Countries that are rich but not secular include Saudi Arabia (oil), Qatar (oil and gas), Kuwait (oil), United Arab Emirates (oil and trade), Brunei (oil and gas), Oman (oil), Bahrain (oil and finance), and Malaysia (natural resources and manufacturing). And that’s it. Therefore, only secular countries are rich.
This article explains why religion is a stifle for economic growth, standard of living, and other measures.
The economic consequences of religion
When religion dominates a country’s political and social systems, it limits its growth. Non-secular countries often base laws on religious doctrines. This stifles innovation and restricts freedom of thought. People align their actions with religious norms instead of questioning the status quo. As a result, creativity and problem-solving suffer. In today’s world, this holds back advancements in science, technology, and industry.
Education is one of the areas most affected. Non-secular countries prioritize religious teachings over subjects like science and math. This leaves students unprepared for a global economy. Without strong skills in technology or science, the workforce is less competitive. Innovation slows down. The country lags behind in producing new scientific and technological breakthroughs, which are key for economic growth.
Women’s discrimination
Religious restrictions also harm gender equality. In many non-secular countries, women face barriers in education and employment. These societies underuse half of their population. Limiting women’s roles reduces productivity. It also weakens leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. A country cannot reach its full economic potential if it holds women back.
Foreign investment often avoids countries with strict religious laws. Businesses do not want to operate where religious rules create uncertainty. Sectors like finance, tourism, and entertainment especially suffer. For example, bans on alcohol or certain forms of entertainment deter international businesses and tourists. Without foreign investment, economies fail to diversify and grow.
Rigid religious governance also prevents necessary reforms. Leaders use religion to justify policies that keep them in power. This creates economic stagnation. Non-secular countries are slow to adapt to global economic trends. They resist changes in technology and international trade, which keeps them behind.
Religious laws often impose outdated legal frameworks. Some countries, for instance, use religious banking rules. This limits their participation in global financial markets. Such systems might work locally, but they isolate the country from international standards. This reduces access to global capital and investment.
Secular countries, by contrast, encourage open debate and free thought. These societies promote knowledge and innovation. Their governments are more flexible. They quickly adopt reforms that match global trends. Secular nations are often more economically developed and attract more foreign investment. They lead in technological advancements and economic growth.
In summary, non-secular countries limit their own potential. They restrict critical thinking and innovation. They hold back women, resist foreign investment, and stagnate economically. Secular countries, on the other hand, thrive by fostering freedom, innovation, and adaptability. They are better positioned to succeed in today’s fast-changing world.
Only secular countries are rich: Israel is the finest example
The Ashkenazi Jews had one advantage when they started inhabiting Israel. They were influenced by secularism as they were from Europe. The continent, unlike the Middle East, was secular back then.
Israel maintains a military advantage over its larger neighbors despite being much smaller. It is a rich and technologically advanced country, which plays a key role. Israel invests heavily in its military, spending around 5% of its GDP on defense. This level of spending allows Israel to develop cutting-edge technology and maintain a highly trained military.
Israel’s economy is strong, supported by high-tech industries. This provides the resources to invest in advanced weaponry and defense systems. The country is known for developing sophisticated military technology, like the Iron Dome missile defense system. Its high-tech industry allows it to produce drones, cyber weapons, and precision-guided missiles. This technology gives Israel an edge in combat situations, allowing it to respond quickly and efficiently.
Poor neighbors
In contrast, many of Israel’s neighbors, though larger, are not as economically strong or technologically advanced. Countries like Syria and Lebanon have less developed economies and weaker industrial bases. Their military spending is lower, and their forces rely more on older, less sophisticated equipment. This creates a gap in military capability. Only secular countries are rich.
Israel also benefits from strong international partnerships. It has close ties with the United States, which provides military aid and access to advanced weapons. These partnerships strengthen Israel’s military power and give it access to cutting-edge technology that many of its neighbors lack.
Training and organization are another factor. Israel’s military is highly professional and well-organized. Mandatory military service ensures a steady stream of trained soldiers. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are known for their effectiveness and quick mobilization. They are trained to operate in complex environments and use advanced technology efficiently. This high level of preparedness gives Israel a significant advantage.
In contrast, larger neighbors may have more soldiers, but they often lack the same level of training and equipment. Their forces can be less coordinated, which weakens their overall military effectiveness. Size alone does not guarantee military strength if the forces are not well-equipped or properly trained.
In summary, Israel’s military advantage comes from its strong economy, advanced technology, and highly trained military. While its neighbors may be larger, they are not as technologically advanced or economically powerful. This allows Israel to maintain a superior military force despite being geographically smaller and surrounded by larger countries.
Non-secular countries outside of the Middle East
Non-secular countries outside the Middle East often face similar struggles when it comes to development. Religion deeply influences laws, education, and governance, which can create barriers to economic and technological progress. When religious beliefs shape the political and social systems, it limits innovation and restricts freedom of thought. People are often discouraged from questioning religious norms or exploring new ideas. This stifles creativity and holds back advancements in critical areas like science, technology, and industry.
In many non-secular countries, the education system is heavily influenced by religious teachings. Schools may prioritize religious doctrine over subjects that are essential for competing in the global economy, such as mathematics, science, and technology. As a result, the population lacks the necessary skills to drive innovation or build industries that contribute to economic growth. Without a strong educational foundation, these countries fall behind in producing the kind of workforce needed to compete globally. This weakens their ability to develop cutting-edge industries like information technology, biotechnology, or advanced manufacturing.
Only secular countries are rich: How religion prevents reforms
Non-secular governance often makes it difficult to adopt necessary reforms. Leaders in religiously dominated countries frequently use religion to justify policies that maintain their power. This resistance to political and social change leads to stagnation. These governments are often slow to adapt to global economic trends or technological advancements. For example, countries in South Asia or parts of Africa with strong religious influence are often reluctant to embrace modern reforms that could lead to growth, such as expanding women’s rights, encouraging entrepreneurship, or integrating with global markets. This lack of reform creates a cycle of underdevelopment.
Religious restrictions can also limit foreign investment. International businesses are often hesitant to invest in countries where religious laws create uncertainty or impose restrictions on business practices. Strict moral codes, based on religious beliefs, can hinder industries such as tourism, entertainment, and finance. For instance, countries in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa with strong religious laws may miss out on tourism or international trade opportunities due to restrictions that discourage foreign visitors or investors. This lack of foreign investment further limits economic growth.
Law subdued to religion
Another key issue is the legal framework in non-secular countries. Laws influenced by religion often fail to keep pace with the needs of a modern economy. For example, financial systems based on religious principles, such as interest-free banking, may limit participation in global financial markets. While these systems might work within their own contexts, they isolate the country from international economic networks. This reduces access to global capital and investment, which are crucial for economic development. Without integration into the global financial system, non-secular countries struggle to attract the resources they need to grow their economies. The lack of modern legal and financial frameworks further isolates these countries from the global market, making it difficult for them to compete or even participate in international trade.
Additionally, non-secular governance can create an environment of rigidity and conservatism, where policies are slow to change and adapt to new realities. This resistance to reform extends beyond economic policies to include social issues, which also impacts development. For example, countries in South Asia or parts of Africa may resist implementing modern technologies in agriculture or industry because these innovations conflict with traditional religious views. This resistance limits economic diversification and keeps the country reliant on outdated practices that can no longer sustain growth in a rapidly evolving global economy.
Scientific and technological advancements
In contrast, secular countries, which separate religion from governance, often foster environments of open debate, innovation, and adaptability (only secular countries are rich). These countries encourage scientific and technological advancements and are better able to reform their economies in response to global trends. By promoting freedom of thought and encouraging diverse perspectives, secular nations are able to harness their full economic and intellectual potential.
In summary, non-secular countries outside the Middle East, like their counterparts in other regions, face significant barriers to development due to the dominant role of religion in their governance. Religious influence on education, gender roles, and law limits the country’s ability to innovate and grow. Resistance to change and reluctance to integrate with the global economy further slow progress. Without reforms that reduce religious control and promote more secular governance, these countries will continue to struggle to achieve their full economic and technological potential.
Poor standard of living as a cosequence
The low standard of living in these countries is a direct result of their non-secular governance. The rigid control of religious leaders and the lack of economic freedom keep people in poverty. Economic opportunities are limited, and social mobility is almost nonexistent. Many people in these societies are forced to rely on traditional, subsistence-level work because modern industries have not developed. The lack of investment in innovation and technology further deepens the divide between these countries and more developed, secular nations.
Religious governance also limits the country’s ability to attract foreign investment. International businesses are hesitant to invest in regions where religious laws create uncertainty and restrictions on business operations. Industries like tourism, finance, and entertainment, which thrive in more open and secular societies, often face significant obstacles in religiously controlled countries. This lack of investment slows economic growth and leaves the population stuck with low wages and poor living conditions.
Religion lowers life expectancy
Healthcare and social services are also affected by religious influence. In many non-secular countries, access to healthcare is limited by religious laws that restrict certain medical procedures or treatments. Limited access to healthcare leads to higher rates of illness and lower life expectancy, further contributing to the low standard of living.
Non-secular governance creates a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment. The lack of freedom, innovation, and economic opportunity keeps the population reliant on outdated traditions. People are unable to improve their standard of living because the systems in place do not allow for growth or change. Without secular reforms, these countries will remain stuck in a low-development trap, where poverty and inequality persist.
In contrast, secular nations tend to embrace diversity of thought and encourage innovation. These societies invest in education, promote gender equality, and welcome foreign investment. As a result, they see higher economic growth, better living standards, and more social mobility. In non-secular countries, however, religious control maintains a low standard of living by restricting personal freedoms and limiting the country’s ability to adapt to the modern world.
Conclusion: only secular countries are rich
Secularism is correlated with a higher standard of living, economic development, GINI index, happiness index, and a larger absence of military conflicts.
Non-secular countries are plagued with education depravity and social underdevelopment.
In conclusion, reason, critical thinking and science should prevail over superstitious myths.
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