Post by phludowin on Mar 17, 2017 23:32:22 GMT
I guess that Christianity is the most compatible, or maybe the least contradictory to these ideas.
If Islam had kept its science friendliness from during the Golden Age, maybe I would see things differently. But the brand of Islam currently en vogue is not my cup of tea.
I am not familiar enough with Buddhism and Hinduism to judge them. But if we look at how many people are trying to leave South-East Asia to live in Europe, America or Australia, vs. how few people from these places want to live in South-East Asia, I guess that it does not really speak in favour of the predominantly Buddhist or Hindu places.
Even the enlightenment and rights of man owe more to economics than religion imo. In fact Christianity was appealed to both by champions of individual rights like Locke and their opponents like Hobbes. The fact that this debate occured at that time - as emergent capitalism was allowing individuals to break free from feudalism - is especially telling. You don't see any Christian thinkers championing individual rights before this economic epoch.
Not saying that Christianity hasn't made positive contributions in these countries or that other religions haven't made negative contributions in some other areas, but religion is just one of many complex socio-economic factors that determine how pleasant a place is to live in.
I agree that economics play a big factor in how good a place is for living.
On the other hand, Saudi-Arabia, Qatar and Dubai are rich. But the granted rights of the individual, especially when this individual happens to be female or homosexual or non-Muslim, are questionable, to say the least.