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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Religious Debates & Threads => Topic started by: loco on March 14, 2008, 09:49:43 AM
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There is now extensive research suggesting that religious people are happier and less stressed.[1][2]
Surveys by Gallup, the National Opinion Research Centre and the Pew Organization conclude that spiritually committed people are twice as likely to report being "very happy" than the least religiously committed people.[3]
An analysis of over 200 social studies contends that "high religiousness predicts a rather lower risk of depression and drug abuse and fewer suicide attempts, and more reports of satisfaction with life and a sense of well-being"[4] and a review of 498 studies published in peer-reviewed journals concluded that a large majority of them showed a positive correlation between religious commitment and higher levels of perceived well-being and self-esteem, and lower levels of hypertension, depression and clinical delinquency.[5][6]
Studies by Keith Ward show that overall religion is a positive contributor to mental health[7] and a meta-analysis of 34 recent studies published between 1990 and 2001 also found that religiosity has a salutary relationship with psychological adjustment, being related to less psychological distress, more life satisfaction, and better self-actualization.[8]
Finally, a recent systematic review of 850 research papers on the topic concluded that "the majority of well-conducted studies found that higher levels of religious involvement are positively associated with indicators of psychological well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, positive affect, and higher morale) and with less depression, suicidal thoughts and behavior, drug/alcohol use/abuse." [9]
1. BBC - The science of happiness
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/happiness_formula/4783836.stm
2. Time - The New Science of Happiness
http://www.time.com/time/2005/happiness/
3. Is Religion Dangerous? p156, citing David Myers The Science of Subjective Well-Being Guilford Press 2007
4. Smith,Timothy, Michael McCullough, and Justin Poll. 2003: “Religiousness and Depression: Evidence for a Main Effect and Moderating Influence of Stressful Life Events.” Psychological Bulletin 129(4):614–36.
5. Bryan Johnson & colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania (2002)
6. Is Religion Dangerous? cites similar results from the Handbook of Religion and Mental Health Harold Koenig (ed.) ISBN 978-0124176454
7. Is Religion Dangerous? Ch 9.
8. Hackney, Charles H. & Sanders, Glenn S. (2003) Religiosity and Mental Health: A Meta–Analysis of Recent Studies. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 42 (1), 43-55. doi:10.1111/1468-5906.t01-1-00160
9. Moreira-Almeida Alexander, Lotufo Neto Francisco, Koenig Harold G. "Religiousness and mental health: a review". Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr. [serial on the Internet]. 2006 September, cited 2007 June 21, 2007 ; 28(3): 242-250
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I'm not surprised by this. And it makes sense.
I believe devotion to any good set of beliefs, standards, disciplines or morals will results in increased happiness and contentment.
I think being "lukewarm" about things leads to problems.
I wouldn't be surprised if a study showed passionate atheists to shard the same levels of happiness.
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some of those references are dubious at best.
the journal for scientific study of religion?
it certainly falls right into evolutionary theory and psychoneuroimmunology.
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Yes. I have seen these studies before.
Unintelligent believers like presenting them as evidence for the validity (truthfulness) of their beliefs but they are wrong.
That something makes you feel good, gives you comfort and relief and grants you happiness, has not the slightest bearing whatsoever on whether or not that something is true, none whatsoever. I don't understand how anyone makes that jump; it is simply another form of wishful thinking. Truth exists independent of comfort and happiness. It is neither bad nor good; it simply is.
By way of analogy there could be a fictious study done on thousands of men who are 5'8", yet believe they are 6' with the results announced to the world. Research would show that men of a height of 5'8" who believe themselves to be truly 6' are more content and live happier, more fulfilled lives than men at 5'8" who do not believe themselves to be 6 feet tall.
Would this make men at 5'8" 6 feet tall? Not at all.
Get it? Good.
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Get it? Good.
lololoz You are hardcore ;D
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lololoz You are hardcore ;D
You know it, you mesomorph, you!
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If something makes me happy and it doesn't harm other people, it would be pretty stupid not to do it.
This has of course nothing to do with credibility, but I could always choose not to care about that.
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If something makes me happy and it doesn't harm other people, it would be pretty stupid not to do it.
This has of course nothing to do with credibility, but I could always choose not to care about that.
Eben. ;D ::)
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Eben. ;D ::)
Quite obviously, I do care.
What I meant is that spiritual experience does not require theological understanding.
You will of course not find credibility (or lack thereof) by means of scientific analysis.
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Quite obviously, I do care.
What I meant is that spiritual experience does not require theological understanding.
You will of course not find credibility (or lack thereof) by means of scientific analysis.
Depends if you mean by credibility you mean truth or something else entirely.
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A few Norwegian studies has shown that religious people suffer from more psychological problems like excessive anxiety and guilt than non religious people.
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A few Norwegian studies has shown that religious people suffer from more psychological problems like excessive anxiety and guilt than non religious people.
[/quote
see if you can dig it up, id like to read it
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A few Norwegian studies has shown that religious people suffer from more psychological problems like excessive anxiety and guilt than non religious people.
[/quote
see if you can dig it up, id like to read it
Det er pa Norsk!