The Economist carries two stories that may or may not be related to each other. First, in a story about beer consumption in Asia, we find a nifty map showing the levels of beer-drinking per capita for several countries around the world. Second, in an article on Europe’s irreligious, there is a bar graph showing for each European country the proportion of the population that never attends religious services.
Reading these prompts me to wonder whether there might be a correlation between beer-drinking and the level of religious observance in these countries. For example, the Czech Republic has the highest percentage (60% plus) of people who never attend religious services, and it also boasts a whopping 161 litres per person in beer consumption, by far the highest among the countries surveyed. On this basis might one be justified in speculating that those specializing in spirits tend to spurn spirituality?
September 3rd, 2010 | 2:43 pm | #1
Growing up in my very german roots town, where beer was not considered alcohol, at least 90% went to church
September 3rd, 2010 | 3:14 pm | #2
Maybe they’re trying to be like the ancient Israelites. http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=36&Issue=5&ArticleID=4
September 3rd, 2010 | 3:32 pm | #3
What a great topic for a Friday before a three-day holiday David! May your nose be red, and your cheeks rosy! Cheers!
September 3rd, 2010 | 11:36 pm | #4
To answer your question, no. First, there’s the causation/correlation fallacy, and then there’s the point that the French come in second in the non-attendance sweepstakes, but you didn’t think to post a graph on wine consumption. Only beer. Hmmmmmm. So whether or not there’s a link, we’re certainly “not justified” in engaging in the speculation you suggest on the basis you offer. :-)
September 4th, 2010 | 4:42 pm | #5
Thanks, Jeff Doles, for the link to the BAR article. I wonder how our teetotalling brethren will respond.
September 4th, 2010 | 4:51 pm | #6
If it weren’t for the complicated religious/legal/cultural relationships between churches and the various mood-affecting substances, it’d be really interesting to look for correlations. The colorful effects of psilocybin mushrooms on Christian seminarians is documented. One also suspects that pot smoking might make secular people more open to religious or “spiritual” claims, that alcohol consumption might increase one’s capacity to cope with the authoritarian and sometimes arbitrary rules of institutionalized religion,and that methamphetamines might make the intricate doctrinal distinctions of reformed theology more palatable (perhaps while also increasing one’s paranoia about divine retribution).
September 19th, 2010 | 7:41 pm | #7
Maybe they find enough good fellowship around the table with a few pints. Maybe they find more depth in the pub than in a Sunday morning European liturgical worship service where there is less opportunity to truly connect with others.
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