Are Religious Countries More Likely to be Poor?

I have pondered on this all my life, but I think about this more these days. Are religious countries more likely to be poor? Why do we have the most churches, the biggest churches, and the most prolific pastors in the world in our dear country, Nigeria, and yet a large portion of our population languish in poverty? While a country like France which has majorly atheists citizens is so beautiful and well developed, with inhabitants living way above poverty level. Why? Is it that 'God' prefers to bless the non-religious people, living the religious people to suffer? I know a lot of religious people that follow all the doctrines in the Bible, and yet are as poor as church rats. But the richest man in the world, Bill Gates an Atheist? Why?

Atheism Is Not A Religion

"Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position."

- Bill Maher

First of all, I like to clarify something...I am not an Atheist. I consider myself more of a Universalist. I don't know if there is any word like that, but that is how I can describe myself. I believe that their is a supreme being, and he has given us the allowance to reach him in various ways...whether through Mohamed, or Jesus, or Budha...It is still one source; one destination, we are just on different paths to the same destination.






I try to study all the religions of the world, and non religious beliefs too, and know why everyone thinks or believes what they do. In all this, I have noticed that religious people tend to mistake Atheism for a religion. They believe Atheist are 'a people' who have chosen to turn their back on God. Some go ahead to believe that Atheists gather together somewhere and make some plans to take over the world and turn everyone to atheists; or that they collectively worship Baphomet or the devil and all that...all these beliefs of Atheists are far from the truth.