'Believers are happier than atheists'

[sws4420]

People who believe in God are happier than agnostics or atheists, researchers claimed yesterday.

A report found that religious people were better able to cope with disappointments such as unemployment or divorce than non-believers.

Moreover, they become even happier the more they pray and go to church, claims the study by Prof Andrew Clark and Dr Orsolya Lelkes.

The research, presented at the Royal Economic Society's annual conference, echoes academic studies that have found religion can improve people's sense of wellbeing.

Using data from Britain and Europe, the study found believers enjoyed higher levels of satisfaction and suffered less psychological damage from unemployment, divorce or the death of a partner.

However, it also found that religious people across Europe tended to be more socially conservative and opposed to Government intervention in areas such as employment.

Believers, for example, were less likely to look for a new job if they were out of work.

Countries with a more religious electorate had lower unemployment benefits.

The study, Deliver Us From Evil: Religion as Insurance, found that less than a sixth of churchgoers in Britain believe it is better to divorce than stay in an unhappy marriage.

The authors of the study said: "Religion tempers the impact of adverse life events."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/18/nbelief118.xml

[Cutesunshine]

I 100% believe that this is true. The few times I've dragged bill to church, I think he looks more at ease than prior to going.

I always feel a sense of closeness and happiness after going, even after just saying a few prayers in my head at the end of the day.

I feel sad for those who don't really believe.

[HLBiteME!]

I've also read that believers heal quicker than non believers. Which makes sense too, because having a positive outlook does lead to physical benifits. And this is all without divine intervention actually happening.

I've met two kinds of athiests over the years; those who just don't really think about religion all that much. They don't have a church that's right for them, they just don't have time in their lives for it. And then you have those who are actively against religion. And these are generally some of the more unhappy people who you will ever meet. For whatever reason, they have no tolerance or patience for religion. Bad experience growing up? I don't know, but these guys wear it on their sleeve. My dad has one friend who whenever people from any church show up at his door, rather than polietly declining, he will stay and be very rude, admittingly trying to ruin their day. I had one friend in college who would actively protest if someone tried to say grace before a meal. He would either start eating, or trying to talk over it. And while he was usually at his nastiest when it came to religion, he was fairly miserable and mean to deal with in general.

[sws4420]

I sort of fall into a gray area. I wasn't raised with religion, with the exception of my grandmother bringing me once in awhile when I was staying at her house. I have my beliefs and they are in a Christian God. I'm not sure what subcategory I fall into, and I can't say I'm too interested to find out. Amy's a Catholic, so the last eight years I've lightly been exposed to Catholicism. When I went to Siena they required that you receive a certain number of Religion credits and I have to admit that class was probably the most interesting class I took while I was there. Most of the other kids in the class were bored with it because they knew everything the professor was talking about, but I was fascinated by it all. I even went so far as to buy my own Bible. Certain priests have the ability to soothe me and give me a sense of thing being okay, and I like that. I have to admit that the logical scientific side of me really can't get down with the whole omnicient spirit thing, but there's a part of me that loosely uses religious teachings to guide my life and I think that's how a lot of people should be.

I can't stand when people are super anti-religion just as I can't stand it when people try to shine their religious light on everyone. A happy medium has to be found. I'd love to expose the kids to church because I think those kids I knew growing up who actually went to Sunday School grew up to be more well-rounded and respectful than I did. I want the kids to be more like that and less like I am.

[Donna]

Your last paragraph says ALOT Bill.......I agree completely. It's all about morals, being kind to your fellow man, and acceptance of whatever life deals you. That entails a faith one can't have without some sort of belief in a higher power.

I was saved when I got sober and I thank God every day. OMG, if you keep your eyes open, you see a miracle every single day. I swear by it. And when things go wrong <in my opinion, not His> I pay attention......in the long run, it wasn't how I would've written the script, but the turnout is always better than had I WAS running the show. That is God.....no doubt in my mind. God gave us our own will, that is why there is murder, terrorists and the like.......self will run riot.........some prefer to blame God for those things.....

Being a believer, I'm happier because I see miracles every day, little ones, not the parting of the red sea miracles of course.......just things I wouldn't see if I didn't believe. I'm happier because of it. I'm happier because I have faith that when things are shitty, I have the faiththat things will be better and there's a learning spurt I'm going to be going through.......you can't get around trouble, you can only get throughit....and for me, it's God who takes me through to the other side. Gratitude = happiness and healthiness.

"sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers"

[MedicCook]

I will never follow an organized religion but I will never tell someone else that they can't either. I am against the church but I still allowed all 3 of my children get baptized because I knew it was important to their mothers that they went through the process. I even participated in the ceremonies. The only religion I have found that I agree somewhat with is the Church of Satan because they are the opposite of the conventional church.

[Jimmerz]

I will never follow an organized religion but I will never tell someone else that they can't either. I am against the church but I still allowed all 3 of my children get baptized because I knew it was important to their mothers that they went through the process. I even participated in the ceremonies. The only religion I have found that I agree somewhat with is the Church of Satan because they are the opposite of the conventional church.

ditto.. minus the satan thing..
you can have morals without having a faith, you can have happyness as well. you can be sucessfull and all that just as well as people with faith. i have my opinions on religion however i tend to keep them to myself because i have pretty passionate opinions.:dork:

[MedicCook]

ditto.. minus the satan thing..
you can have morals without having a faith, you can have happyness as well. you can be sucessfull and all that just as well as people with faith. i have my opinions on religion however i tend to keep them to myself because i have pretty passionate opinions.:dork:

This is the best part of the Church of Satan.
http://s0lidgr0und.org/showthread.php?t=10017

[Jimmerz]

This is the best part of the Church of Satan.
http://s0lidgr0und.org/showthread.php?t=10017


well i cant say i disagree LOL

[MedicCook]

That is the big misconception of the modern day church is that it is an evil thing. It is not. They are also the only recognized religion in this entire country that refuses to be tax exempt even though they quailfy for it. The church does not beleive that religons should be given a free tax pass by the government. Pay your admission price like everyone else.