Egalitarianism and the Decline of Religious Belief
Phil Zuckerman (of Pitzer College) & Gregory Paul wrote an article entitled “Why The Gods Are Not Winning”, which documents the long-term decline of religion in advanced, prosperous nations. For an atheist living in the West’s most religious state, their article is a fresh breath of optimism.
The exceptional piety of America among Western states certainly is a phenomenon in need of an explanation. Zuckerman & Paul propose that this results from America’s comparatively inegalitarian, laissez-faire economic arrangements. The underlying idea is that fear, insecurity, and a sense of lack of control over one’s life cause people to turn to gods for reassurance (and pray to them for intervention). The theory’s underlying causal mechanism is quite plausible; indeed, I think it is quite likely that this is the primary factor behind the decline of religion in free, prosperous nations.
It cannot, however, account for the differences between Europe and America. The authors’ assertion that Americans are more afraid and insecure than Europeans is just plain wrong. Surveys have repeatedly shown that Europeans are more pessimistic about both economic prospects and security (from violence) than are Americans.
Socialists do set out with the goal of ensuring that people “enjoy long, safe, comfortable, middle class lives that they can be confident will not be lost due to factors beyond their control”. Out-and-out communists had the same goal. The results are a different matter entirely. France, infamous for both its restrictive labor laws and its citizens’ pervasively pessimistic economic outlooks, provides an especially striking example.
We must look elsewhere for an explanation of American piety.
Update: I emailed this to Phil Zuckerman, and received a brief reply. He suggests that I read Sacred & Secular by Norris and Inglehart. We’ll see if I get around to doing so. If anyone else decides to read it, please tell me what you think.
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