Are people who believe in god happier than non-believers?

I didn't ignore you, Chumly. Actually, I wrote a response to your post then decided to go a different way.

The gist of my response though was that I don't believe the true believer has to concern themselves with the problem of self-delusion. If they are a true believer, they must, by definition, believe that they are not deluding themselves.

Those that believe in god (if they are rational and educated) must deal with the concern of self-delusion in the form of faith.

That not a recipe for happiness.

Thus the question then becomes: "Are people who believe in god rational and educated?"

in essence then, the titular question has been asked many times on A2.

This is the only piece claiming some evidentiary base I could find upon cursory googling:


http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672




I'd say the religious are constantly under the influence of a pernicious drug, and always divorced from reality, of course!!!

I've been very happy and very depressed - with all the levels in between. I've been an atheist throughout.

I disagree completely!

[size=8]Not really, I just don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you again.[/size]

Chumly wrote:

Those that believe in god (if they are rational and educated) must deal with the concern of self-delusion in the form of faith.

That not a recipe for happiness.

Thus the question then becomes: "Are people who believe in god rational and educated?"

in essence then, the titular question has been asked many times on A2.

I'll match myself as no better or worse than the norm for happines, rationality, and education level as compared to the run of the mill a2ker.

'Cept mebe I'm bigger
older
'n uglier

dlowan wrote:

This is the only piece claiming some evidentiary base I could find upon cursory googling:


http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110010672




I'd say the religious are constantly under the influence of a pernicious drug, and always divorced from reality, of course!!!

What do you have in that cigarette, Rabbit?

Casual observation would seem to indicate that many who post on the religious threads are there for reasons other than spirituality. This, however, is what may give them joy and happiness. If that is correct, then their happiness will not sustain them over the long haul.

neologist wrote:

Chumly wrote:

Those that believe in god (if they are rational and educated) must deal with the concern of self-delusion in the form of faith.

That not a recipe for happiness.

Thus the question then becomes: "Are people who believe in god rational and educated?"

in essence then, the titular question has been asked many times on A2.

I'll match myself as no better or worse than the norm for happines, rationality, and education level as compared to the run of the mill a2ker.

'Cept mebe I'm bigger
older
'n uglier

You have mentioned your doubts and your past religious vagrancies. You have also never supplied a rational postilion as to why your religious views should supersede those of the indigenous American peoples (for example).

A portent of an agnostic (and perhaps happier) neologist.......

Some people measure happiness with money. I don't know if any group is happier than another, because what makes us happy changes from person to person.

It could be...

Money
Family
Sexual Gratification
Authority
etc

T
K
O

littlek wrote:

I've been very happy and very depressed - with all the levels in between. I've been an atheist throughout.

I've been very happy and very depressed - with all the levels in between. I've been a believer throughout.

littlek wrote:

I've been very happy and very depressed - with all the levels in between. I've been an atheist throughout.

I've been very happy and very depressed - with all the levels in between. I've been a believer throughout.