And, Religion Is Good For You....

[seer]

The article is not about belief, it is about the feel good aspect of being part of a community. With regards to the happiness factor, it doesn't matter which cult the community holds to, they all offer rewards for belief, all that matters is the community and the support it provides. Got any happiness data on isolated believers as opposed to non-believers?

Well no that is not true at all. They compared religious communities with non-religious communities. And religious communities did far better. So mere lack of isolation can not be the bottom denominator.

[Tassman]

Who knew????



http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/a...tudy-suggests/

Your article is only concerned with the over 50's and it makes sense that the older generation would regard religion as more important than the younger generation does; they come from an era where religion played a more important role in daily life than it does today. According to the data, Millenials are much less interested in organized religion -- and also less interested in spirituality in general. They are the least religious generation ever and this trend is likely to continue.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7452998.html

[seer]

Your article is only concerned with the over 50's and it makes sense that the older generation would regard religion as more important than the younger generation does; they come from an era where religion played a more important role in daily life than it does today. According to the data, Millenials are much less interested in organized religion -- and also less interested in spirituality in general. They are the least religious generation ever and this trend is likely to continue.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_7452998.html

Well yes, older people are smarter, more life experience. I was not religious when I was young either. But that does not change the study, that religious belief offers a more sustained sense of happiness.

[Tassman]

Well yes, older people are smarter, more life experience. I was not religious when I was young either. But that does not change the study, that religious belief offers a more sustained sense of happiness.

...only the over 50's of today, that's all the study represents, NOT the over 50's of the future. You're invalidly extrapolating.

[seer]

...only the over 50's of today, that's all the study represents, NOT the over 50's of the future. You're invalidly extrapolating.

I know Tass, any positive studies on religion just grates on you - we understand...

[The Pixie]

I'm not sure it matters. Perhaps it is as simple as the fact that religion offers a hope and peace that other social organizations or social activities can't.

I thought when I saw this thread you might be suggesting this as evidence Christianity is true. It is good to read you are only claiming "religion offers a hope and peace" and not suggesting any of them are actually right.

[Tassman]

I know Tass, any positive studies on religion just grates on you - we understand...

No, you're just misrepresenting the study in order to reinforce your own agenda. It's dishonest.

[seer]

No, you're just misrepresenting the study in order to reinforce your own agenda. It's dishonest.

I did not misrepresent anything. Being in a religious community was far better for sustained happiness than being in non-religious communities. I offered an opinion on why that might be - religion offers a hope (and by extension a peace) that non-religious communities can not. That is not a illogical leap.

[Darth Ovious]

The article is not about belief, it is about the feel good aspect of being part of a community. With regards to the happiness factor, it doesn't matter which cult the community holds to, they all offer rewards for belief, all that matters is the community and the support it provides. Got any happiness data on isolated believers as opposed to non-believers?

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/t..._extremes.html

With no one here for me
I feel so dead
You whispered in the dark, and you said, you said
No, No, never alone

And here is a link to the actual song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9OeJVBVHNI

[Tassman]

I did not misrepresent anything. Being in a religious community was far better for sustained happiness than being in non-religious communities. I offered an opinion on why that might be - religion offers a hope (and by extension a peace) that non-religious communities can not. That is not a illogical leap.

The study measured the over 50’s of today and the results are unsurprising given that such people were raised in a much more religious era than today. But, given that the Millennials are leaving religion in unprecedented numbers, it is not reasonable to extrapolate that the over 50’s of the future will similarly be more content living in a religious environment.

[JimL]

Who knew????



http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/a...tudy-suggests/

Living in a fantasy world can certainly be good for people seer. Reminds me of the quote I heard from Marie Curie husband years ago. "One must make of reality a dream, and within that dream a reality." But because living in a fantasy world might make one happy is not in itself a good reason for a truth seeker to believe it. So, it is understandable as to why people hold to such beliefs, particularly when such belief has been inculcated from an early age, happiness is a good thing, even if it is founded upon a faulty premise, but most of those people are not seeking truth, their brains are wired in a way that they think they already know the truth and have no need to look any further.

[seer]

The study measured the over 50’s of today and the results are unsurprising given that such people were raised in a much more religious era than today. But, given that the Millennials are leaving religion in unprecedented numbers, it is not reasonable to extrapolate that the over 50’s of the future will similarly be more content living in a religious environment.

So what? Tass, it stands to reason that a belief system that offers hope beyond this world would cause more happiness or peace. As opposed to the utter hopelessness of your atheism.

[Tassman]

So what? Tass, it stands to reason that a belief system that offers hope beyond this world would cause more happiness or peace. As opposed to the utter hopelessness of your atheism.

No doubt the belief of Muslim suicide bombers in Paradise and the promise of 72 virgins, offers “real hope” too. Does the truth of the “hope” or lack thereof, make no difference to you?