Do you think that religion stops people from committing crimes?

Question

Would we have a higher crime rate if there was no religion?

Answer 1

Maybe it occasionally does with some individual people, but I don't think it makes much of a difference, so many people just ignore it, and lots of people commit crime in the name of religion.

Harriet

Answer 2

Not according to statistics:

Japan (the most atheistic nation in the G-7) have its lowest murder rate while the United States (the most Christian nation in the G-7) has its highest.

Prison population: Religious people make up way more of the population than atheists/agnostics.

Concerning homicide rates, Fajnzylber et al (2002), looked at 38 nations (excluding those in Africa) and found that of the top ten nations with the highest homicide rates, all but one (United States) were highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism. Conversely, of the bottom ten nations with the lowest homicide rates, all but one ( Ireland) are highly secular nations with high levels of atheism. Fox and Levin (2000) looked at 37 nations (again excluding Africa), and found that of the top ten nations with the highest homicide rates, all but two (Estonia and Taiwan) were highly religious nations containing statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism. Conversely, of the bottom ten nations with the lowest homicide rates, all but two ( Ireland and Kuwait) were relatively secular nations with high levels of organic atheism.

Answer 3

no

Answer 4

My opinion is it would be the reverse.

Contrary to what religious people think, atheists do have morals, and do apply them. Religious people also have morals, but at times their religion compels them to commit crimes (think 9-11, abortion clinic bombings/murders)

Answer 5

I think it would be about the same, though religion itself has caused people to commit numerous atrocities throughout history. It continues to this day in the form of terrorism, abortion clinic bombings, and teaching people that apples were ultimately responsible for sending all of us to h**l.

Answer 6

Good question.

I think that religion does not stop a lot of people from committing crimes. Look at the Mafia. They are all devoted catholics.

Having said that if there were no religion then I guess nothing would be considered a crime. Stealing, rape, hurting each other may be acceptable. Although these crimes are still practiced by people of religion, they are still accountable to the law and most laws originated from religion.

So my answer... Religion does not stop people from committing crimes but it has provided us with an awareness of what is acceptable behaviour and what is not. It also provided us with a set of laws that if broken will result in consequences for the criminal and justice for the victim.

As painful as some religions are, I think they have provided both atheist and religious believer with a kind of protection from those who wish to do them harm.

(Even the most hardcore Atheist must agree that some of the 10 commadments are a good guidline.)

Answer 7

i disagree,  personally i think it would be lower.

no wars!  

Answer 8

Well when you think of all the crimes committed by religious people I would say no. I don't know if there would be less, but I don't think there would be more.

Answer 9

if there were no religion there would be no law. Law's stem from religion. The common law established in England after the Norman invasion were created through religion. Those same laws were taken and used in the US. Religion is the basis for our entire legal system.

So if there were no religion, the law as we know it would not exist. The ten commandments are the basis for many of our laws.  

Answer 10

The studies I have seen rarely demonstrate that Christians are any better than non-Christians in most areas of morality.  In many areas, they are actually worse.

Answer 11

We would still have laws, but yes. To a certain degree. But thats what religion is about- power and control.  

Answer 12

Japan is top 5 on safest places to live and have around a 70% atheist population. Religion does sometimes prevent people from commiting crimes. It's silly you need a religion to stop you from doing a bad thing though.

Answer 13

Christians make up well over 80% of the people in prison, while atheists are only .2%

Also, less religious countries tend to have lower crime rates, lower homicide rates, better education, etc.

Answer 14

That's a really subjective question. For example what you think of as a crime may be considered the ultimate religious sacrifice somewhere else. There is no question that religion can influence peoples behavior to do radical acts of violence as well as extreme gestrues of kindness. It just depends on your perspective.

If you think that going to church as Christian makes you less likely to steal, lie, or covet they neighbors wife, then that would certainly be true if you just look at it from a statistical point of view. However, there are many Christians that commit crimes...religion facilitates people to do things (hopefully good things), it's doesn't stop them.