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What has atheism anything to do with this?
by 725686 5mo ago
What has atheism anything to do with this?
- tempaccount5050 5mo agoAbsolutely nothing. Religious people just tend to think they have it all figured out because they've been well trained in following tradition and avoiding questioning the status quo.
- phil21 5mo agoWhich would make someone less sad by default, no? I certainly sort of wish I thought I had it all figured out - I'd be way happier! That's also an extreme oversimplification of religion which describes only a very small number of individuals of most if not all faiths. The vast majority are not hardliners, and understand the larger component of religion is community and shared purpose.
- muwtyhg 5mo ago> Which would make someone less sad by default, no? Ignorance is bliss. Is ignorance therefore good?
- BJones12 5mo agoBecause the article's question is 'how did America get so sad' and the answer is 'because it lost Christianity' because Christianity makes people less sad.
- eitally 5mo agoI'm not even sure it's Christianity that makes people less sad (I would argue that it isn't). It's the civic community that churches often create that breed purpose & happiness. Churches aren't the only types of communities that do this, but they're by far the most common.
- rootusrootus 5mo agoModern christianity in America is a primary contributor to my sadness.
- xyzelement 5mo agoCan you explain that?
- majorchord 5mo agoIn my experience many of them are breathtakingly judgmental hypocrites. https://kepetersen.substack.com/p/the-gospel-of-hypocrisy-how-maga https://kepetersen.substack.com/p/the-gospel-of-hypocrisy-ho...
- xyzelement 5mo agoI am aware of this view, I am curious how it's the primary driver of sadness for the guy I replied to.
- joenot443 5mo agoHmm, in my experience it's been quite the opposite. I suppose it depends a lot on who you choose to spend your time with!
- dh2022 5mo agoIn 2026, after Trump started the war in Iran, when he is doing all he can to cover Einstein’s accomplices, after providing legal cover for the ICE agents who killed two Americans, when he called the pope weak and said he is not a fan, Evangelicals still approve of his actions 69% [0]. Sorry pal, it is the white christians who are hypocritical. Their idol is a walking version of the all 7 deadly sins. [0] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/09/white-evangelicals-remain-among-trumps-strongest-supporters-but-theyre-less-supportive-than-a-year-ago/ https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/09/white-eva...
- rootusrootus 5mo ago
- majorchord 5mo agoReligion is a symptom of irrational belief and groundless hope.
- xyzelement 5mo agoWhich is seemingly the superior strategy for happiness and survival.
- Zizizizz 5mo agoYeah tell that to all the people who avoided the bare minimum of advice during COVID for their own beliefs and subsequently died.
- tock 5mo agoPerception is reality! Its great as long as it doesn't hurt others.
- geremiiah 5mo agoPeople who are lucky in life never question their faith, because why would they? That's why Christians are happier. I grew up Christian, but I was not lucky in life. Christianity did fuck all to help me. Actually, I find more peace in my lack of faith now. But everyone is different.
- Erem 5mo agoFor those who haven’t read it yet, article engages with this explanation and doesn’t come to the same conclusion
- iso1631 5mo agoAmerica is swinging even more towards theocracy -- the Military Prayer Meetings say killing people is a mission from god, the White House Faith Office 1) exists, and 2) says that saying no to the rapist running government is "saying no to god"
- xyzelement 5mo agoOk. And in parallel the average American is disconnected from religion and increasingly miserable as per the article.
- Erem 5mo agoNo, the article showed that non belief peaked a few years ago: There are more butts in the pews than in 2020. But sentiment hasn’t recovered.
- kelnos 5mo agoThat's not what the article says at all. Perhaps you should re-read it, especially the section that directly contradicts what you are saying about religion and happiness. If anything, Americans are more religious than they were pre-pandemic (reversing a 30-year trend), and yet they're less happy.
- pstuart 5mo agoI think the value add of religion per the top comment is that it typically has a built in community and sense of connection. Churches bring people together in multiple ways. I write that as an atheist who is more isolated than I'd like. I'm working on community and connection but it's challenging when one works remotely and relocates to a new town. While I recognize the community value of religion and the comfort it brings people, it comes at a huge cost that far outweighs the benefits. IMHO, organized religion is a cancer on modern society. I think there's other ways to get the good parts from it but that's a team effort.
- GetTheFacts 5mo ago>While I recognize the community value of religion and the comfort it brings people, it comes at a huge cost that far outweighs the benefits. IMHO, organized religion is a cancer on modern society. I think there's other ways to get the good parts from it but that's a team effort. Those who abandon the Path are evil. Those who reject the path to enlightenment must be destroyed! Hallowed are the Ori!