Ross Sauer -> All wrote:
 RS> Looks like those who don't have to rely on invisible imaginary beings are
 RS> happier.


 RS> A new study (pdf) into the correlation between religious belief and
 RS> contentment and security shows that the less religious a society is the
 RS> happier and more secure it becomes.

 RS> The study, by Gregory Paul, published in Evolutionary Psychology Journal
 RS> puts paid to the widely touted notion that without religion society would
 RS> collapse. According to Mr Paul, the reverse is true. Religion flourishes
 RS> where a society is dysfunctional and poor. When affluence is present and
 RS> people feel secure through the provision of health care and social
 RS> services, religion quickly loses its hold. In other words, those societies
 RS> that have moved furthest away from religion have higher levels of
 RS> contentment, stability and affluence.

 RS> Unlike many others in his field, Paul does not think that humanity is
 RS> hardwired for religion, nor that belief in a higher being is necessary for
 RS> a society to achieve a high level of functionality.

 RS> "Popular religion," Paul says, "is a coping
mechanism for the anxieties of
 RS> a dysfunctional social and economic environment." Simply put,
it means that
 RS> without safety nets such as universal healthcare (which more prosperous
 RS> democracies have), people depend on the "supernatural entities
that could
 RS> be petitioned for aid and protection."

 RS> http://www.secularism.org.uk/116203.html

That is pure, unadulterated, psychobabble and has no connection to reality.

Thanks for playing, though.

Ed

-- 
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