After reading the article and considering personal experiences, I believe that a religous person is much better off than an athiest. It is specifically stated in the article that "Several large-scale population studies have reinforced a single premise: the more you engage with religous activities, the better off you are." Being a part of a religion provides you with a network of support from "a community of like-minded individuals." Furthermore, you "don't get saddled with the many negative attributes associated with atheists." As the article provides facts that only confirm the benifits of being religous, I am certain that religous people are better off than athiests without a doubt.
Although I said happiness really comes down to the individual I do agree with you. I've been around both in my life and religious people definitely get more joy out of life. I'm nowhere near an atheist but I do believe in individuality and being personable. I also believe an nonbeliever can uphold morals and ethical values so I can see both sides of the argument.
Even though i didn't agree with the article, i do agree that being religious is like having a support system with people that can relate to you. With that support system, people wont negatively judge you and the problems you are trying to face.
I disagree with your statement "Furthermore, you "don't get saddled with the many negative attributes associated with atheists."" Because in my opinion all those negative attributes that you talk about are pretty much stereotypes, and having suffering a lot of them throughout my life I totally think that they are, sometimes at least, far from the truth.
In my mind an atheist and a religious person should be equally happy because they have CHOSEN this path of life willingly. However reading this article provides clear evidence that the religious people of the world are happier than atheist. The article states, "As a religious person... softens you fall." This statement examines how when the average religious person is in a bine, they can rely on their social support at the church, not necessarily God. Another dip in religion is when the article explains, "The data showed... services more frequently." This is supporting the social side of church rather than the religious side. However, atheist are more often lonely and not supported because of their reputation of being immoral, unethical, and consequently unholy. Ultimately, in my opinion, happiness comes down to the individual. Atheist or believer, as long as there is a "support system" emotionally, mentally, and as the articles emphasizes socially.
I like your statement "ultimately, in my opinion, happiness comes down to the individual." I feel like there is definitley truth to that and we can make the choice to be happy or not. We just have to have the "support system," as you stated."
I completely agree with you and Kelli that it is an individuals choice to be happy. I think that if someone surrounds themselves with things that make them happy they can be completely happy as well.
I agree with your statement that its how someone chooses to be happy, despite religion or not. And you can find your happiness through certain things, that not necessarily makes everyone happy, but yourself.
I agree that people should be equally happy, but I disagree that they have willingly chosen that path of life. Some people are forced to believe something or they will be punished.
I believe that a person can choose to be happy and fulfill their life however they choose to and do it to a level where they are completely happy but i do not personally agree with the article that religious people are more happy. It does say is the article that more religious people account having a presence among them and they feel safer while walking down a dark alley at night alone. Contrasting that, i believe that anyone is vulnerable walking down a dark alley at night and even if you have a feeling that God is there with you, the same outcome would come to both people. In all, i think that a person can choose to be how happy they are. If being one with religion is what makes someone happy then by all means that is what they are passionate about but if others do not associate with a religion and are utterly happy then all the power to them as well.
I agree with your point, Kelsey. I think the happiness of a person should depend way more on the fulfillment of their life than in the fact of choosing it to do it in a religious manner.
I'm totally on the same boat as you. In fact you said it better than I could. The religious people they interviewed kept falling on their social support rather than their spiritual support which is what religion really should be about. That said an atheist could have the same exact social support to help out with problems they may have through life
In my opinion being religious should not affect your happiness, because you were the one that chose whether to believe in God or not. My opinion is based on experience, because I have found several times along my way religious people who were not finding support in their church or even some people that just went to church or order to make other people happy. I think a person is happier when he or she follows his or her own choices, disregarding whether or not he or she is supported in church, by his or her family, or in a simple book club.
I agree with you that happiness is a choice. You also bring up some good points in bringing up different ways someone can find a similar "Group" network like they would find in a church.
After reading the article, I believe if you are either atheist or religious you can be both be equally happy. I don't agree with the article when it claims that religious people are "more happy" than someone who isn't religious. That person picked that lifestyle which would make them equally or in their own opinion even happier. It is all based on how a person looks at their life. The article states that people who are religious are more likely to have more friends, be happier, ect. I do not believe that is true because despite if your religious or not, you can have an equal amount or more friends. Friends share common interests and get along with another. A friendship shouldn't be based on religion.
I’m sure my answer would seem obvious to some people, and I am glad that I have given off this beautiful impression. I completely and totally believe that a religious person is much better off than an atheist. In just the third paragraph, the author states, “...a large body of research suggests that, as compared with religious individuals, people who lack a creed are less likely to be healthy and happy-surely the two most important earthly concerns-and tend to lose out on at least seven years of life, some estimates suggest.” If this is true, it’s obviously better to be religious. If it’s not true, it’s still better to be religious. There is only one true source of happiness, and that is our Heavenly Father. No matter what argument is made against it, that fact will still ring true from beginning to end, inside and out, even if you yourself choose not believe. The truth is still the truth even if no one believes it. Sure, “no experiment can properly assess whether religious behavior causes certain life outcomes over decades, and no group of people is untouched by religion, making it impossible to fully separate out the variables” but this is beside the point. There does not have to be an experiment to prove something that is the basis, the reason, the creator of everything around us and the only way to true happiness. Also, why do you think “no group of people is untouched by religion”? This is because religion and our Father in Heaven is all there is. Therefore, living without the only thing that is constant in this world would, of course, lead to unhappiness. So, as I previously stated, a religious person is much better off than an atheist, now and into eternity.
I definitley agree with you on the point that "a religious person is much better off than an athiest." The article supports it without a doubt wether it is accepted by others or not!
I have to disagree with you, I am not religious and my life is amazing!! I'm one of the happiest people you will meet. However, you were raised in a very relgious family and that is what you have grown up around, so of course you would be very relgious and be happy with that. Which is fine, but I think that religous or not you can be equally happy.
I understand you were raised with a very religious family, but I also know that you are not being very objective. You need to look and see that people can be happy without religion. It is very unfair to say that someone can't be happy without god. I am not saying that I believe in god or that I don't, I am just saying that there are people who live very happy lives that and make a lot of money. People like Mark Zuckerburg who created facebook. He is very happy, wealthy and attended church as a child, and no longer can believe in god because of what religion told him was right. How can that make someone happy?
Thanks for the comments, everyone. It seems to me that people are basing happiness off money. I'm not saying that you or I don't want or need money but, “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.”-Benjamin Franklin. Furthermore, much of today's happiness is temporary; what we have now could be taken at any moment. Without God, everything is irrelevant.
I believe that there isn't much difference in the happiness levels whether a person belongs to a religion or is an atheist. One of the major factors that will determine how happy a person will be is the neighborhood they live in. The author states, "...the positive effects of religion depend enormously on where you live. Re ligious people may be happier than their godless counterparts, but only if the society they belong to values religion highly, which not all societies do." The article also states that people that belong to a religious group have a 'softened fall' during rough times. People don't HAVE to belong to a religious group to have a 'softened fall'. Having a softened fall is caused by friends, whether the friend(s) share the same religious beliefs or not.
To my mind, whether you are religious or not it doesn't make a difference in how happy you are. Article claims, that people are more satisfied with their lives if they attend churches - they find friends and people who understand them. However, in Scandinavia, most of people don't possess any religion, though they find their lives extremely happy. The happiness could depend on the place where you live. If you live in the society where the religiosity is a big think, and if you are atheist you won't probably find the happiness in your life. But if you live in the country that most likely doesn't show high religiosity, you will find happiness and joy in your life. Personally, I think it depends on persons attitude to be happy or not - you need to aim to be happy, physically or spiritually, whether you are atheist or a believer, you can be happy. People are trying to satisfy their needs: they travel, they do sports, they make families - they do everything to fulfill their lives with joy. Happiness is the attitude.
There should be no difference. Atheists can be just as happy as those who attend religious service. People whom are happy with themselves are happy because of how and who they are. Religion will not make everyong happier. Some religions have you "repent" for things that aren't even in the persons control. Some peoples reaction to religion is not a good one because they can't think the way religion wants them to think, because they can't go to church because their family won't let them attend. I know many people who are religious and are infact very happy, but I know people who don't believe in god who are just as happy. Read the news and see how many religious people have comited suicide. I understand that yes atheists and religious people both kill themselves but that should show that peoople can be happy in either situation. Gay people can believe in god but some can't go to church because they are gay, so what would you call them? what would you call it when they aren't aloud to speak in "The House of God"?
After reading the article, first off, I believe that it was very one sided. "You also don't get one saddled with the many negative attrubutes associated with atheists." " Nonbelieverse are considered immoral, untrustworthy and, in the U.S., among the least likely to be elected president." Both of these statements are one sided, and very untrue. I may not be religious but my life is great, I'm very happy, and I'm very trustworthy. Futhermore, I don't have to sit in church and be told what to believe or how to think, I have a mind of my own and can set morals of my own. I do believe that religous people do not have minds of their own and have to be told how to think and what they can and cannot do. And half the time relgious people break rules in their relgion, so their not perfect people. So in conclusion, I disagree with this article and think that it was one sided and written by a very relgious person.
After readnig the article, I still can't say who is happier between an athiest and a religious person. According to various tests and surveys taken, not olny nationally, but world wide, religious peolpe are more happy and satisfied with their lives. I honestly think it is an individual, self feeling. I think anyone can be happy whether or not they are religious. I think both groups can be equally happy and completely satisfied with their lives. In my opinion, people are better off being religious, only because they are my beliefs and eventhough I don't precisely practice a religion or attend any house of worship, I do have morals and values based on religion and in my opinion they are correct. Maybe all religious people are happier, but I don't think results of serveys or tests can prove that they are better off than atheists.
I agree with your statement, "I don't think results of surveys or tests can prove that they are better off then atheists." This is so true and I'm thankful you stated the fact.
The article proved religious people were happier. However, I think it's not really based on religion as much as the congregational support they get, which atheists lack. In the article it states.." Being a part of a religion provides you with a network of support from "a community of like-minded individuals," Going to church and having faith in god, does make people happy but the support they get from their congregation is what makes the difference between them and the atheists. If they ever need anything they have a group of people they can count on, as opposed to the atheists who don't have that. An atheist can be as happy as any religious person. They were brought up a different way and have their own way of thinking, so no matter what, they are going to keep being atheist. Religion does affect happiness but if one does not believe than it's not going to affect them in any way. People will either be happy or not.
You bring up a great point when you bring up that atheists lack the congregational support that religious people have. The sense of belonging is a large part of happiness.
After reading this obviously biased article, I have to disagree with the point that it was trying to get across. The religious is not actually better off than the atheist. First off, the article gives some stereotypes often associated with atheism: immoral, untrustworthy, etc. It even points out that in some states, atheists aren't allowed to hold office, where's the separation of church and state there???? The data presented in this article makes several really good points for both sides of the argument. One little piece that I found rather interesting is when it states, "Religious people may be happier than their godless counterparts, but only if the society they belong to values religion highly, which not all societies do." In America, religiousness depends on the individual, the family they were raised in, and the values of the community they live in. The article mentioned that in Scandinavian countries religion isn't a big part of very many people's lives, and they are just as happy as anyone else. What it really comes down to is the groups of people and social networks that you are a part of. If it's easy for you to be a part of a group of people with similar opinions and beliefs as you, then you will be happier because of how easy it is to receive that sense of belonging that all human beings crave. On the other hand, if it's hard for you to find a group of like minded individuals, such as yourself, then you will not be as happy since you can not easily attain that sense of belonging. "Socializing with like-minded people on a regular basis(like going to a congregational meeting)and living and working in a supportive community, can offer many of the same benefits."
After reading the article and considering personal experiences, I believe that a religous person is much better off than an athiest. It is specifically stated in the article that "Several large-scale population studies have reinforced a single premise: the more you engage with religous activities, the better off you are." Being a part of a religion provides you with a network of support from "a community of like-minded individuals." Furthermore, you "don't get saddled with the many negative attributes associated with atheists." As the article provides facts that only confirm the benifits of being religous, I am certain that religous people are better off than athiests without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I said happiness really comes down to the individual I do agree with you. I've been around both in my life and religious people definitely get more joy out of life. I'm nowhere near an atheist but I do believe in individuality and being personable. I also believe an nonbeliever can uphold morals and ethical values so I can see both sides of the argument.
DeleteEven though i didn't agree with the article, i do agree that being religious is like having a support system with people that can relate to you. With that support system, people wont negatively judge you and the problems you are trying to face.
DeleteI disagree with your statement "Furthermore, you "don't get saddled with the many negative attributes associated with atheists."" Because in my opinion all those negative attributes that you talk about are pretty much stereotypes, and having suffering a lot of them throughout my life I totally think that they are, sometimes at least, far from the truth.
DeleteIn my mind an atheist and a religious person should be equally happy because they have CHOSEN this path of life willingly. However reading this article provides clear evidence that the religious people of the world are happier than atheist. The article states, "As a religious person... softens you fall." This statement examines how when the average religious person is in a bine, they can rely on their social support at the church, not necessarily God. Another dip in religion is when the article explains, "The data showed... services more frequently." This is supporting the social side of church rather than the religious side. However, atheist are more often lonely and not supported because of their reputation of being immoral, unethical, and consequently unholy. Ultimately, in my opinion, happiness comes down to the individual. Atheist or believer, as long as there is a "support system" emotionally, mentally, and as the articles emphasizes socially.
ReplyDeleteI like your statement "ultimately, in my opinion, happiness comes down to the individual." I feel like there is definitley truth to that and we can make the choice to be happy or not. We just have to have the "support system," as you stated."
DeleteI completely agree with you and Kelli that it is an individuals choice to be happy. I think that if someone surrounds themselves with things that make them happy they can be completely happy as well.
DeleteI agree with your statement that its how someone chooses to be happy, despite religion or not. And you can find your happiness through certain things, that not necessarily makes everyone happy, but yourself.
DeleteI like your post. Even though I have my own opinion, I thought yours was well worded and full of valid point. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI agree that people should be equally happy, but I disagree that they have willingly chosen that path of life. Some people are forced to believe something or they will be punished.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a person can choose to be happy and fulfill their life however they choose to and do it to a level where they are completely happy but i do not personally agree with the article that religious people are more happy. It does say is the article that more religious people account having a presence among them and they feel safer while walking down a dark alley at night alone. Contrasting that, i believe that anyone is vulnerable walking down a dark alley at night and even if you have a feeling that God is there with you, the same outcome would come to both people. In all, i think that a person can choose to be how happy they are. If being one with religion is what makes someone happy then by all means that is what they are passionate about but if others do not associate with a religion and are utterly happy then all the power to them as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point, Kelsey. I think the happiness of a person should depend way more on the fulfillment of their life than in the fact of choosing it to do it in a religious manner.
DeleteI agree with your opinion Kelsey. I think that happiness depends on the person and how they fulfill their happiness, not exactly by religion.
DeleteI agree that a person can choose to be how happy they are. A religious person can be happy, but does that mean an atheist can't be happy?
DeleteI like how you talk about the person walking down the alley all alone, and whether you're religious or not will not affect the outcome.
DeleteI'm totally on the same boat as you. In fact you said it better than I could. The religious people they interviewed kept falling on their social support rather than their spiritual support which is what religion really should be about. That said an atheist could have the same exact social support to help out with problems they may have through life
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion being religious should not affect your happiness, because you were the one that chose whether to believe in God or not. My opinion is based on experience, because I have found several times along my way religious people who were not finding support in their church or even some people that just went to church or order to make other people happy. I think a person is happier when he or she follows his or her own choices, disregarding whether or not he or she is supported in church, by his or her family, or in a simple book club.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that happiness is a choice. You also bring up some good points in bringing up different ways someone can find a similar "Group" network like they would find in a church.
DeleteAfter reading the article, I believe if you are either atheist or religious you can be both be equally happy. I don't agree with the article when it claims that religious people are "more happy" than someone who isn't religious. That person picked that lifestyle which would make them equally or in their own opinion even happier. It is all based on how a person looks at their life. The article states that people who are religious are more likely to have more friends, be happier, ect. I do not believe that is true because despite if your religious or not, you can have an equal amount or more friends. Friends share common interests and get along with another. A friendship shouldn't be based on religion.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure my answer would seem obvious to some people, and I am glad that I have given off this beautiful impression. I completely and totally believe that a religious person is much better off than an atheist. In just the third paragraph, the author states, “...a large body of research suggests that, as compared with religious individuals, people who lack a creed are less likely to be healthy and happy-surely the two most important earthly concerns-and tend to lose out on at least seven years of life, some estimates suggest.” If this is true, it’s obviously better to be religious. If it’s not true, it’s still better to be religious. There is only one true source of happiness, and that is our Heavenly Father. No matter what argument is made against it, that fact will still ring true from beginning to end, inside and out, even if you yourself choose not believe. The truth is still the truth even if no one believes it. Sure, “no experiment can properly assess whether religious behavior causes certain life outcomes over decades, and no group of people is untouched by religion, making it impossible to fully separate out the variables” but this is beside the point. There does not have to be an experiment to prove something that is the basis, the reason, the creator of everything around us and the only way to true happiness. Also, why do you think “no group of people is untouched by religion”? This is because religion and our Father in Heaven is all there is. Therefore, living without the only thing that is constant in this world would, of course, lead to unhappiness. So, as I previously stated, a religious person is much better off than an atheist, now and into eternity.
ReplyDeleteI definitley agree with you on the point that "a religious person is much better off than an athiest." The article supports it without a doubt wether it is accepted by others or not!
DeleteI have to disagree with you, I am not religious and my life is amazing!! I'm one of the happiest people you will meet. However, you were raised in a very relgious family and that is what you have grown up around, so of course you would be very relgious and be happy with that. Which is fine, but I think that religous or not you can be equally happy.
DeleteI understand you were raised with a very religious family, but I also know that you are not being very objective. You need to look and see that people can be happy without religion. It is very unfair to say that someone can't be happy without god. I am not saying that I believe in god or that I don't, I am just saying that there are people who live very happy lives that and make a lot of money. People like Mark Zuckerburg who created facebook. He is very happy, wealthy and attended church as a child, and no longer can believe in god because of what religion told him was right. How can that make someone happy?
DeleteThanks for the comments, everyone. It seems to me that people are basing happiness off money. I'm not saying that you or I don't want or need money but, “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.”-Benjamin Franklin. Furthermore, much of today's happiness is temporary; what we have now could be taken at any moment. Without God, everything is irrelevant.
DeleteI believe that there isn't much difference in the happiness levels whether a person belongs to a religion or is an atheist. One of the major factors that will determine how happy a person will be is the neighborhood they live in. The author states, "...the positive effects of religion depend enormously on where you live. Re ligious people may be happier than their godless counterparts, but only if the society they belong to values religion highly, which not all societies do." The article also states that people that belong to a religious group have a 'softened fall' during rough times. People don't HAVE to belong to a religious group to have a 'softened fall'. Having a softened fall is caused by friends, whether the friend(s) share the same religious beliefs or not.
ReplyDeleteTo my mind, whether you are religious or not it doesn't make a difference in how happy you are. Article claims, that people are more satisfied with their lives if they attend churches - they find friends and people who understand them. However, in Scandinavia, most of people don't possess any religion, though they find their lives extremely happy. The happiness could depend on the place where you live. If you live in the society where the religiosity is a big think, and if you are atheist you won't probably find the happiness in your life. But if you live in the country that most likely doesn't show high religiosity, you will find happiness and joy in your life. Personally, I think it depends on persons attitude to be happy or not - you need to aim to be happy, physically or spiritually, whether you are atheist or a believer, you can be happy. People are trying to satisfy their needs: they travel, they do sports, they make families - they do everything to fulfill their lives with joy. Happiness is the attitude.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I am very glad to see a person able to suport both sides of this argument when the article could not even do that
DeleteThank you for the kind feedback!
DeleteThere should be no difference. Atheists can be just as happy as those who attend religious service. People whom are happy with themselves are happy because of how and who they are. Religion will not make everyong happier. Some religions have you "repent" for things that aren't even in the persons control. Some peoples reaction to religion is not a good one because they can't think the way religion wants them to think, because they can't go to church because their family won't let them attend. I know many people who are religious and are infact very happy, but I know people who don't believe in god who are just as happy. Read the news and see how many religious people have comited suicide. I understand that yes atheists and religious people both kill themselves but that should show that peoople can be happy in either situation. Gay people can believe in god but some can't go to church because they are gay, so what would you call them? what would you call it when they aren't aloud to speak in "The House of God"?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, first off, I believe that it was very one sided. "You also don't get one saddled with the many negative attrubutes associated with atheists." " Nonbelieverse are considered immoral, untrustworthy and, in the U.S., among the least likely to be elected president." Both of these statements are one sided, and very untrue. I may not be religious but my life is great, I'm very happy, and I'm very trustworthy. Futhermore, I don't have to sit in church and be told what to believe or how to think, I have a mind of my own and can set morals of my own. I do believe that religous people do not have minds of their own and have to be told how to think and what they can and cannot do. And half the time relgious people break rules in their relgion, so their not perfect people. So in conclusion, I disagree with this article and think that it was one sided and written by a very relgious person.
ReplyDeleteI really like that you noticed that the article was biased towards the religious point of view.
DeleteWell thank you Rim! I feel like a lot of people responding to this artical don't see that it is very biased towards the relgious point of view.
DeleteAfter readnig the article, I still can't say who is happier between an athiest and a religious person. According to various tests and surveys taken, not olny nationally, but world wide, religious peolpe are more happy and satisfied with their lives. I honestly think it is an individual, self feeling. I think anyone can be happy whether or not they are religious. I think both groups can be equally happy and completely satisfied with their lives. In my opinion, people are better off being religious, only because they are my beliefs and eventhough I don't precisely practice a religion or attend any house of worship, I do have morals and values based on religion and in my opinion they are correct. Maybe all religious people are happier, but I don't think results of serveys or tests can prove that they are better off than atheists.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement, "I don't think results of surveys or tests can prove that they are better off then atheists." This is so true and I'm thankful you stated the fact.
DeleteThe article proved religious people were happier. However, I think it's not really based on religion as much as the congregational support they get, which atheists lack. In the article it states.." Being a part of a religion provides you with a network of support from "a community of like-minded individuals," Going to church and having faith in god, does make people happy but the support they get from their congregation is what makes the difference between them and the atheists. If they ever need anything they have a group of people they can count on, as opposed to the atheists who don't have that. An atheist can be as happy as any religious person. They were brought up a different way and have their own way of thinking, so no matter what, they are going to keep being atheist. Religion does affect happiness but if one does not believe than it's not going to affect them in any way. People will either be happy or not.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a great point when you bring up that atheists lack the congregational support that religious people have. The sense of belonging is a large part of happiness.
DeleteAfter reading this obviously biased article, I have to disagree with the point that it was trying to get across. The religious is not actually better off than the atheist. First off, the article gives some stereotypes often associated with atheism: immoral, untrustworthy, etc. It even points out that in some states, atheists aren't allowed to hold office, where's the separation of church and state there???? The data presented in this article makes several really good points for both sides of the argument. One little piece that I found rather interesting is when it states, "Religious people may be happier than their godless counterparts, but only if the society they belong to values religion highly, which not all societies do." In America, religiousness depends on the individual, the family they were raised in, and the values of the community they live in. The article mentioned that in Scandinavian countries religion isn't a big part of very many people's lives, and they are just as happy as anyone else. What it really comes down to is the groups of people and social networks that you are a part of. If it's easy for you to be a part of a group of people with similar opinions and beliefs as you, then you will be happier because of how easy it is to receive that sense of belonging that all human beings crave. On the other hand, if it's hard for you to find a group of like minded individuals, such as yourself, then you will not be as happy since you can not easily attain that sense of belonging. "Socializing with like-minded people on a regular basis(like going to a congregational meeting)and living and working in a supportive community, can offer many of the same benefits."
ReplyDelete