Biology, Destiny and Change: Women's Religiosity and Economic Development

In underdeveloped countries we are faced with the vicious circle of high fertility, with resulting population growth and economic stagnation. The cultural background of this economic situation is marked by the low status of women, usually sanctioned by major world religions, which enjoy women's enthusiastic support. Religion is often described as a major obstacle to family planning and all other changes in women's status, which are the key to lowering fertility. Economic growth, education, and birth control are all interconnected, and they are all tied to secularization. Education seems the surest way, guaranteed to reduce fertility in most developing societies.