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Russians are Christian and there's a lot of corruption there. Same in South America.

jimbokun 18y ago
Not sure Russia is the best example. Until very recently they were the classic Godless Communists. South America and Sub Saharan Africa (mentioned by another poster), seem to serve as viable counter-examples, though.
- schtog 18y ago
  And the nordic countries, while christian, are very secularized and have the lowest corruption in the world.
  - jerf 18y ago
    You get a halo effect where people just sort of pick up the dominant culture. Nobody nowhere has ever had a 100% culture, but you don't need it. Residual Christianity seems to work OK. (At least for a while.) The critical point may be above what sub-Saharan Africa has, or it may be poorly distributed. The people in power have to reject corruption too; 90% of the country may be anti-corruption (for whatever reason), but if the entire ruling class is in the other 10%, you'll still have corruption.
- krschultz 18y ago
  Not sure you know what you are talking about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church By "they were" you are implying the people of Russia. While some in government heavily persecuted the Church, a lot of people obviously still wanted to keep going or else after the first such purge it would have been over. People went despite the best efforts of the Communists to dissuade them.
- eru 18y ago
  Russia was corrupt before godless communism was invented.
josefresco 18y ago
Russians don't see the world as black/white right/wrong like Americans. There's an 80% grey area in Russia which allows things like 'corruption' to be somewhat accepted. As an American, I believe our politicians and major businesses are corrupt, but in order to function I turn a blind eye and give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that someone is watching over them. If I was Russian, I'd get some cash and go buy me some favors. Which one is right? I can't say.

Not sure Russia is the best example. Until very recently they were the classic Godless Communists. South America and Sub Saharan Africa (mentioned by another poster), seem to serve as viable counter-examples, though.

schtog 18y ago
And the nordic countries, while christian, are very secularized and have the lowest corruption in the world.
- jerf 18y ago
  You get a halo effect where people just sort of pick up the dominant culture. Nobody nowhere has ever had a 100% culture, but you don't need it. Residual Christianity seems to work OK. (At least for a while.) The critical point may be above what sub-Saharan Africa has, or it may be poorly distributed. The people in power have to reject corruption too; 90% of the country may be anti-corruption (for whatever reason), but if the entire ruling class is in the other 10%, you'll still have corruption.
krschultz 18y ago
Not sure you know what you are talking about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church By "they were" you are implying the people of Russia. While some in government heavily persecuted the Church, a lot of people obviously still wanted to keep going or else after the first such purge it would have been over. People went despite the best efforts of the Communists to dissuade them.
eru 18y ago
Russia was corrupt before godless communism was invented.

josefresco 18y ago

Russians don't see the world as black/white right/wrong like Americans. There's an 80% grey area in Russia which allows things like 'corruption' to be somewhat accepted. As an American, I believe our politicians and major businesses are corrupt, but in order to function I turn a blind eye and give them the benefit of the doubt and hope that someone is watching over them. If I was Russian, I'd get some cash and go buy me some favors. Which one is right? I can't say.