Why did you post to an atheism forum? I am sure many atheists
aren't socialist, just as I am sure many atheists aren't capitalists.
There are countries with Christian Socialist parties. Some of the
Moslem countries are socialist or have socialist-leaning tendencies.
Many of the sayings of Jesus himself recommend distribution of the
wealth from rich to poor. I am not saying Jesus was right or wrong
here.
I think one could make a judgment that is just as far sweeping as
yours. I would say that the poorest countries are highly religious,
and often lack a secular infrastructure. Although socialism is a
predictor, religion is a far better predictor of poverty. The poorest
South American countries are heavily Catholic. The poorest areas of
the United States are heavily religious.
India until recently was very poor. It's recent improvement in
economic fortune (relatively speaking) is not correlated with
fundamental changes in government one way or the other. However, I do
notice that the religious conflicts in that country seem to be greatly
reduced from the past.
This will get just about everyone mad at me |:-) The upturn in
economic activity is not strictly correlated with either socialism or
capitalism in government. It sometimes seems to be correlated to the
strengthening of secular institutions over religious institutions.
> Why did you post to an atheism forum? I am sure many atheists
>aren't socialist, just as I am sure many atheists aren't capitalists.
It demonstrates that it's a Religious argument. "Socialism" is a
magic word that is about Satan drawing people from the One True Way.
Therefore reality doesn't matter, facts don't matter, only Belief
matters.
--
"In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found,
than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace
to the legislature, and not to the executive department."
- James Madison
> Again, I am not necessarily panning either Socialism or
>Capitalism. I am just wondering why the OP decided that Socialists
>were of special interest to Atheists.
Because they fit into the category of "not My Way". There are only
two ways.