Religiosity and economic development

[DemPGH]

It's also true that in third world and very undeveloped countries (Africa and the Middle East, mainly) you find not only more religion, but are more likely to find extreme and violent interpretations of it. In the end, it boils down to affluence, education, and opportunity, I think. Those things empower people, and so I think a person is less likely to find meaning in beheading people or blowing up civilization if they have opportunity and choices and education.

There are countries in South America that are very poor and which aren't violently oppressive with their religion, but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they are not isolated. Rural Pakistan is isolated.