Veerrry interesting stats on charitable contributions by State....I wouldn't have guessed it.

[RainDog]

119. The data shows religion is negatively correlated with good govt.

Because those states with higher levels of religious charity are also states that fail their citizens. They also rely upon federal funds more than states that are more secular or that engage in less religious charitable giving.

On the other hand, there is a positive correlation between acceptance of evolution and quality of life in various nations. Rather than rely upon charitable giving, those nations also tax wealth to increase equality and to create greater social mobility (European nations have greater social mobility than the U.S. and have for a while and this is because of their tax and social spending policies.)

What the study here indicates is that religion is tied to lower quality of life indices, poorer health care and poorer educational outcomes.

This would be considered a failure as far as policy goes in any rational debate.