Quote from austinp:
archimedes, well stated
I have known many atheists in my life... all of them with no exceptions (known to me yet) share three very distinct characteristics:
#1: High to extreme intelligence levels, highly analytical
#2: General negativity or pessimistic outlook on life
#3: General expression of unhappiness or discontent with life
**
That observation above comes from<b><u> the atheists I know / have known and interacted with</u></b>. Obviously it's not a blanket statement applicable to all... but I find it curious that some most-intelligent people are likewise so negative and filled with discontent.
Likewise, most (not all) of the devout Christians I know are generally happy with a positive outlook on life. Again, not meant to be a blanket statement, just my own observation of human behavior around me.
This is ironic, as my experience was the opposite. Like lkh and vhehn, I was in the faith for many years. Looking back now, my experience of Christianity, and all the Christian friends and relatives I had (and still have), is this: they are either no more happy and well-adjusted than the unchurched, or they are less so, with religious bugaboos detracting from their sense of well being. Ironically, many of the Christians I know who regularly claim to be "happy" are actually downright miserable. Except when they are talking about how joyful and spirit-filled they are with a big smile on their face. There is a difference between genuine peace of mind and trying to fit an image.
Christianity on the whole does not seem to do much good when it comes to well-being and life adjustment. What's worse, certain guilt associations and manipulative tendencies can cause Christianity and other religions to do great harm. For example, I have interacted with thoroughly vile Christian businessmen whose religion in large part made them vile; not directly but indirectly, by giving them a licentious self-righteousness that crept into everything they did. Paradoxical perhaps, but paradoxical in the way that becoming a tent-revival preacher can increase your chances of getting laid. The cloak of self-righteousness, coupled with the embrace of emotions and rejection of reason, can lead to ugly places.
We can argue back and forth on whether religion provides true social well-being and benefit or not; ultimately that's a broad and subjective topic. I would argue that religion offers a similar service to the self-help industry, except with some nasty strings attached, and that properly vetted statistical evidence would not support the idea that devoutly religious people are happier. They will
say they are happier, of course, but usually it's a ruse. That is what they are supposed to say.
As for down-at-the-mouth atheists, try reading
Consilience by Edward O. Wilson. He is one of the most reflective, thoughtful, and intellectually joyful non-believers you could ever come across. In fact, all theists with a shred of intellectual curiosity should read this book. I double dog dare you.
