A culture that is less observant but who has an angry demanding god may be less tolerant than one in which folks more regularly worship a benign deity. Or, perhaps, it’s vice versa. Perhaps tolerant cultures trend towards tolerant gods.

I agree.

Yes, I think it does speak to social attitudes. Perhaps it is less about the extent to which an area is religious and more about the way in which they view the divine.

A culture that is less observant but who has an angry demanding god may be less tolerant than one in which folks more regularly worship a benign deity. Or, perhaps, it’s vice versa. Perhaps tolerant cultures trend towards tolerant gods.

Could these tidbits from Wikipedia possibly begin to explain some differences in Portugal from other predominantly Roman Catholic countries?

The most predominant religion in Portugal is Roman Catholicism. Approximately 84% of the population is nominally Catholic, and about 19% attend mass and take the sacraments regularly, while a larger number wish to be baptized, married in the church, and receive last rites.

In contrast to that of Spain, Roman Catholicism in Portugal was softer and less intense. The widespread use of folk practices and the humanization of religion made for a loving though remote God, in contrast to the harshness of the Spanish vision. In Portugal, unlike Spain, God and his saints were imagined as forgiving and serene. In Spain the expressions depicted on the faces of saints and martyrs were painful and anguished; in Portugal they were complacent, calm, and pleasant.

I have nothing to say or cite about South Africa.

That may not be so close of a correlation on an international level. It seems to be a bit of a mixed bag.

Going by church attendance, there are two countries with higher attendence than the US who already have marriage equality: Portugal and South Africa.

But within the US, there is a pretty stong correlation.

Audrey, if Iceland is short of vowels, Wales is in a critical condition!

Richard Rush,

Once again we can observe that reduced obsession with religion seems to correlate with reduced social dysfunction and higher moral standards.

A remarkably consistent finding, actually. (I really do love the barmaid.)

TRiG.

Well, at least Spain and Portugal are at least available.