Atheist nation?

[Ultima22689]

I was thinking, what if an all atheist nation was founded? I'm just curious of the implications, the plausibility, the negatives and positives, stuff like that. I don't even know if such a thing is even a good idea or even necessary but I thought it was an interesting idea, i'm sure it isn't the first time the thought was made but any opinions on this?

[Reginus]

Apperently the Czech Republic is the most (or one of the most) atheistic countries in the world, and it's a pretty average country if I do say so myself. However, it does have one of the highest beer consuption rates per person in the world

http://cheekymax.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/the-most-atheistic-country-in-the-world/

[Arctonyx]

An atheist country wouldn't end well. Secular is the way to go.

[Ultima22689]

Apperently the Czech Republic is the most (or one of the most) atheistic countries in the world, and it's a pretty average country if I do say so myself. However, it does have one of the highest beer consuption rates per person in the world

http://cheekymax.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/the-most-atheistic-country-in-the-world/

I think that is Sweden actually and from what I hear Sweden is supposedly pretty awesome.


http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html

[Reginus]

Well, Vietnam is in second place.

[Arctonyx]

Apperently the Czech Republic is the most (or one of the most) atheistic countries in the world, and it's a pretty average country if I do say so myself. However, it does have one of the highest beer consuption rates per person in the world They also mostly swear in English too, so you already have a partly swedish vocabulary!

Well, Vietnam is in second place.

I thought Vietnam mostly followed Buddhism? The last figures I saw, something like 80% of all Vietnamese said they were Buddhist, so not exactly an atheistic country. Although most of the countries in the top 10 of that list are first world, and doing extremely well.

[Reginus]

I thought Vietnam mostly followed Buddhism? The last figures I saw, something like 80% of all Vietnamese said they were Buddhist, so not exactly an atheistic country.

*Facepalm*
Yeah, forgot Buddhism=no god.

[Ultima22689]

I thought Vietnam mostly followed Buddhism? The last figures I saw, something like 80% of all Vietnamese said they were Buddhist, so not exactly an atheistic country.

*Facepalm*
Yeah, forgot Buddhism=no god.

Buddhism however is still theism, so yeah, facepalm indeed.

[Whitney]

I thought Vietnam mostly followed Buddhism? The last figures I saw, something like 80% of all Vietnamese said they were Buddhist, so not exactly an atheistic country.

*Facepalm*
Yeah, forgot Buddhism=no god.

Buddhism however is still theism, so yeah, facepalm indeed.

Well....to be theists they'd have to believe in god.

They are definitely not secular.

[Whitney]

I don't think an atheist country would work for the same reason a theist country wouldn't work....you can't limit freedom like that and expect everyone to be happy.

[Ultima22689]

I don't think an atheist country would work for the same reason a theist country wouldn't work....you can't limit freedom like that and expect everyone to be happy.

mmm, indeed, good point, it's bound to just cause more pain thanks to oppression of freedom.

[Ninteen45]

An all atheist nation would be a nation with no need for a god. This, quite frankly, is pretty damn near impossible, as it would have to be a country where everyone's needs are fulfilled. People usually believe in god because they may be in deep poverty, or in a bad way. For an all atheist country there must be no crime, all jobs must be good for them. In short, there must not be a single negative thought.

However, it is a rather interesting "What if?" situation, and possibly an entertaining one, too. I still think it is possible, albeit kinda evil-ish. I mean, we do have endorphins we could inject....

[iNow]

You guys should check out the book, "Society without God" by Phil Zuckerman.






http://www.publishersweekly.com/article ... ryid=47142

Sociologist Zuckerman spent a year in Scandinavia seeking to understand how Denmark and Sweden became “probably the least religious countries in the world, and possibly in the history of the world.” While many people, especially Christian conservatives, argue that godless societies devolve into lawlessness and immorality, Denmark and Sweden enjoy strong economies, low crime rates, high standards of living and social equality. Zuckerman interviewed 150 Danes and Swedes, and extended transcripts from some of those interviews provide the book's most interesting and revealing moments.

Here's a cool interview with him (in two parts):

[youtube:2z5vyyei]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn1il00qIzI[/youtube:2z5vyyei].................[youtube:2z5vyyei]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eEojwlG4cU[/youtube:2z5vyyei]

[SSY]

I would be curious as to how an atheist nation was defined. Would the state endorse atheism? Would theists be expelled?

I think a country where they did not give any state money to religious based organisations or programs, and where proselytizing (even to one's children) was banned, the country would become atheist in a hurry, and theism would be maintained at exceptionally low levels.

[Ultima22689]

I would be curious as to how an atheist nation was defined. Would the state endorse atheism? Would theists be expelled?

I think a country where they did not give any state money to religious based organizations or programs, and where proselytizing (even to one's children) was banned, the country would become atheist in a hurry, and theism would be maintained at exceptionally low levels.

^This, II bet a country like that could work out.