Interesting question Goosebump. Are there any political, social or economic benefits to being an atheist ?
I think it depends on where you live. In a country like the UK, being overtly religious (e.g. invoking god, Jesus etc during parliamentary business or public discourse) would probably be disadvantagious to a political career. In the US no such disadvantage exists - if anything the reverse.
Socially, being a declared atheist could be disastrous in some communities, leading to ostracisation and alienation from friends and family, but in other places nobody would care.
Economically, I can only speak from my experience in the UK. The congregations of churches that I have been to seem to be no different in cross section from society in general (perhaps the average age is a little higher). Some are plumbers, some are surgeons. Based on that observation I conclude that religiosity is neutral in economic terms. I realize this is a bit unscientific but I am not aware of any studies have examined this question.
If you are a theist in a country or community where most other people are (the same kind of) theists - advantageous.
If you are an atheist in that community - disadvantageous
If you are a theist or atheist in a country or community where most people are atheist/agnostic - neutral.
If you are a theist or atheist in a country or community where most people are a different kind of theist - disadvantageous, possibly fatal.
Regards
Grimesy
I think it depends on where you live. In a country like the UK, being overtly religious (e.g. invoking god, Jesus etc during parliamentary business or public discourse) would probably be disadvantagious to a political career. In the US no such disadvantage exists - if anything the reverse.
Socially, being a declared atheist could be disastrous in some communities, leading to ostracisation and alienation from friends and family, but in other places nobody would care.
Economically, I can only speak from my experience in the UK. The congregations of churches that I have been to seem to be no different in cross section from society in general (perhaps the average age is a little higher). Some are plumbers, some are surgeons. Based on that observation I conclude that religiosity is neutral in economic terms. I realize this is a bit unscientific but I am not aware of any studies have examined this question.
If you are a theist in a country or community where most other people are (the same kind of) theists - advantageous.
If you are an atheist in that community - disadvantageous
If you are a theist or atheist in a country or community where most people are atheist/agnostic - neutral.
If you are a theist or atheist in a country or community where most people are a different kind of theist - disadvantageous, possibly fatal.
Regards
Grimesy
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. — Edward Gibbon
