STUDY: Religious more depressed than atheists

[ghosthunter]

Religious believers more depressed than atheists: study
by Jennifer Dunning Posted: September 20, 2013 7:43 PM Last Updated: September 20, 2013 8:00 PM



Even if people's faith in religion makes them feel good right down to their souls, they are still more likely than an atheist to get depressed, according to a new study.

The study, published in the October issue of Psychological Medicine but online now, followed more than 8,000 people in rural and urban areas in seven countries for one year. During the research, they were each examined at six- and 12-month intervals.

In those time frames, 10.3 per cent of religious participants became depressed, compared with 7.0 per cent for atheists and 10.5 per cent for those with a "spiritual understanding of life," the study found.

The results also varied between country and religion. For example, spiritual participants from the U.K. were found to be more than three times more likely to be depressed than their secular counterparts.

Those who practised varying religions showed the highest rate of depression - 11.5 per cent - followed by Protestants at 10.9 per cent, those without a specific religion at 10.8 per cent, and Catholics at 9.8 per cent.

Along with the U.K., residents of Spain, Estonia, Portugal, Chile and the Netherlands were involved in the study, which is called "Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study."

The researchers concluded "these results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being. There was no evidence of religion acting as a buffer to prevent depression after a serious life event."

Despite only select countries being included in this new research, past studies have found the parts of the U.S. with the highest religious rates also have the highest depression rates, according to Guardian Express.

Earlier this year, however, the U.S.-based National Center for Biotechnology Information released a study done at the University of Saskatchewan that found a 22 per cent lower risk of depression for monthly church attendees.

That data came from the Canadian National Population Health Survey between 1994 and 2008. Most of the monthly churchgoers in that study were also "older, female, and married," the study noted.

source: Religious believers more depressed than atheists: study - Your Community

[K.I.L.L.]

I'm an atheist and I follow Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism. I'm never really depressed and always try to look for the positive angle in everything.

[roninblade]

it's the guilt, plus the feeling that you've been abandoned when your prayers don't get answered.

[Altis6453]

I don't get it. Sa RCC, it's like a sin to be affluent so you have to "buy your way" to salvation.

Tama. You get the never-ending guilt-trip if you fail to give a generous donation to the parish or whatever bingo bonanza or cake raffle they're coming up with.

[dr. d]

it's not a sin to be rich.
it's not a sin liking being rich.
it's not a sin enjoying being rich.
what's a sin, is what some resort to doing, to remain rich or get richer.
play fair, and you shouldn't feel guilty of anything.

if those RCCs feel their Religion is stifling, they should see what the other religions require of their people..

[uls]

nadedepress mga religious coz they think bad things don't happen to them coz they're good (or believe they're good)

(or they believe God is on their side)

so when bad things happen to them they get depressed. they question God. "why did this happen to me?! what have i done to deserve this?!"

and they see non-religious people doing great and think "why isnt God punishing those people?!"

"life is unfair!!"

kaya nadedepress sila

kasi meron sila expectations of reward and punishment

i believe life is random

things happen for no reason

you can die in a car accident regardless if you're religious or not

sh*t happens

that's life

[roninblade]

i'm waiting for the truly religious people of tsikot to show up.

[miLes]

nadedepress mga religious coz they think bad things don't happen to them coz they're good (or believe they're good)

(or they believe God is on their side)

so when bad things happen to them they get depressed. they question God. "why did this happen to me?! what have i done to deserve this?!"

and they see non-religious people doing great and think "why isnt God punishing those people?!"

"life is unfair!!"

kaya nadedepress sila

kasi meron sila expectations of reward and punishment

i believe life is random

things happen for no reason

you can die in a car accident regardless if you're religious or not

sh*t happens

that's life

i believe in cause and effect. **** happens because somebody ate too much. the whole heaven and hell thing is pure bs. keep punching anybody and eventually somebody will punch you back, cause and effect.

[CVT]

Humility and acceptance after giving it your best, are your greatest strengths....



21.2K:tomato:

[Monseratto]

So the old saying: "God has a plan for you" is just turd talk...Because if you do, you'd be depressed at the end. hehehe.

[timo07]

i'm waiting for the truly religious people of tsikot to show up.

If my personal definition of truly religious people will hold true, I guess you won't find them here. I think they will not care to dedicate time on material things.

[yebo]

they just can't accept that god does not make plans for them, nor does god make things happen for anyone. they just can't accept that people are in the situation they are in because of the choices they made and because of the choices that other people made. they want god to do everything for them. free choice sucks big time.

[viper888]

I believe in God but i dont expect any miracles or plans from him.

[gearspeed]

I'm more in between I believe in God and not believe too much in God so that it is balanced.
Like Pacquiao he relies too much on God than training harder.

[kinyo]

Religious believers more depressed than atheists: study

it sounded like "Religious nuts are psychos"

[holdencaulfield]

I'm more in between I believe in God and not believe too much in God so that it is balanced.
Like Pacquiao he relies too much on God than training harder.

like, much ado about pampam than living your life.

[greatauror28]

I can say that I'm religious because I was brought up being one - going to Church everyday, saying prayers before meals, going to Catholic school and learning Religion, celebrating Catholic holidays, etc. But I cannot say that i'm a devout Catholic who believes in Heaven or Hell, or Purgatory for that matter. I also don't believe that if something bad happens to you, you're being punished by God. I also don't believe in Adam and Eve and knew that we came from the Apes and evolution.

I simply believe that Man has his own freedom. Freedom to do things he deemed correct and right. Freedom to choose his plans and course of actions which can or cannot affect his future - goals, achievements and plans in life.

Being a Catholic is merely an inspiration for me, a belief that somebody, something out there is there for guidance which you can look up to in times of troubles and worries but not necessarily mean that One is gonna move mountains or split rivers so you can solve you own problem. Your problem is you own. You make and solve your own worries.

Now, for the Atheists that does everything to prove that God doesn't exist, or bash each and every religious leaders like Bishops and the Pope labelling them as child molesters and pedos, I detest them. They would go to long stretch of idealism to prove they are the righteous one - which is wrong.

It is OK not to believe in God, and the Bible and to other religious activities or organizations. Just don't mock them to gain an upper hand because we'll never know in the end. And Atheists are growing in numbers because of social media, believing opposing the other side would be 'cool', non-conforming type of folks they are, but cannot even expound on Charles Darwin's natural selection

Summary: I'm religous but not 100% per se and I hate Atheists that does what I said above.

*topic: I don't think I'm depressed.

"If you are depressed, you're living the past.
If you are anxious, you are living the future.
If you are calm, you're living the present"

[marg]

Now, for the Atheists that does everything to prove that God doesn't exist, or bash each and every religious leaders like Bishops and the Pope labelling them as child molesters and pedos, I detest them. They would go to long stretch of idealism to prove they are the righteous one - which is wrong.

The catholic church has paid of hundreds of millions of donated money to settle the CHILD RAPE and MOLESTATION cases. The present pope has admitted that this has brougth down the church,and caused many catholics to leave.

I admire the people who noisily exposed the evil that has been hushed up by the bishops for half a century.

Even the Vatican is infiltrated by Gay *** molester priests. Why did you think Pope Benedictt gave up?

[greatauror28]

The catholic church has paid of hundreds of millions of donated money to settle the CHILD RAPE and MOLESTATION cases. The present pope has admitted that this has brougth down the church,and caused many catholics to leave.

I admire the people who noisily exposed the evil that has been hushed up by the bishops for half a century.

Even the Vatican is infiltrated by Gay *** molester priests. Why did you think Pope Benedictt gave up?

I'm not denying that religious leaders are being involved with these hideous issues involving children. I also agree that social stigma is stronger when these happens.
But what I'm trying to say is that these "Atheist" folks love pointing the finger to these people, but are shrugging shoulders if they are commited by ordinary people, or say politicians, or those in the government. They are the quickest to react, to blame if the accused is of religious origin.

What about Ben Radford? He's a 'skeptics group' guy being charged with ***ual assault/ molestation.
Did the skeptics published these in their facebook wall?

[niky]

Charles Darwin's Theory on Natural Selection doesn't need defense. It simply states something that is so basic, it is incontrovertible: "Those organisms that survive to reproduce pass on their traits to their offspring."

Done. Finis. It is something you can observe throughout history and even down to timeframes as short as weeks (watch how bacteria breed resistance to antibiotics).

-

As for bashing the Church. Criticism where it is due. The Catholic Church has coddled pedophilic priests, simply because it didn't want to lose face due to public scandal.

It has spread misinformation throughout the worst of AIDS-stricken Africa... telling people that condoms have "holes" that let the virus through. All because they decided condoms were evil. And this isn't even a teaching of Christ... this was started by ONE MAN... and since he was the Pope, that got written into Church doctrine and made into law.

High-ranking officials accept large gifts and "donations" of luxury items like SUVs.

The misogyny of the modern church. Despite the important role of women in Christ's early ministry, all high ranking Church officials are now male. It is, in fact, a crime with the punishment of excommunication to ordain female priests, even if early Christian sects had female priests. Pure male bigotry, from the very beginning of the Catholic Church... which has labored long and hard over the centuries to wipe away any record of any competing Christian sects that were around at the time it was formed.

-----

And praise where praise is due... the missions that help orphans... that provide livelihood to the poor... that provide education... of course, they're mostly run by nuns rather than pedophiles...

Also, I like this new Pope. Concentrating more on social issues than trying to alienate people. Much like John Paul II.

Of course, however progressive, humble and authentic this Pope is... he cannot change doctrine and dogma handed down by his predecessors... no matter how unjust, unfair and un-Christlike it is. Such is the burden of the Catholic Church. When the words of men are treated as the Word of God, it is very easy to abuse that authority.

-----

This is not a slight on religion itself. If you have something that keeps you happy, sane and centered... so be it. But one must recognize that no earthly authority can claim to speak for God (whether you believe he exists or not), not when it is run by fallible humans.

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Ben whosit? Never heard of him. (checks it out)... how unfortunate... but the man is only human... and being a skeptic doesn't mean you can't be an arse. Just as being a believer doesn't mean you can't be an arse, either.