Comments on: Religious Visas

By: Abraham Ayalew

Abraham Ayalew — Wed, 02 May 2007 10:13:42 +0000

I am an Ethiopian 43 years old married and a father of 4 children. I have tried Dv lottary many times but I couldn’t get the chance. I am a member of ful gospel church.Concerning my ministry, I had been a full time Jesus film team member since 1995- 2003 and planted many churches in the country side of Ethiopia.I have a dream to live and serve temporarliy in your country there by to learn in one of theollogical colleges then I will come buck to my country for further ministry. Therefore, please tell me how can I be acheived my gole. Thank you

By: razib

razib — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:33:33 +0000

That can happen only in the US.

countries where the religion of peace dominates are also cretinish.

By: sakshi

sakshi — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:17:48 +0000

JOAT:

It happens to be the longest continuous republic in the world and the oldest constitution in the world.

Sorry about being a pedant, but both these honors go to San Marino.

Religious roots run deep in this country. Why are people often surprised that people are religions here?

I am actually more surprised by the literalist interpretation of religion. I have met people who told me that the good Lord hid fossils in the earth to mislead us, and the Bible is true. That can happen only in the US.

As my very frustrated linguistics prof said to me once: 'there is no single literal interpretation of a physics problem, forget the Bible'.

By: No von Mises

No von Mises — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:11:36 +0000

This:

Norris and Inglehart suspect that social safeguards are the cause of religionÂ’s loss of meaning, which, in turn, brings about a decrease in birth rates.

reads better as

Norris and Inglehart suspect that social safeguards bring about a decrease in birth rates.

By: razib

razib — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:11:33 +0000

vikram, i think religion is more likely to be a dependent variable actually. in cases where religiosity is positively correlated with modernity and education within a country, like south korea, i don’t recall seeing higher fertility for the religious precisely because of the correlation noted above.

By: kritic

kritic — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:57:58 +0000

JOAT- "Why are people often surprised that people are religions here?"

Because some people, esp, new immigrants, are not well versed in this nations history, when they arrive.

By: Vikram

Vikram — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:57:52 +0000

Vikram, your post just disproved the 'direct correlation' that your originally referred to.

refer to post #42. Also one thing to determine is what segment of the population is religious: the older (and not child bearing) or the younger.

By: Vikram

Vikram — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:53:09 +0000

it isn't as simple as more religion = more kids

No, in the face of economic crisis and unemployment, other factors do take precedence. But religion plays into the equation very strongly:

Religiosity as a demographic factor- an underestimated connection? On the basis of demographic data and the results of the World Value Survey, which has been conducted in 76 countries since 1980, U.S. American political scientists Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart have observed that a loss of religious meaning in society is the primary cause of the subsequent decrease in birth rate. Norris and Inglehart suspect that social safeguards are the cause of religionÂ’s loss of meaning, which, in turn, brings about a decrease in birth rates. Wherever a Â“welfare stateÂ” frees people of existential concerns, traditional values and religions lose their primary function and are replaced by secular and individualistic attitudes, which lead to a drop in fertility. link

By: KXB

KXB — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:51:42 +0000

It helps that Christianity has grafted so easily onto capitalism.

Are Judaism and Confucian traditions more opposed to capitalism? That's news to me.

By: No von Mises

No von Mises — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:13:40 +0000

Vikram, your post just disproved the ‘direct correlation’ that your originally referred to.