COMMENTARY
When it comes to statistics about religion, Europe is an urbane continent full of empty cathedrals, while America offers rows of suburban mega-churches.
Consider what happens when the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life asks a basic "salience question" to determine the level of interest in faith-related matters around the world. Participants are asked to answer "yes" or "no" in response to this statement: "Religion is very important to me."