intelligent less likely to believe in god, page-271

For Harvey,

"That is interesting in that those nations that have the greatest freedoms today, like our own, had strong Christian influences in their formation."

Harvey. I would suggest you study a little history.

The freedoms our society today are born from MATERIALISM AND INDUSTRIALISATON rather than Christian influences, just as freedoms are beginning to increase in China as a result of increasing affluence.

This so called FREEDOM of the masses is essential for capitalism, consumerism, mobilisation of the workforce, etc.

Also, our democratic freedoms were born from the horrors of two Western World Wars, which ended government systems of monarchy or authoritarian rule.

As for Christian or Western influences, these were central in the exploitation and gross human rights abuses of "colonialism" and the post colonial nationalism and communist arising in the East.

Thus Burma is an example of Buddhist peoples being dominated by dictatorial Chinese influenced militaristic communists.

This evolution is a direct result of Western/Christian evangelical colonialism and imperialism.

What about our Australian nation, which evolved as a convict settlement from the brutality of the industrial revolution, where those of Christian nations not only practised the slave trade but also exploited their own peoples and children?

I suggest you learn a little about history.

Do you really believe in a time of extreme crisis our or any society will retrain our current freedoms?

I assure you, Buddhist nations such as Thailand and formerly Burma were much more 'spiritually free', given in general, their sense of communal living was very strong.

In a country such as Thailand, when away from the Vietnam and money induced brothels, you will see a nation where the peoples truely respect and support eachother; a nation of peoples with extremely high self-respect.