Why do so many more women than men believe in God and an afterlife?
“Professor David Voas seems wise indeed. The population studies expert has analysed responses to a survey of 9,000 British people and found a humongous gender gap in attitudes to God, religion and life after death. A chunky 54% of men say they are atheists or agnostics, while only 34% of women hold similar views. An even greater number of men – 63% – believe there is no life after death, compared to 36% of women.”
This is the opening paragraph of a piece by Deborah Orr in which she speculates on the reason why so many more women than men believe in a deity and an afterlife.
The data is clear. But is Orr’s reasoning convincing? What do you think?