Article: This is your brain on religion... (v. atheism).

[BrettA]

My brother - also an atheist - sent the following (G&M) link from one of Canada's largest newpapers about research at two of Canada's top universities. Some excerpts:

"Newly published research by University of Toronto and York University professors points to reduced stress and anxiety among test subjects who consider themselves to be religious, compared with non-believers"... "[Religious people] were much less anxious and stressed when they made an error," ... "religion provides meaning in peoples' lives".

It's not all glowing, but I'm curious if other studies come to similar conclusions - rather more positive on religion / negative on atheism - or indeed, opposite conclusions... Anyone know?

[Chinaski]

Does the absence of stress lead them to make better decisions for their lives?
I know someone whose best friend died of meningitis two years ago (at age 14, tragedy). This person's family are adventists (or something) and she has profound faith in the imminent return of Christ. This tragedy has led her to attach herself even more to her faith because it gives her even the tiniest amount of hope that she might derive meaning from what happened. Now, while I think she's hurting herself by continually obsessing over it and praying quite often. I hate to bring it up, because otherwise she's a really nice girl and overall a beautiful person, and this seems to be the best way she knows how to deal with it. But is it really the best way?

[al-rawandi]

My brother - also an atheist - sent the following (G&M) link from one of Canada's largest newpapers about research at two of Canada's top universities. Some excerpts:

"Newly published research by University of Toronto and York University professors points to reduced stress and anxiety among test subjects who consider themselves to be religious, compared with non-believers"... "[Religious people] were much less anxious and stressed when they made an error," ... "religion provides meaning in peoples' lives".

It's not all glowing, but I'm curious if other studies come to similar conclusions - rather more positive on religion / negative on atheism - or indeed, opposite conclusions... Anyone know?

The thing that is rather obvious to me upon reading this, but I am sure it escapes the religious, is that this has nothing to do with what is true. Star Trek makes me happy (TNG) but I don't worship Patrick Stewart. Life does not guarantee us anything, happiness or otherwise. And these researchers obviously didn't read Khomeini when he said: "There is no fun in Islam, life is a test."

Anyhow, these studies are obnoxious distractions from important questions about reality. Science and philosophy, these destroy notions of religion.

And the conclusion I draw from this study is something someone figured out many years ago.... ignorance is bliss.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

My brother - also an atheist - sent the following (G&M) link from one of Canada's largest newpapers about research at two of Canada's top universities. Some excerpts:

"Newly published research by University of Toronto and York University professors points to reduced stress and anxiety among test subjects who consider themselves to be religious, compared with non-believers"... "[Religious people] were much less anxious and stressed when they made an error," ... "religion provides meaning in peoples' lives".

It's not all glowing, but I'm curious if other studies come to similar conclusions - rather more positive on religion / negative on atheism - or indeed, opposite conclusions... Anyone know?

The thing that is rather obvious to me upon reading this, but I am sure it escapes the religious, is that this has nothing to do with what is true. Star Trek makes me happy (TNG) but I don't worship Patrick Stewart. Life does not guarantee us anything, happiness or otherwise. And these researchers obviously didn't read Khomeini when he said: "There is no fun in Islam, life is a test."

Anyhow, these studies are obnoxious distractions from important questions about reality. Science and philosophy, these destroy notions of religion.

And the conclusion I draw from this study is something someone figured out many years ago.... ignorance is bliss.

+1

[Trolldor]

Of course they aren't nearly as stressed, after all it's part of the lawd's plan.

I wonder what would happen if you had someone with my attitude (minus the university course stress ) do the test.

[CP]

Prozac does that too, but it still shouldn't be taken without serious thought.