'religious Places' And Crime Rate.

Khandro | 11:02 Sun 13th Apr 2014 | Religion & Spirituality

44 Answers

In a recent study researchers at the University of Manchester suggested that there was a direct correlation between a higher number of visits to 'religious places' and low crime figures. Not only did young people (the study covered those between 18 and 34) who attended a church, mosque or whatever, show far less propensity to commit crime - especially shoplifting, drug-taking and music piracy - but the more often they went to these places, the less likely still they were to commit these crimes.
Can anyone explain this please?

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pixie373

Khandro- that is taught by your parents- not religion!

Khandro

Question Author

pixie; you may have been taught by your parents, but from where did they (and their parents and beyond) get it from?
Many parents are not only not teaching 'right' they are actively teaching 'wrong' as they lack any form of moral code of behaviour themselves.

naomi24

Khandro, //Well you can pick and choose the bits you like, but what I am proposing is that young people attending services at religious places are far less likely to commit crimes than those who do not. //

And what the report proposes is that people exposed //to the pro-social behavioural norms// are less like to commit crime. You prefer to restrict that to religious places so who's picking and choosing?

Khandro

Question Author

Naomi; You re-quote me but fail to notice that I said [I]"What I am proposing"[I] - I'm not picking and choosing.

pixie373

They learn from their parents, obviously. If we were relying on religion- or if it made a difference, they would have more morals and/or commit fewer crimes than atheists. That doesn't happen - so it isn't down to religion.

starone

It doesn't say they never commit any crime, just that they are less likely to commit them. As you all probably know, I am an atheist by choice but in order to understand the Bible, I have read a large portion of it and the New Testament right through. Now although I still think you have to be incredibly naïve in order to believe the stories (and that's what they are) I have to admit that the way of life that is advocated is very good. If this way of life was adopted, there would definitely not be so much crime, but unfortunately people are not like that. There is a part of human beings which will always go its own way so maybe if the teachings of the church were adhered to then there will be less crime committed, but in my opinion there is little hope.

solvitquick

Khandro, you don't understand the statistics you are quoting. It's easy to plot one thing versus another but that does not mean cause and effect.
E.g. In the 1950-1960's the rise in heart-disease correlated with the rise in TV sales - wrong! TV was not causing heart-disease.
Here the correlation may be true but for the sociological reasons I indicated earlier.
If I wanted to be a politician, although an atheist, I would be a regular church-goer. Just hypocracy, yup, but that's what your stats indicate.
That's the reason: social progress not belief in god or goodness!
Regards,
SIQ.

naomi24

Khandro, //You re-quote me but fail to notice that I said [I]"What I am proposing"[I] - I'm not picking and choosing. //

Ah, right. So we've moved on from the report to what you, personally, are proposing? Is that right?

jomifl

Khandro, The horse has legs, the cart has wheels...

solvitquick

Dear Khandro,
If you are a person who is a "pillar" of society - local or national - you have to be seen to believe in the religious fairy-tales or the opiated masses will not support you - understand?
As regards prisoners (yup - off the question) that's easy - if you go religious then like faking Altzeimer's Disease you get out of prison earlier.
SIQ.

pixie373

That's odd, siq. I would keep them in longer...

Brenden

Oh to be a catholic - three Hail Mary's a couple of bob in the box and I am forgiven everything - min you - that does not wash in a courtroom.

emmie

would you want to be associated with a religion that has such a stance on child abuse, buried their heads in the sand, priests who have been part of the problem, i know i wouldn't

modeller

When I was first in the army church parades were compulsory so of course we all attended. Then one week it was listed they would be voluntary .
Result only 6% of our battalion attended.
The following week it was announced there would be a rifle inspection for all those not going to church.
Result 100% went to church.

Conclusion unless you know the methodology of the research it's meaningless.

solvitquick

Dear pixie373,
You say "that's odd...I would keep them in longer".
I just don't getcha, dearest.
Re imprisoned offenders I think all criminals should be banged up for a set time without any remission for "good behaviour" like "turning" religious. Sorry if my example of fiddling the system gave the opposite impression though I don't know why.
Luv,
SIQ.

SIQ.

Khandro

Question Author

j. //The horse has legs, the cart has wheels...// velly plofound glasshopper. :-)

pixie373

I think if they show sudden signs of irrationality, i would be wary about thinking them rehabilitated and ready for release. It was slightly tongue-in-cheek, but finding religion wouldn't convince me that their behaviour would be better.