Don’t blame religion for corruption in gov’t

In his article “Is a secular ‘church’ inevitable?” (Opinion, 3/25/15), school principal Edwin de Leon contends that religion lowers moral standards. To back his argument, he points to the differences among countries when it comes to religiosity and morality. Citing examples, he claims that the more religious nations appear to be more corrupt. In this context, he refers to the Scandinavian countries, noting that they are mainly atheistic (Denmark, 85 percent; Sweden, 80 percent).

Mistakes demand corrections. According to International Social Survey 2008, the atheists are a minority in Denmark (18 percent) and Sweden (19 percent). Majority of the people in the Scandinavian countries [Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Faroe Islands] believe in God or a supernatural power. Even though in recent years the number of people leaving church membership has risen, more than half belongs to a religious sect (e.g., Finland around 75 percent). Religion is not dying in Scandinavia.

De Leon argues that less religiousness yields less corruption and leads to a more generous society. If we look at this argument closer, we should find out that this is not true. Take Russia. The Soviet Union followed for many decades a strict, atheistic policy. The aim was to destroy religion and liberate society from that burden of capitalism. How did this project go? Corruption is still one of the most serious problems in Russia.

There is a bond between religion and morality, and the basic assumption is that religion encourages high moral values among individuals and their communities. However, the link between religion and morality is very complicated. There are other social phenomena affecting morality which, like poverty, could increase the incidence of corruption and lower moral standards, while “feeding” religious fervor. Tight and emotional family ties might lead to a clan society, where rivalry upends integration. Which opens the door to corruption as well.

On the other hand, warm family relationships, anchored on tradition and conservatism, might support religiousness. And there will be an interaction between morality and religion.

Immorality is a challenge to religion which, in some cases, has neglected the ethical call, but that is not a reason to blame religion for corruption and poor moral standards.

—HANNU SORRI,

expat from Finland,

[email protected]