The Pew Research Center has just released its new survey on Global Attitudes. They interviewed 45,239 people in 47 countries
The NYT gives a fine summary of the portion of the survey that deals with attitudes towards global trade, immigration, and to a lesser extent, democracy.
I, however, would like to focus on the section of the survey entitled "Values and American Exceptionalism"
We stand out. How?
The survey finds that there is a strong negative correlation between wealth and strength of religious beliefs. Poor countries, like many African nations, sow high scores in questions dealing with the role of God and morality. Wealthy Western European countries show low scores that reflect a mostly secular population.
The US, however, the wealthiest nation, comes out in the middle of the religious index, on par with Mexico and Lebanon.
Success and Individualism
According to the survey Americans are also more likely than any other respondants to disagree with the idea that success in life is due to foces ousde our control. Unless they are poorer. People with incomes under 30K are on the other end of the scale, and have less faith that success comes from an personal effort.
Why is this?
The overall finding that believe in the importance of religion is higher under conditions of poverty is understandable. God sustains those who have little to rely on in this world. But what does it say that Americans are so faithful to traditional beliefs in morality and the role of God in our lives--all the while living high on the food chain?
Is it our history...our founding as a Christian nation (yes, this can be debated, and should be), the religious cycles we've gone through (Great Awakening I, Great Awakening II), Or is it what David Brooks has called the American belief in providence and progress--that we are on a God-given path, that our wealth is a direct correlation to our believe in God...we are being rewarded. We are the chosen people.
And to finish. The final question on this section may bolster this conclusion. 55% percent of Americans are of the opinion that our culture is superior to others'
Note, the Italians don't agree. 68% of them were trancendentally proud of their culture, compared to only 31% of the British respondents feeling that way about British culture.
Friday, October 5, 2007
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2 comments:
We stand out. How?
I suspect that the wealth of raw materials here has been correlated with the "we have been blessed" attitude of non-secular folk. We end up with an aggregate attitude of "we have because we were faithful, and God has blessed us". Just a gut feeling about this.
Success and Individualism
Again, we have had 200+ years of relatively open space, a cowboy type attitude, and the opportunity for those that are a bit more driven and perhaps a little more ruthless, or persistent to actually make themselves successful. That is harder to do in a culture with relatively strict hierarchy, or caste system and limited resources. Those that are on the bottom side of the economic scale have a hard time. You have to have something to start with. Often values shift with life experience. For example: when one is young and in love, it is easy to think in terms of "the two of us will be happy as long as we are together, and can accomplish much". As time goes on, kids show up and it becomes more likely that the responsibilities add up faster than the opportunities.
Why is this?
I would agree with David Brooks. The belief itself can carry a society a long ways before the reality of limited resources strikes. It is an unfortunate belief, and rationally inaccurate from a non-secular point of view. (my opinion)
I bet there is a fairly direct correlation between cultures that have a long history of national superiority/supremacy which have somewhat declined in stature, and those that have never been in that state, and those that are in/rising to that state of being. It would be interesting to know what our feelings will be in, say, another 150 years.
An interesting question to ask in one of these surveys would be "how often do you make a charitable action to make up for your guilt based on your perceived wealth"? I bet 90% of the answers would be lies.... :-)
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