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In the Otoom model the processing of information is largely dependent upon the inherent perception by the mind in question (a factor that can be confirmed in reality). That is to say, a mind set which evaluates reality according to some ideological template does not relate to its surrounds but first and foremost to that template. Religion, being a spiritual form of ideology, prevents a realistic assessment of one's environs.

The following data encompassing the world's countries have been compiled from the SBS World Guide, an annual publication listing all nations in terms of their characteristics such as population, economy, education, governance, and a summary of their history. The complete set of tables can be found under Downloads (Demographic orientations).

The countries ordered by average life expectancy, infant mortality per 1000 live births, literacy, and GDP per capita show a clear correlation between their values and the ideological predisposition of the population.

Some points need to be made.

Firstly, although Christianity features significantly, it should be remembered that in first-world countries that particular belief system had been largely toned down over the centuries. Hence 'Muslim' in the context of, say, 'Pakistan' does not carry the same meaning as 'Christian' does in the context of 'Belgium'. Indeed the pervasiveness of the former religion - affecting far more aspects of life than the other - creates an atmosphere not experienced in today's first-world demographics. It wasn't always so, as the European Middle Ages for example and their own brand of suffering demonstrated.

Secondly, it may be said that life is more complex than the juxtaposition of a few categories suggest. This is indeed so. Some Arab countries for instance, through their good fortune of having oil under their surface, are able to enjoy a financial clout they otherwise would not have obtained. On the other hand, parameters relating to such manifestations as infant mortality would be even more poignant against such a background (it is also worth remembering that these data refer to demographics, not individuals).

Thirdly, literacy figures describe just that, levels of literacy. It matters whether this is achieved by the reading of mostly religious texts or the more general variety. Therefore a relatively high value here does not necessarily translate into the wider capacity to raise living standards. In the end it comes down to the inherent ability to practise a pragmatic form of realism to answer life's challenges. As the tables show, some demographics manage the task better than others, regardless of their brand of religion. Hence this evaluation does not represent a positing of one religion against another; rather, it is the intensity of a society's ideological disposition that matters. It also needs to be born in mind that an average literacy rate hides a possible discrepancy between males and females (for example, in Burkina Faso the average is 12.8%, but the rate for males is 18.5% and for females it is 8.1%).

Another point concerns population size. If a nation is many tens of millions strong (sometimes well over a hundred million) and still suffers from an atrocious level of living standards, the claim they do so under some form of extraneous pressure becomes rather disingenuous. The ability to master one's destiny is and always has been the cornerstone of survivability.

Lastly, in an era of so many challenges the question has to be asked as to what extent a cognitively resource-rich society should compromise itself by tying its fortunes to those of a lesser calibre. Especially when the stakes are higher the need to delegate if not restrict tasks of greater complexity to the appropriate demographics becomes part of the answer to the challenge.

Comparative tables:

Average life expectancy - lowest:

Average life expectancy - highest:

Infant mortality per 1000 live births - highest:

Infant mortality per 1000 live births - lowest:

Literacy rates - lowest:

Literacy rates - highest:

GDP per capita in US$ - lowest:

GDP per capita in US$ - highest:

Notes:

1. The total number of countries listed in the World Guide is 221. In the various tables depicted here those countries have been omitted that do not have an entry for the parameter the table has been ordered by.

2. Here only the first and/or last 20 entries in each table are shown. For the complete set refer to Demographic orientations under Downloads.

Reference:

SBS World Guide, 15th edition, Hardie Grant Books, Prahran, Victoria, Australia, 2007.