| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Brian Westley" |
| Date: |
27 Jul 2004 04:31:58 PM |
| Object: |
Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
....
None of which cut any ice with nonbelievers.
Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists Inc., called the study the
latest gimmick from the religious establishment to drum up government
support.
"Religious people cannot rely on their theology to promote what they do
so they turn to other things," she said.
"I cannot imagine what the belief in mythological beings or things that
don't exist can do for business. What about the pornographic industry?
That is probably very good for growth."
The St Louis Fed's essay "Fear of Hell Might Fire Up The Economy" can be
found here:
http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2004/c/pages/fear_of_hell.html
---
Merlyn LeRoy
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| User: "Denis Loubet" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 09:07:33 PM |
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"Brian Westley" <westley@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Didn't they get the memo that states correlation does not equal causation?
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| User: "Honus" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 05:07:03 PM |
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"Brian Westley" <westley@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
I'd say most of the countries south of the U.S. border put the lie to that.
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| User: "Brian Westley" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 05:13:53 PM |
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"Honus" <honus1@earthlink.net> writes:
"Brian Westley" <westley@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
I'd say most of the countries south of the U.S. border put the lie to that.
I also noticed their report doesn't explain all those non-hell
believing west European countries with high per capita incomes.
---
Merlyn LeRoy
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| User: "Divin Marquis" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
29 Jul 2004 02:18:28 AM |
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Le Tue, 27 Jul 2004 22:13:53 +0000, Brian Westley a écrit :
I also noticed their report doesn't explain all those non-hell believing
west European countries with high per capita incomes.
And the non-hell believing countries of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan ...
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| User: "The Eternal Clayton Of The Spotty Ass" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 06:37:34 PM |
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"Brian Westley" <westley@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
One word....Mexico!
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 05:56:40 PM |
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On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 09:37:34 +1000, The Eternal Clayton Of The Spotty *****
wrote:
"Brian Westley" <westley@visi.com> wrote in message
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
One word....Mexico!
US
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| User: "Phÿltêr" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 09:38:42 AM |
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Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> astounded us with:
news:4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
LOL! Then the GOP is quite the conundrum, wouldn't you say? They make the
Mafia look like choirboys, although the prosperity bit is probably on the
money, somebody else's ill gotten money that is.
--
Phÿltêr
AA#1938
Denizen of Darkness #44 & AFJC Antipodean Attaché
http://forums.clickhalah.com/index.php
Remove "s" to respond
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| User: "Kermit" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 02:45:10 PM |
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Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote in message news:<4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>...
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
...
None of which cut any ice with nonbelievers.
Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists Inc., called the study the
latest gimmick from the religious establishment to drum up government
support.
"Religious people cannot rely on their theology to promote what they do
so they turn to other things," she said.
"I cannot imagine what the belief in mythological beings or things that
don't exist can do for business. What about the pornographic industry?
That is probably very good for growth."
The St Louis Fed's essay "Fear of Hell Might Fire Up The Economy" can be
found here:
http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2004/c/pages/fear_of_hell.html
---
Merlyn LeRoy
Well, I googled "per capita" income and Japan and got this:
http://www.worldbank.org/data/databytopic/GNIPC.pdf
Ranked so:
Bermuda
Luxembourg
Norway
Switzerland
USA
Lichstenstein
Japan
Denmark
for the year 2003. I wouldn't say any of those countries have a high
rate of superstition, excuse me, religious fervor, except for the US.
Kermit
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| User: "Don Kresch" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 06:50:01 PM |
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In alt.atheism on 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 GMT, Brian Westley
<westley@visi.com> let us all know that:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
...
None of which cut any ice with nonbelievers.
Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists Inc., called the study the
latest gimmick from the religious establishment to drum up government
support.
"Religious people cannot rely on their theology to promote what they do
so they turn to other things," she said.
"I cannot imagine what the belief in mythological beings or things that
don't exist can do for business. What about the pornographic industry?
That is probably very good for growth."
The St Louis Fed's essay "Fear of Hell Might Fire Up The Economy" can be
found here:
http://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2004/c/pages/fear_of_hell.html
If it weren't for the fact it's really something from the St.
Louis fed, I'd swear it was from The Onion. But I somehow doubt that
even they could write something so...whacked.
Don
---
aa #51, Knight of BAAWA, DNRC o-, Member of the [H]orde
Atheist Minister for St. Dogbert.
"No being is so important that he can usurp the rights of another"
Picard to Data/Graves "The Schizoid Man"
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| User: "johac" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 12:50:13 AM |
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In article <4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>,
Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
The US, arguably one of the most god saturated countries on the
planet, may be prosperous, but judging by recent headlines, one could
hardly say that it is free of corruption.
--
John Hachmann aa #1782
-The ability to change one's mind, ideas, and opinions when confronted with
new facts is the sign of the rational and intelligent. The inability to do
so is the hallmark of the dimwitted and the fanatic. This applies not only
to science and philosophy, but also to politics.-
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| User: "Sean C" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 12:53:59 AM |
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In article <4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>, Brian
Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
They're full of it. Latin America, Africa and the Middle East are all
more religious and also more corrupt and economically backward than the
European nations. According to the Global Corruption Index, a survey
conducted by an anti-graft group called Transparency International, the
evil "atheist," "socialist" countries of Finland, Iceland, Denmark and
New Zealand are the least corrupt and the highly religious countries of
Nigeria and Bangladesh are the most corrupt. Of course, these countries
are also the most prosperous in terms of quality-of-life of their
citizens. Selling people a pile of feel-good ***** about imaginary
beings *is* corruption, so religion and corruption goes hand in hand,
as does backwardness.
http://us.rediff.com/money/2003/oct/07corrupt.htm
Sean C
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 05:56:05 PM |
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On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 01:53:59 -0400, Sean C wrote:
In article <4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>, Brian
Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
They're full of it.
Of course. But since they're christians, no problem.
[]
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| User: "Mark Richardson" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 08:34:10 PM |
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On 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 GMT, Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The english word "coincidence" exists for a very good reason.
Likewise the words "superstition", "gulible" and "nitwit".
Mark.
--
Mark Richardson mDOTrichardsonATutasDOTeduDOTau
Member of S.M.A.S.H.
(Sarcastic Middle aged Atheists with a Sense of Humour)
-----------------------------------------------------
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| User: "Divin Marquis" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
29 Jul 2004 02:16:39 AM |
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Le Wed, 28 Jul 2004 01:34:10 +0000, Mark Richardson a écrit :
The english word "coincidence" exists for a very good reason. Likewise the
words "superstition", "gulible" and "nitwit".
Except that there's no "coincidence", not even a correlation.
They mention Ireland, but Ireland's recent economic boom also correlates
with a dramatic drop in church attendance.
So there you go.
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| User: "Jim07D4" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 12:37:14 PM |
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Mark Richardson wrote:
On 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 GMT, Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The english word "coincidence" exists for a very good reason.
Likewise the words "superstition", "gulible" and "nitwit".
The belief in hell could plausibly be a actual motivator toward being
less corrupt, while hell does not exist. I have a harder time seeing a
direct relationship between belief in hell and national prosperity.
Perhaps more corruption gets in the way of national prosperity, so the
effect is a result of the first effect. The article suggests this, anyway.
If we were to design a society to minimize corruption and maximize
prosperity, would we have government-supported religion in it? Is there
some other value, such as personal autonomy of religious expression or
non-expression, that we'd want to be respected? That's the crux of the
issue.
--
Jim07D4
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| User: "raven1" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 06:43:15 PM |
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On 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 GMT, Brian Westley <westley@visi.com> wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
Absolute BS. Central & Latin America come immediately to mind, not to
mention the Middle East.
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 05:54:41 PM |
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On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 +0000, Brian Westley wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Well, that leaves the U.S. out as corruption is rampant and just fine-as
long as you're Republican.
[]
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| User: "Lawrence Seib" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 11:17:19 PM |
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"stoney" <stoney@localhost.localdomain> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.07.28.22.54.41.278627@localhost.localdomain>...
On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 +0000, Brian Westley wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Well, that leaves the U.S. out as corruption is rampant and just fine-as
long as you're Republican.
And exactly what in Hades is the Federal Reserve Bank of
St. Louis. doing spending my tax money on obviously religiously
biased research. I guess they needed an excuse to visit some
exotic countries.
Larry
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
29 Jul 2004 03:57:29 PM |
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On Wed, 28 Jul 2004 21:17:19 -0700, Lawrence Seib wrote:
"stoney" <stoney@localhost.localdomain> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.07.28.22.54.41.278627@localhost.localdomain>...
On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 21:31:58 +0000, Brian Westley wrote:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Well, that leaves the U.S. out as corruption is rampant and just fine-as
long as you're Republican.
And exactly what in Hades is the Federal Reserve Bank of
St. Louis. doing spending my tax money on obviously religiously
biased research. I guess they needed an excuse to visit some
exotic countries.
Sure...all the ladyboys and the child prosties-both male and female.
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| User: "Vic Sagerquist" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 08:50:21 PM |
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One day in alt.atheism, Also Sprach Brian Westley:
"I cannot imagine what the belief in mythological beings or things that
don't exist can do for business. What about the pornographic industry?
That is probably very good for growth."
I'll say it is! :)
--
Vic Sagerquist
aa#2011
Supervisor, EAC Department of little adhesive-backed "L" shaped
chrome-plastic doo-dads to add feet to Jesus fish department
______________
The whole foundation of Christianity is based on the idea that
intellectualism is the work of the Devil. Remember the apple on the tree?
Okay, it was the Tree of Knowledge. "You eat this apple, you're going to be
as smart as God. We can't have that."
[Frank Zappa]
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| User: "Fear gan dia" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
27 Jul 2004 05:53:37 PM |
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Verily verily I say unto you, it is written by Brian Westley
in <4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
Total BS. What about the south? The worst corruption, the lowest
standards of living and the highest concentration of lunatics
who believe in all the moronic hellfire-and-brimstone crap.
--
The Very Irrev. Fear gan dia # http://goddamliberal.port5.com
"Every good Christian should line up and kick Jerry Falwell's *****."
- Barry Goldwater
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Feds say belief in hell boosts economy |
28 Jul 2004 05:57:18 PM |
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On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 22:53:37 +0000, Fear gan dia wrote:
Verily verily I say unto you, it is written by Brian Westley
in <4106c9ce$0$65614$a1866201@newsreader.visi.com>:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5529195/
WASHINGTON - Economists searching for reasons why some nations are
richer than others have found that those with a wide belief in hell are
less corrupt and more prosperous, according to a report by the Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Researchers at the regional Federal Reserve bank
acknowledged the importance of productivity and investment in the
economic process but looked at some recent unconventional efforts to
explain differences in national prosperity.
The St Louis Fed drew on work by outside economists who studied 35
countries, including the United States, European nations, Japan, India
and Turkey and found that religion shed some useful light.
"In countries where where large percentages of the population believe in
hell, there seems to be less corruption and a higher standard of
living," the St. Louis Fed said in its July quarterly review.
Total BS. What about the south? The worst corruption, the lowest
standards of living and the highest concentration of lunatics
who believe in all the moronic hellfire-and-brimstone crap.
Yep. And they've got a full lock on all branches of gov't.
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