Looking for obscure statistics

[reiver33]

I recently posted a short piece 'Between', which featured the main character escaping back to normality from a twisted version of reality. This came from a particularly vivid dream (I pre-empted a migraine with heavy-duty meds and it turned out to be just a minor headache) which left me with a strong sense of dislocation.

Anyway, the parallel world I'm thinking of is one based on the collective unconscious - what people believe to be true, is true. This means the basics are pretty much the same; the sun comes up, gravity works, refried beans look like dog vomit, that kind of thing.

The problem is that I don't want to apply global 'norms' across the board, if only because of the mish-mash which could result, even when dealing with an idea common to all societies. So I've been trying to find out what various societies believe (Heaven, Hell, alien abduction, etc.), with a view to having localised realities.

Other than trawling through Wikipedia/Google/whatever, does anyone know if there has even been a 'census of belief' or similar?

 

[J Riff]

A place where everyone is rich, as we all believe we should be.

 

[jamlebrilla]

Census of belief? What do you mean? A listing of all strange and esoteric beliefs in the world?

 

[reiver33]

Not strange, although that might come into it, but just in general. Like - what percentage believe in God, that kind of thing.

 

[HareBrain]

The UK census contains statistics on the major religions, I think. No idea about other countries.

I wonder, though, if we don't already live in such a world anyway. If people believe something strongly, they will perceive the world through that filter, and the rules they think apply to existence will therefore be confirmed. I once knew someone who was convinced that she had good weather for her church picnic because God arranged it. God's meteorological intervention on her behalf already was her reality; it would not have been any more so, for her, even if it had been an objective, scientifically measurable fact.

 

[ctg]

Not strange, although that might come into it, but just in general. Like - what percentage believe in God, that kind of thing.

I'm afraid that you have to do rest of the formula, but here is a major part that you need to complete the equation Major religious groups - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Easier answer is that a major part of the world population believe in the supernatural beings.

 

[HareBrain]

Here's a link for UK stats

 

[reiver33]

Thanks all!