Wow this map is interesting

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Religion_in_the_world.PNG

Iran?

[Sbane]

The Iranian people are probably some of the more moderate muslims out there. Remember the Shah was overthrown and the Ayatollah put into power in response to US imperialism. Another factor might be their rich culture which goes beyond just Islam, unlike most of the middle east.

[Hash]

The Iranians I know are extremely progressive, moderate Muslims.

It's not because Iran has a very conservative Islamic regime that the nation as a whole is automatically kooky like they are.

[Verily]

Not a huge surprise. You have to remember that the Revolution was not, in its origins, intended to install a theocratic regime. In fact, many of the most prominent supporters of the Revolution were Marxists and other leftists in Iran who opposed the Shah and the US and allied with clerical forces. There were also a lot of mainline moderate democrats who supported the Revolution. The clerical faction managed to win out in the ensuing power struggle between democratic, Marxist and theocratic forces, but the Revolution was not religious.

The regime is also quite unpopular. I imagine having an unpopular theocratic rule makes you less inclined to be religious--except as a formality as necessary to survive in the society.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

How about Turkey?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

How about Turkey?

Opposite sort of process to Iran, presumably.

[The Mikado]

"Iran: slightly more religious than the United States" just doesn't have that strong a ring to it, does it?

The one that gets me is India, the "land of spirituality."  So much for the birthplace of Buddha, Krishna (maybe), and Mahavira.

Oh, and poor, poor China.  1.3 billion people and there aren't 1,500 brave enough to answer the telephone when Gallup calls.

[Keystone Phil]

Italy being more religious than the U.S. is interesting. I'm surprised that Romania and Moldova are considered "more religious."

It's funny how there is no data for the Vatican but we can say, without a doubt, that it is the most religious country.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

This would be even more interesting if the Confederacy still existed.

[Sbane]

"Iran: slightly more religious than the United States" just doesn't have that strong a ring to it, does it?

The one that gets me is India, the "land of spirituality."  So much for the birthplace of Buddha, Krishna (maybe), and Mahavira.

Oh, and poor, poor China.  1.3 billion people and there aren't 1,500 brave enough to answer the telephone when Gallup calls.

'
Yes India is a bit surprising. Although the survey is about how "important" religion is and India doesn't have that many fanatics. Everyone is more or less religious, since it is so intricately woven into everyday life, but it doesn't mean its extremely important to them.

[Lief 🗽]

Echoing everyone else here, from my experience, the Iranian people aren't really that much more religious than Americans are. Certainly if not for the government there, Iran would be one of the most progressive states in the region.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

And it'd be full of hot women without those awful headscarves.

[Lief 🗽]

Young Iranian girls already pretty much wear the bare minimum of the required covering, though it's still far from ideal, of course.

From a fashion standpoint, head scarves (not chadors which only the olds wear) aren't really that bad, and the government is actually unofficially okay with somewhat small ones pushed pretty far back.

[Tender Branson]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=91999.msg1917116#msg1917116

[big bad fab]

Also astonishing is South East Asia: I mean, all of South East Asia, not only Myanmar, Philippines and Malaysia, but also Vietnam, Laos, even Cambodia.

The interpretations of questions must have been very diverse and so, the scale of colours can't be very accurate.
Limits of global benchmarking through unreliable polls.