'Atheist' Nations Are More Peaceful

http://facebook.com/ScienceReason ... "Peace Is Non-Theistic" by http://www.youtube.com/user/EpochOfReason

"Vision of Humanity groups together a number of interrelated initiatives focused on global peace. It brings a strategic approach to raising the worlds attention and awareness around the importance of peacefulness to humanitys survival in the 21st century." 
• http://www.visionofhumanity.org

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I hear time and time again the incredible statements being made by the religiously minded whom make comparisons between themselves, other religious groups and also even to the non-religious.

I hear often Muslims claiming their religion to be one of peace, of knowledge of wisdom and of respect (laughs), and much of the same spewed from the pipes of the Christian, Jewish and Hindu drones. Though, its interesting to note that I have yet to see any statistical data nor any evidence to support such claims; mainly due to the fact that there is none.

With this video, I seek to present factual statistical data that expresses that such claims are not only false, but like most religious speech, are blatant falsities that exist as a propaganda force. Religion now like always maintains a clear and distinct correlation with conflict, not peace!

The Vision of Humanity Global Peace Index survey accounts for internal and external conflicts and the subsequent losses incurred, Including that of potential terrorist acts. Relationships with neighbouring countries and overall political stability.

Perceptions of criminality in society, violent and non violent crime rates and intentional homicidal displacement ratios to the overall population. Capital prison population, capital police officer population. Military expenditure, capability, sophistication and number of armed personnel.

Volume transfer of conventional weapons both import and export and ease of access to minor. UN peacekeeping funding, overall UN involvement and capital respect for human rights ...

The overall functionality of government, the Electoral process, Political participation and overall political culture. Civil liberties, corruption perceptions, Women in parliament, Democracy Index, Gender Inequality, freedom of the press, export and import % of GDP and foreign direct investment flow. Number of visitors as % of domestic population, and net migration.

Gender and age ratios, regional & international framework/conditions and framework of regional integration. Education spending, primary, secondary and higher school enrolment ratio, mean years of schooling and adult literacy rate. Hostility to foreigners, importance of religion in national life, willingness to fight. Nominal GDP, per capital, unemployment percentage, life expectancy and infant mortality rate.

With that said, the Global Peace Index is detailed and comprehensive to say the very least. Utilizing the results generated from each of the ten most religiously concentrated Islamic, Christian and Non-theistic Atheist nations I have compared them directly as to express the clear and distinct correlation between religion and conflict. 

But more importantly, the apparent correlation between non-theism and peace. As the numbers clearly demonstrate, religion is a negative driving force, pulling us backwards. Non-theism is a positive driving force, pushing us towards the future.

The percentages of both theists and non-theists were taken from sources such as Adherents and Wikipedia, rounded to the largest denomination and then compared to official demographics produced by academic institutions. Its almost impossible to gain a specific percentage in all cases, though you need to factor in those whom have not yet come out of the theistic closet.

Regardless, the message remains the same; non-theism is clearly a positive driving force whilst theism remains a negative influence upon our global society.

They have done so by conducting a very detailed and extremely accurate statistical study in 2008 of 144 major countries and have allocated them a rating based upon many political, economic, social and academic factors in an effort to view a given nations merit of peace.

-EpochOfReason

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Global Peace Index
• http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.php
Global Peace Index Rankings 2009
• http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/results/rankings/2009/
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