What are the secrets behind the prosperity of the Scandinavian nations?

Has the Catholic Church kept Latin America, Italy, Spain, Haiti and other Catholic dominated nations backwards for years?

• I really think the European countries that broke away from the Catholic church around the time of Luther realized that sending a great portion of their money and gold to the Vatican in Italy was incredibly stupid, and kept them backwards. Notice that after they broke away from the church, those nations enjoyed great prosperity and appeared to advance intellectually? I really think that a lot of the problems in areas like Latin America, Haiti, Italy and Spain can be attributed to the Catholic Church, their backwards policies, and their greed. It would appear the best thing for most nations to do would be to dump it. Likewise, even the Muslim faith is keeping down the Middle East. Tourists and industry are not attracted to the region because of many of the strict ideologies of the local people and governments. While the Catholic faith is not as strict, the leaders of it are quite comfortable, so lazy and rich, that they make policies which benefit only themselves, in the most warped of ways. Religion is honestly like an abusive relationship.

• Answer:

  Yes, religions have kept people down for centuries. I live in the United States of America and I am SICK of hearing people say that we live in a "free" country. All religions are against freedom. How about coming to Alabama and try to buy a sex toy, or buy beer on Sunday,or watch a great Adult Movie, or just be free and HAPPY. Why are women on average more religious than men when religious doctrine describes them (women) as lower class? I agree, the Catholic Church is nothing but backwards and abusive of the little power that they still hold on to. Shame on them.