text: which nation is world best in culture?   that is a very difficult question.... besides personal factors ("beauty in the eye of the beholder"), if one were to use some religious or spiritual criteria in this forum, there probably could be a basis for a consensus. history has shown that societies go through phases. over-simplified: struggling, great, & past-their-prime. the roman empire is amazing history, great britain had a world empire, the usa has had a been a virtuous experiment... but it appears that the glory days, culturally, for usa is in the past. whatever moral values one has (religious or secular), the direction of the government & entertainment (to name to major factors) has been going downhill since wwii. as have the developed countries, in general.  i have wondered if i will want to stay in the us after i retire. it is becoming more & more difficult to maintain a christian lifestyle - for even a nominal christian - with all the worldly assaults & temptations, everywhere, all the time.  so the question becomes, for me, where do the people live in harmony with christian values? (and, secondarily, have a healthy & pleasant environs.) i think i'll check iceland... there is no heaven on earth - that's what i want.