Christian values have nothing to do with low crime rates, high standards of living, and scientific achievements. Just look at the Philippines. A country far more Christian than any European nation or the United States. There are high levels of crime in some areas, very poor standards of living in most of the country, and almost no scientific achievements compared to the West.

The main difference is cultural. In the Philippines, we have a culture where people give their resources to past generations rather than saving and investing for the future. Then, when parents die, you are left with nothing and now your kids have to provide for you or you starve to death. Its a never-ending cycle unless you're lucky enough to have parents that refuse you provide for them.

This cultural practice, which is not unique to the Philippines, leads to poverty, which in turn leads to low standards of living, crime, and lagging scientific achievement and innovation.

The most successful people I've met here are those whose parents saved and refuse to treat their children as a retirement account. This allows the next generation to focus on building for the future, facilitating the passing of generational wealth or, at the very least, not depending on the future to provide for the past.

Instead of all the resources spent on the previous generation dying with them, the older generation is able to leave something for their descendants once they pass away, even if it is just the opportunity to build a life for themselves and their children. This is the key to the success in the West.