheism and politics and Secular left).^[29]

For more information, please see: Protestant work ethic and capitalism

Economic and societal deterioration in secular Europe[edit]

In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".^[30]

As noted above, a countries economic health and educational system has an effect on IQ scores.

On October 3, 2014, L’Agence France-Presse reported:

Reports of Britain's societal decline[edit]

See also: British atheism

• Why is England burning? by Creation Ministries International, August 13, 2011
• ‘Sexual perversion is good for you’, claims BBC by Creation Ministries International, September 27, 2012

American atheists and income[edit]

See also: American atheism and Religion and education

David Silverman was the president of the American Atheists organization. Silverman was fired due to allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.^[32]

Compared the rest of the developed world, Americans are more religious (see: American atheism and Sociology of "atheism is un-American" view).

According to the 2014 General Social Survey (GSS), the number of atheists and agnostics in the United States has remained relatively stable in the past 23 years. In 2014, 3% of Americans identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics.^[33] In 1991, 2% of Americans identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic.^[34]

In June 2016, American Interest reported: "First of all, religious belief is still very powerful and widespread, and there is nothing inevitable about its decline. In fact, the proportion of people who say they believe in God actually ticked modestly upward, from 86 percent to 89 percent, since Gallup last asked the question in 2014."^[35]

According to the website Trading Economics, "The GDP per Capita in the United States is equivalent to 432 percent of the world's average. GDP per capita in the United States averaged 35552.91 USD from 1960 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 54541.70 USD in 2018 and a record low of 17550.60 USD in 1960."^[36]

The Pew Research Forum reported in 2013 concerning American atheists: "About four-in-ten atheists (43%) have a college degree, compared with 29% of the general public."^[37]

In 2012, the Pew Research Forum reported regarding American atheists: "And about 38% of atheists and agnostics have an annual family income of at least $75,000, compared with 29% of the general public."^[38] See also: Atheism/Christianity and socioeconomic status diversity

See also: Income distribution of American atheists, Pew Research

Atheist indoctrination in public educational system[edit]

See also: Atheist indoctrination

Jewish columnist Dennis Prager has stated that a causal factor of atheism is the "secular indoctrination of a generation."^[39] Prager stated that "From elementary school through graduate school, only one way of looking at the world – the secular – is presented. The typical individual in the Western world receives as secular an indoctrination as the typical European received a religious one in the Middle Ages."^[40] Despite atheistic indoctrination in public schools in the United States, the United States remains very religious (see: Views on atheists). See also: Atheism and children and Atheism and critical thinking

See also[edit]

• Atheism and economics

• Demographics of atheism

• Atheism statistics

• Atheism and charity

External links[edit]

• Will global atheism be hurt by a global, economic depression in the 2020s or 2030s?, Examining Atheism

Notes[edit]