Studying the West and Ignoring the Rest: Do Stylized Facts Established in the Christian West Generalize?

Abstract

Social science seeks to uncover general patterns, yet much research centers on what the author calls WEIRDS (Western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic, and secular) societies, which are dominated by one religion, Christianity, and shaped by its legacy and continuing influence. This WEIRDS focus is especially problematic in studies of religion, as it risks mistaking Christianity-influenced patterns for universal trends. Using global data from wave 7 of the World Values Survey covering 66 countries, this study examines three stylized “facts” about religion: (1) younger people are less religious than older people, (2) women are more religious than men, and (3) religiosity opposes scientific views. Findings reveal considerable variation across religious traditions and cultural contexts, challenging the global applicability of each. Across the world population, younger people are actually more religious than older people. Gender differences in religiosity vary by tradition, with men more religious in Muslim contexts depending on how religiosity is measured. And the relationship between religiosity and science attitudes is not universally negative, with some groups showing positive associations. By demonstrating that stylized facts from WEIRDS do not generalize globally, this study underscores the need for broader cultural representation in social science.