Changes

''See also:'' [[Atheism and politics]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and politics]]

'''1.''' They are actively opposed to any role of religion in politics or in government and so support the separation of church and state. Ironically, they are not in opposition to the religious left and don't challenge their religion yet do attack the right wing over religion..This was seen in Australia, Tony Abbott, a conservative Catholic was berated by the Secular Left present in Australia. Yet the secular left didn’t condemn the Uniting Church minister from Queensland who stood as a left-wing minister.<ref>http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2010/08/22/more-mischief-from-the-religious-left/</ref>

'''1.''' They are actively opposed to any role of religion in politics or in government and so support the separation of church and state. Ironically, they are not in opposition to the religious left and don't challenge their religion yet do attack the right wing over religion..This was seen in Australia, Tony Abbott, a conservative Catholic was berated by the Secular Left present in Australia. Yet the secular left didn't condemn the Uniting Church minister from Queensland who stood as a left-wing minister.<ref>http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2010/08/22/more-mischief-from-the-religious-left/</ref>

'''2.''' They also believe in forming a secular state. This would involve a state being completely neutral to all forms of religion and having no legal stance with regard to religion. France is a secular state due to the policy of laïcité<ref>http://www.frenchentree.com/societe-francaise/displayarticle.asp?id=20486</ref> which is the strict separation of state from church. Despite the fact that 51% of the population are Catholic,<ref>http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2007/90175.htm</ref> there is no legal safeguard for the religion as religion is considered an entirely private matter.   

'''2.''' They also believe in forming a secular state. This would involve a state being completely neutral to all forms of religion and having no legal stance with regard to religion. France is a secular state due to the policy of laïcité<ref>http://www.frenchentree.com/societe-francaise/displayarticle.asp?id=20486</ref> which is the strict separation of state from church. Despite the fact that 51% of the population are Catholic,<ref>http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2007/90175.htm</ref> there is no legal safeguard for the religion as religion is considered an entirely private matter.   

Widespread [[sloth]] in the former [[Soviet Union]] helped cause much poverty.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255693/Last-pictures-life-iron-curtain-collapse-USSR.html Poverty, prostitutes and the long, slow death of the Soviet Union: Haunting pictures show desperate struggle to survive in last days of USSR, ''The Daily Mail'']</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/29/world/soviet-openness-brings-poverty-out-of-the-shadows.html?_r=0 Soviet Openness Brings Poverty Out of the Shadows], ''New York Times''</ref>  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]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref>   

Widespread [[sloth]] in the former [[Soviet Union]] helped cause much poverty.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2255693/Last-pictures-life-iron-curtain-collapse-USSR.html Poverty, prostitutes and the long, slow death of the Soviet Union: Haunting pictures show desperate struggle to survive in last days of USSR, ''The Daily Mail'']</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/29/world/soviet-openness-brings-poverty-out-of-the-shadows.html?_r=0 Soviet Openness Brings Poverty Out of the Shadows], ''New York Times''</ref>  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]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref>   

On the other hand, [[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>  In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> 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.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> See also: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]]

On the other hand, [[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>  In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China's fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> 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.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> See also: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]]

=== Secular left, Soviet Union and historical revisionism ===

=== Secular left, Soviet Union and historical revisionism ===