If you lived in a place with a low % of religious people

[Anonymous]

Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

[Anonymous]

Washington, DC. I think most people cope by being mean to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Denmark and the Scandinavian countries in general, have a low percentage of believers. They also have low crime and a social safety net and a high suicide rate.

[Anonymous]

France. I think they cope by enjoying great food and wine, long lunches and picnics, and general "joie de vivre." And I'm not being snarky, I genuinely think that lack of belief in an afterlife can cause you to be more grateful for your time on this ball of dirt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington, DC. I think most people cope by being mean to each other.

+1. I’ve lived all over the world and the DMV has by far the most amount of non-religious folks.

[Anonymous]

Religion / belief in the afterlife has never been a part of my life. I have lived in the Bay Area, Boston, NYC, and DC. Suffering and mortality are an inevitable part of life. I believe life is meaningful for its own sake and not as a dress rehearsal or test for something else, and I find joy and meaning in my life. Camus' Myth of Sisyphus probably sums up my philosophy best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Embedded here is a false assumption that if you don't believe in life after death, you need a way of coping with suffering and mortality.

Religion makes that connection, but many people do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Embedded here is a false assumption that if you don't believe in life after death, you need a way of coping with suffering and mortality.

Religion makes that connection, but many people do not.

NP here,

Everyone needs strategies for coping with suffering and mortality. They're part of life, and they're a challenge for everyone.

Some people who are religious and believe in life after use that belief as part of their way of coping with losing someone, their rituals are structured around that belief. OP is asking what strategies such as rituals other people use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Embedded here is a false assumption that if you don't believe in life after death, you need a way of coping with suffering and mortality.

Religion makes that connection, but many people do not.

NP here,

Everyone needs strategies for coping with suffering and mortality. They're part of life, and they're a challenge for everyone.

Some people who are religious and believe in life after use that belief as part of their way of coping with losing someone, their rituals are structured around that belief. OP is asking what strategies such as rituals other people use.

PP who mentioned Camus. I don't really understand this question. I don't have any strategies or rituals for coping with these aspects of life. They happen, and I deal with them logistically and emotionally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

I'm not sure what you consider low %. I've lived abroad in European countries that had low rates of religious activity. The people I met were more philosophical about life and death. They read a lot and discussed ideas. They had a real sense of community. They listened to and played music -- a lot. They mourned their losses and accepted them as part of the circle of life. They wanted to make the most of their time here because they felt this is it, no more chances. They believed in alleviating extremes of suffering in their society, even if that meant not getting extreme highs in terms of privilege/income.

Life is beautiful. Don't squander it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington, DC. I think most people cope by being mean to each other.

Ha. Good observation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washington, DC. I think most people cope by being mean to each other.

Not going to lie. Some of the meanest people I know here in the DC area are regular church goers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Denmark and the Scandinavian countries in general, have a low percentage of believers. They also have low crime and a social safety net and a high suicide rate.

The high suicide rate is due to the long winter nights. Most suicides anywhere happen at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Washington, DC. I think most people cope by being mean to each other.

Not going to lie. Some of the meanest people I know here in the DC area are regular church goers.

Church going doesn’t been religious. I will note though that the worst human beings I have ever met were several unrelated residents of Takoma Park who identified as “spiritual not religious” and seem to make up their moral code to fit their convenience in every situation. Including a woman who threatened to leave my child in another state for crying from being cold after she lost her mitten while tubing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which country or region, if you feel comfortable sharing?

If most people didn't believe in life after death, what were ways that people coped with suffering and mortality?

Embedded here is a false assumption that if you don't believe in life after death, you need a way of coping with suffering and mortality.

Religion makes that connection, but many people do not.

x1 million

Exactly