Quote:
Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden
A large portion of Atheists are culturally protestant, they just don't go to church. Although many have rejected the theological aspects of Protestantism, they still embrace most of the cultural elements. There are some who go so far as to say that most 'western' democracies are not secular at all because they embody so much of the protestant beliefs that built them. An interesting book on this subject is Robert Markus Christianity and the Secular.
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An agnostic/atheist Jewish person is more likely to continue going to a temple of worship than a protestant, as it's a way for them to connect with their community and/or affirm their identity. Although I do know many agnostic/atheist protestants who continue to go to church out of obligation to their family.
I do agree that many Western nations' notions of democracy are founded in religious views. We are seeing a transition from that though. For example, many nations have drastically changed their laws and views on homosexuality. In terms of whether these countries are secular as a whole, that really exists on a spectrum. No country's system of laws is totally devoid of religious influence. However, there are also countries where every law is founded in religion. Whether you define a country as secular or not is pretty arbitrary and also relative.