That’s the most recent question that Reginald Bibby, a Canadian researcher and sociologist at the University of Lethbridge, asked of 1600 Canadians. He found that “atheists can be good, but people who believe in God are more likely to value being good.”
The nationwide survey found that those who believe in God are consistently more likely than atheists to highly value such traits as courtesy, concern for others, forgiveness, generosity and patience. Believers are also more inclined to place high value on friendship, family life, and being loved.
While God and religion are not the only sources of such traits, the survey reported that they are among the most important sources. And without them, “it is not at all clear that comparable equivalents currently exist that could fill the void.”
“To the extent that Canadians say good-bye to God, we may find that we pay a significant social price,” Bibby concluded in the study.
The variations are not the result of age, as both atheists and theists are fairly evenly present in all age groups. The primary reason for the values differences, Bibby suggests, is fairly simple.
1) People get their values from groups.
2) People who believe in God are far more likely than atheists to be part of groups that work hard to instill values about being good to other people, and having good relationships.
3) That’s not to say that God-believers always translate their values into action.
4) But they at least are inclined to hold the values.
5) Atheists, on the other hand, do not have as many explicit support groups that are committed to intentionally promoting positive interpersonal life.
Dr. Reginald Bibby has authored 10 books, 5 of them on religion: Fragmented Gods (1987), Unknown Gods (1993), There’s Got to Be More! (1995), Restless Gods: The Renaissance of Religion in Canada (2002), and Restless Churches: How Canada’s Churches Can Contribute to the Emerging Religious Renaissance (2004).
