Posted on 08/09/2009 7:34:31 AM PDT by MarianoApologeticus
Atheists claim that they are happy, healthy, moral, etc.
The assert that atheism is more moral than theism and that is leads to health, wealth, morality etc.
Yet, consistently, finding via studies and surveys of various sorts cut through the propaganda and demonstrate that atheists are consistently the least charitable, less sociable, more depressed, more immoral than their counterparts.
Even when it comes to societal and political issues and perhaps related to those more activists atheists who define atheism as anti-theism; things do not generally fare very well for atheists.
These links have compiled various studies and other recourses on this matter from The Barna Group, Amer. J. Psychiatry, J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc Sci., etc., Ann. Epidemiol., Int. J. Psychiatry Med., Can. J. Public Health, et al.:
Atheism and Mental and Physical Health
Are Atheists Healthy, Happy, Moral, etc.?
Atheism and Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Societal Health
You misunderstand what motivates the faithful. It is not that God is "compelling" us to behave a certain way, but that Good and Evil are already defined by Him and we choose which we will promote.
Otherwise, it really just is opinion.
I disagree quite vigorously! Morality is a code of conduct that is defined by the society you are a member of. Some things may be immoral in one society that is perfectly moral in another. No deity needed. Some of that can be defined by a religion, or a philosophy, your heritage, and/or any number of other defining arbiters.
But why is it good to submit to the decrees of the creator of the universe? You've simply pushed the problem one step back.
That I link to biased sites (which sites are not biased?) is not relevant since they provide quotations and citations from The Barna Group, New House News, Amer. J. Psychiatry, J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc Sci., etc.
Since no one claimed anything about ALL atheists; the fact taht you “know many atheists who are happy...” is not relevant to the consistent finding by various studies by various organizations.
Fair enough. I just posted an opinion from first hand observations. My apologies for the biased comment.
Indeed. Even a casual perusal of a forum like alt.atheism reveals that atheists are mired in perpetual frothing, rage and overall self-inflicted misery.
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