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Due to the history of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Reformation]], significant Protestant populations can be found in [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], the northern part of [[Germany]], [[Iceland]], [[Latvia]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the east, north and west of [[Switzerland]].<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/adh_predom.html Predominant religions], Adherence.com</ref>
 
Due to the history of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Reformation]], significant Protestant populations can be found in [[Denmark]], [[Estonia]], [[Finland]], the northern part of [[Germany]], [[Iceland]], [[Latvia]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], the [[United Kingdom]], and the east, north and west of [[Switzerland]].<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/adh_predom.html Predominant religions], Adherence.com</ref>
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All the above countries are developed countries. And when looking at any economic prosperity of the above countries and any positive effects that prosperity causes or other positive cultural attributes, one has to consider cultural legacy of [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestantism and the Protestant work ethic]] in these countries.  
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All the above countries are developed countries. And when looking at any economic prosperity of the above countries and any positive effects that prosperity causes or other positive cultural attributes, one has to consider cultural legacy of [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestantism and the Protestant work ethic]] in these countries. See also: [[Christianity and social stability]] and [[Work ethic]]
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Many irreligious countries in Europe, particular [[Nordic]] countries, have Protestant cultural legacies.  Furthermore, in terms of Protestant cultural legacies, one has to look how atheism affects a culture and other relevant statistics related to atheism related to the social sciences (see: [[Atheism and culture]] and [[Atheism statistics]]).  
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Many irreligious countries in Europe, particular [[Nordic]] countries, have Protestant cultural legacies.  Furthermore, in terms of Protestant cultural legacies, one has to look how atheism affects a culture and other relevant statistics related to atheism related to the social sciences (see: [[Atheism and culture]] and [[Atheism statistics]]).
    
== Effects of cultural legacies ==
 
== Effects of cultural legacies ==
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(Ferguson is an [[atheism|atheist]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B64q2_Crq-Y Niall Ferguson on Belief]</ref>)
 
(Ferguson is an [[atheism|atheist]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B64q2_Crq-Y Niall Ferguson on Belief]</ref>)
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=== Protestant missionaries and economic and societal development ===
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== Protestant missionaries, Protestantism and economic and societal development ==
    
The article ''The Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries'' published in ''Christianity Today'' notes:
 
The article ''The Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries'' published in ''Christianity Today'' notes:
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Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.
 
Areas where Protestant missionaries had a significant presence in the past are on average more economically developed today, with comparatively better health, lower infant mortality, lower corruption, greater literacy, higher educational attainment (especially for women), and more robust membership in nongovernmental associations.
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In short: Want a blossoming democracy today? The solution is simple—if you have a time machine: Send a 19th-century missionary."<ref>Christianity Today, [https://archive.is/cDMnA The Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries], January 8, 2014</ref>}}
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In short: Want a blossoming democracy today? The solution is simple—if you have a time machine: Send a 19th-century missionary...
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...at a conference presentation in 2002, Woodberry got a break. In the room sat Charles Harper Jr., then a vice president at the John Templeton Foundation, which was actively funding research on religion and social change. (Its grant recipients have included Christianity Today.) Three years later, Woodberry received half a million dollars from the foundation's Spiritual Capital Project, hired almost 50 research assistants, and set up a huge database project at the University of Texas, where he had taken a position in the sociology department. The team spent years amassing more statistical data and doing more historical analyses, further confirming his theory.
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...Woodberry's historical and statistical work has finally captured glowing attention. A summation of his 14 years of research—published in 2012 in the American Political Science Review, the discipline's top journal—has won four major awards, including the prestigious Luebbert Article Award for best article in comparative politics. Its startling title: "The Missionary Roots of Liberal Democracy."
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...over a dozen studies have confirmed Woodberry's findings. The growing body of research is beginning to change the way scholars, aid workers, and economists think about democracy and development.<ref>Christianity Today, [https://archive.is/cDMnA The Surprising Discovery About Those Colonialist, Proselytizing Missionaries], January 8, 2014</ref>}}
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[[File:John Wesley.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[John Wesley]] ]]
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David Beidel wrote in his article ''The Bloodless Revolution: What We Need to Learn from [[John Wesley]] and the [[Great Awakening]]''
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{{Cquote|In the 18th Century, most of Europe was on fire. Bloody civil wars and revolutions were decimating nation after nation. Unrestrained injustice, government and Church corruption, slave trade and the oppression of the poor created a powder keg for violence. Miraculously, Great Britain escaped the horrors of civil war and the brutal savagery that revolutionary anarchy engenders.
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Few ancient monarchies are still in place today. The mystery of the UK’s capacity to honor the old guard, while raising up a more democratic system without a revolution, is a sociological wonder. Many credit the Great Awakening, in particular the Methodist movement, launched by John Wesley, for this extraordinary and peaceful transition.
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[[Methodism]] unleashed an army of “little Christ’s” all over Europe. They cared for the poor, took in unwanted and abused children, fought unjust laws and labor conditions, visited prisoners, and battled against slavery; They joined hands with the Apostles and “turned the world upside down.” Eventually compassion became fashionable...
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America is in desperate need of a Christ-infused revolution of compassion. We are a land of churches, who are well positioned to hear and answer the cries of our struggling communities. If a critical mass of congregations committed themselves to radically sharing the Gospel and passionately serving under-resourced/at-risk communities, we will see peace powerfully rise in these times of trouble. This will also enable, as in the days of John Wesley, wise reformation to take place because the true Christian Church is theologically hardwired to bring about peaceful, meaningful change that benefits all. I have written much about this in my book, Samaria, The Great Omission, and treasure every opportunity to strategize with churches who have a heart to minister in this way.
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Let us stand in the gap as cultural/community peacemakers and healers in this season of sorrow and division. May our magnificent obsession be Jesus, the everlasting, ever loving, rescuer of the oppressed and Father of all.<ref>''[https://tristatevoice.com/2020/08/04/the-bloodless-revolution-what-we-need-to-learn-from-john-wesley-and-the-great-awakening/ The Bloodless Revolution: What We Need to Learn from John Wesley and the Great Awakening] by David Beidel</ref>}}
    
=== Eurozone crisis and countries with a cultural legacy of Protestantism ===
 
=== Eurozone crisis and countries with a cultural legacy of Protestantism ===
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=== Protestant work ethic and China ===
 
=== Protestant work ethic and China ===
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[[File:China rel01.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Christianity is rapidly growing in China. See: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] ]]
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''See also:'' [[Growth of Christianity in China]]
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''See also:'' [[Growth of Christianity in China]]
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[[File:China rel01.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|Christianity is rapidly growing in China. See: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] ]]
   
According to ''Slate'', "Protestant Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in [[China]]."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is especially growing sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref>
 
According to ''Slate'', "Protestant Christianity has been the fastest growing religion in [[China]]."<ref>[http://www.slate.com/bigideas/what-is-the-future-of-religion/essays-and-opinions/fenggang-yang-opinion When Will China Become the World’s Largest Christian Country?], Slate</ref>  [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christianity]] is especially growing sharply in China.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0111/In-China-a-church-state-showdown-of-biblical-proportions In China, a church-state showdown of biblical proportions]</ref>
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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*[[Bible reading and human flourishing]]
 
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
 
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
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Essays:
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*[[Essay: The Dakotas, the USA states with the highest percentage of Lutherans, are the most pro-life states in the USA|The Dakotas, the USA states with the highest percentage of Lutherans, are the most pro-life states in the USA]]
    
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
 
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
 
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
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[[Category:Atheism]]
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[[Category:Protestantism]]
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