Secularity is Criminal

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

Kevin quoted:
> "Any phenomenon that occurs in many and very different
> social and cultural settings necessitates explanations that
> are equally general, which tends to rule out most social
> and cultural factors," he wrote in the Journal for the 
> Scientific Study of Religion. 
> 
> "Recent studies of biochemistry imply that both male 
> irreligiousness and male lawlessness are rooted in the fact 
> that far more males than females have an underdeveloped 
> ability to inhibit their impulses, especially those involving 
> immediate gratification and thrills." 

There is another possible explanation that is not ruled out by cultural
differences, which follows the argument developed by Emile Durkheim in
_Suicide_.  In cross-cultural comparisons, particular values and norms
may vary, but the fact that all units of observation are organized
social groups does not.  Moreover, it has been demonstrated that level
of inegration to a stable community has an effect of crime rates in a
community.   It is thus plausible that crime rates will be higher in
those social groups that are less integrated.

Since men are more likley to be individualistic and anti-social than
women who, in turn, tend to be more dependent on social networks in
their everyday life activities, it follows that criminality rates rates
will be higher among males.  That explanation may work for religiou
participation, which is one of the key expressions and vehicles of
community participation. It should be noted that religious participation
is different from religiosity which includes intensity of beliefs.  Most
surveys can measure the former (albeit inaccurately) - but not the
latter. 

Of course, that explanation does not rule out physiological deficiencies
that make males more anti-social than females.

Wojtek