Religious people across globe generally lead healthier, happier lives

[kdm1984]

"You may find yourself shaking your head in scepticism, but the evidence base linking faith to better health has been decades in the making and now encompasses thousands of studies. Much of this research took the form of longitudinal research, which involves tracking the health of a population over years and even decades. They each found that measures of someone’s religious commitment, such as how often they attended church, were consistently associated with a range of outcomes, including a lower risk of depression, anxiety and suicide and reduced cardiovascular disease and death from cancer."

Beyond beliefs: does religious faith lead to a happier, healthier life?

The stress-reducing, life-extending benefits of religion can offer useful strategies even for non-believers, say scientists

www.theguardian.com

I just left an online sports forum where virtually all the regular posters mentioned they were non-religious on an off-topic thread asking about religion (I was the only one who said I was a believing Christian). They took special note of their commonality of being non-religious, seeing it as a sign of having much more intellect and logic.

Yet in the same thread where they mocked religion, religious people, and religious thought, they revealed themselves to be very cynical about life, thinking it to be largely pointless, and being quite depressed about all the prospects of life and existence. Common themes were disappointment about having to create meaning in a world devoid of it, realizing that their lives were 99% easier and more convenient than people 500 years ago and yet still being dissatisfied with their lives, and finding it frustrating to get older and have body and mind break down while being unable to do anything about it.

I see this trend again and again on Internet forums. Vocal atheists are both very depressed and very proud at the same time: there's a mentality of, "Yeah, life is awful, not much we can do about it -- but at least we're smarter than you religious people, and by the way, when we do something good, it's because we think it's inherently good, we're not just appeasing some god!"

Maybe they're smart. Maybe they're even good at some 'outwardly moral' things.

But humble, happy, and healthy...

...they are not.

Interestingly, 1 Corinthians 18 speaks much about the tendencies of the unbelieving world. The 'Gentiles' then (as they do now) sought worldly intellect and influence, and believed the faithful to be foolish. But their only solace they can take to the grave is a boast over how much smarter and more moral they thought they were than everyone else.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." -- Luke 14:11

There was a time in my life when I was sad that I had little influence, and I got upset when people would call me foolish. Now I realize it's a great thing!

 

[Diamond72]

the evidence base linking faith to better health has been decades in the making and now encompasses thousands of studies.

Christians are called to live a chase life. They do not smoke, drink or sleep around. So of course they are going to be more healthy. I attended a church that had a policy if you smoke you are more than welcome to warm up a seat. But you were not allowed to participate in any way in the ministry. You could not teach a Sunday school or sing in the choir because your life was not a reflection of your beliefs as a Christian. You were allowed to go on a mission trip if you leave your tobacco behind. I guess they figured that was as good of a way to quit as any.

There are between 7 scriptures on how we can add years to our life. This is the most popular one.