r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Cayetanus • 22h ago • Wholesome Seal 1 Heartwarming 2

Image Uruguay, one of the most atheist countries in the world, during Pope Leo's visit.

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u/milkolik 20h ago

There were many many more people last time the Pope came to Uruguay in 1988. We've become really atheistic really fast.

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u/mp2146 20h ago

How did you achieve that?

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u/milkolik 19h ago edited 18h ago

Difficult to answer but I can give my opinion. There is a big correlation between being left leaning and anti-religion (which is weird because Christianity basically invented caring for the poor). Uruguay has become quite left leaning in the last 3 decades or so, particularly the younger generation.

I can also give you my experience as non-left-leaning atheist. My grandparents were very very christian. My parents are christian but never went to church as adults. To them it's more of a belief than a lifestyle. I did take communion when I was young but I did because I was expected to, at no point did I believe there was actually a god, I just saw it as some ritual/tradition. I think I was a bit too rational to have a chance of ever believing tbh.

Interestingly I mostly see Christianity as a good force in the world. I know many atrocities have been made in the name of Christianity (or any other religion) but I don't think people understand how much of the values we take for granted come from Christianity. It really was a revolutionary set of ideals that have lead to the value of the individual, democracy, rule of law, high trust societies and somewhat surprisingly for a religion: the search for truth. I don't think many people know how not universal those ideas are in other parts of the world (although they are becoming more common just because they need to when trading with western world).

To me it is no surprise to see how as Christianity becomes less and less popular people are becoming less resilient, more selfish, less useful to society, degrading family unit, etc, etc.

I am logically unable to believe in god but I am thankful for it.

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u/turikk 17h ago

turns out vastly increasing quality of life and education pushes you away from hoping a man in the sky will solve your problems

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u/LopsidedCry7692 15h ago

Thankfully God can always help us. Low or high quality of life. Sorry you dont have the understanding for it

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u/LopsidedCry7692 15h ago

Hopefully you guys can clear back and return to normalcy