[01100011]

This.

There's a reason why religions exist. If they didn't increase the fitness of their adherents, they'd die out rather quickly. We may get caught off guard by shifting demographics and a decline in secular value systems. There are many religions which preach the 'fertility gospel' in one form or another. If the religion is effective in keeping the new generations devout, and that is an important question, we're going to have a population explosion.

[nordsieck]

> If they didn't increase the fitness of their adherents, they'd die out rather quickly.

Counterpoint:

The Shakers, a Christian sect that enforced complete celibacy (pretty much the definition of decreased fitness) was founded in 1747 and apparently continues to this day [1] (although from the looks of it, it probably won't last another 50 years).

That being said, I largely agree with your point. Religions that make up substantial portions of society are probably beneficial for the fitness of their members.

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1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakers#20th_century_to_the_pr...

[buboard]

Many eastern european countries are very religuous but at the bottom of fertility stats. Some Devout muslim countries are very fertile, others not so. Is congo or angola particularly religious?