but the community that goes with church-going, that may appear to provide happiness. We are, after all, social beings.

If only I didn't need actual evidence to believe that my fantasies are real.

can be used to help when there's stress. However, how do you handle hunger? Does prayer fill one's stomach?

Good article.

I will say this, in the U.S., where people live pretty physically isolated, except when they're thrown into work spaces, people use churches as their socializing venue. It's often the only real socializing venue available in the U.S. I think that's SAD.

It wouldn't surprise me if the numbers were reversed for countries that have a low incidence of religious faith, being out of step with most of the people around you is stressful.

At sixtysomething I can't actually recall ever knowingly meeting another atheist, it's just not something I talk about with people and evidently neither do many other atheists.

Maybe that's why they're so happy.

Last edited Sat Apr 14, 2012, 08:02 AM - Edit history (1)

Apparently the Danes could live even longer but they may have too much meat in their diet.

The powers that be have always kept the poor and disenfranchised happy by feeding them hopes of an afterlife and a supreme being who will take care of them if they "follow the rules". Indoctrinate the middle and working classes and you have plenty of contented cows.

I've been a happy Atheist almost my entire life. I never have to suffer through a crisis of faith. I can see what I believe in.

One of the best discussions about this very topic is what I call the four horsemen video where Hitchens, Dennett, Dawkins, and Harris assemble at Hitchens' home in D.C. to discuss these very topics.

Hitchens, as usually, is holding court, and derails the discussion more than once. But the others also impose their personalities. It is one of the most compelling intellectual discussions on religion and culture and politics I have ever heard. There are more than glimmerings of their respective written works. Anybody who has read them will recognize arguments, and even exact words, from their books.

Nevertheless, the overall discussion has awesome gems. My takeaway after watching and listening many times is that Dennett may have the measure of the issues. Dawkins, also, when he relates stories where he respects religious heritage to the revulsion of religious, knowing he is an atheist.

Anybody who claims to know atheism should pay attention to this discussion.

It is an important document of the issues at hand.

Here's a link to a link: New Atheists where you can find the two hour discussion. And yes, Hitchens is smoking and drinking throughout. Thank goodness!

Highly recommended.

by noting down every inconsequential piece of drivel that floats through their heads. Here's another.

Can atheists be happy? What a dumb question. Can theists be anxious? Can scientologists be behind with their tax returns? What about football coaches - can they be annoyed when the light turns red and they're in a hurry?

Happiness is a monstrosity! Punished are those who seek it.

But I never cared for him much in the first place.

...but nobody, I mean nobody, beats them on ennui.

For me, my main unhappiness still stems from decades of being beaten up, told I was sick or inferior and stupid, and shunned by even people who might have wanted to be friends, but couldn't due to guilt by association.... because I was gay. This was what I went thru at home and at school thru the 60's and a good deal of the 70's. Alas, the result is I cannot seem to trust anyone, or feel welcome anywhere (even when I am).

Who are the main folks STILL telling me I'm sick and stupid....?

Uh huh... religion.

Now I feel bad for having been kind of rough on you here, and I apologize.

While religion and religious organizations still maintain responsibility for ongoing homophobia and denial of civil rights to GLBT persons, there are organizations and individuals that are doing everything they can do to combat that.

It probably feels like way too little, way too late, but it is happening.

I welcome you here, AlbertCat.