Secular countries and loneliness

Atheists have higher suicide rates than theists. See: Atheism and suicide

Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.

Below is a number of resources about various secular countries and loneliness within their societies.

Secular countries and loneliness

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries are often lonelier societies (see articles listed below). In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists have lower emotional intelligence and lower social skills (see: Atheiam and emotional intelligence and Atheiam and social skills).

See:

• Atheism and loneliness

• Secular Europe and loneliness

• England and loneliness

• Atheistic Sweden and loneliness

• Irreligious Australia and loneliness

• Atheistic China and loneliness

Indian anthropologist's commentary on lonelineness in atheistic Denmark

The Indian anthropologist Prakash Reddy found Denmark to be a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but lonely people, isolated from each other and lacking much sense of religion. Compared to the teeming villages of India, a Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent.

In 2005, Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God. Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.

In 1993, Reuters reported:

“

Indian anthropologist Prakash Reddy has turned the tables on Western colleagues who put Third World cultures under the microscope. Reddy, of Sri Venkateswara University at Tirupati in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, spent four months in the village of Hvilsager--population 104--on Denmark's Jutland peninsula. His study, published in book form in English under the title "Danes are like that!" expresses dismay at the loneliness he found and the hope that India would not have to pay the same price for prosperity. "The most fundamental question that should bother every social scientist in the East is: Is there no way of achieving development without sacrificing the human values and the way of life cherished by homo sapiens?" he asked.... Reddy said he found a neat and tidy, cozy little society, stiff, rigid and seemingly full of practical, down-to-earth but lonely people, isolated from each other and lacking much sense of religion. Compared to the teeming villages of India, the Danish hamlet seemed deserted and closed. To an Indian, accustomed to constant close contact in an extended family and community, Danish life was cold if not nonexistent, Reddy said. "Coming from an Indian village, I was used to seeing people in the streets . . . but here in Denmark not a single soul was sighted and, except for the sound of a passing automobile, absolute silence prevailed," Reddy wrote.

”

See also

• Atheism and loneliness

• Atheism and marriage

• Atheist marriages

• Atheism and social intelligence

• Atheism and emotional intelligence

• Atheism and bitterness

• Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

External links

• Japan's 'anti-loneliness' cafe goes viral

• Japanese company unveils 'anti-loneliness' hugging chair that 'makes you feel safe'