Are religious people happier than non-believers?

[pacer]

While Daws and I don't agree on everything concerning faith - I find him to be extremely intelligent. If I had to vote on a top three he'd be in it.

I agree.

 

[daws101]

you provide blog opinions as a proof of the authors opinion?

Number of Christians of all denomination has been steadily GROWING over the last 100 years and the number of atheists and agnostics has been declining. Globally.



Lausanne World Pulse - Research Articles - The Past Five Years of Christian Growth Worldwide
Study: 2.6 Billion of World Population Expected to Be Christian by 2020

and here is a STUDY which just confirms by graphs and figures - ALLdenominations have been GROWING and continue to do so.

http://wwwgordonconwell.com/netcommunity/CSGCResources/ChristianityinitsGlobalContext.pdf

The world in 2010 was more religious than in 1970,
and this trend will continue to 2020 and perhaps
beyond.

Projections to 2020 indicate a sustained decrease of the
global share of the non-religious. This is due primarily to the
resurgence of Buddhism, Christianity, and other religions in
China, and Christianity in Eastern Europe. If this trend continues,
agnostics and atheists will be a smaller portion of the
world’s population in 2020 than they were in 2010. Although
the number of atheists and agnostics continues to rise in the
Western world, the current growth of a variety of religions
in China in particular (where the vast majority of the nonreligious
live today) suggests continued future demographic
growth of religion. From the point of view of 1970–2010,
there has been a global religious resurgence, and it seems
likely to continue into the future.
Two religions, Christianity and Islam, dominate religious demographics
and seem poised to continue that dominance in
the future.

can you say extremely bias..I knew you could!

I know stats is too biased for your little brain, dawsy

talking out your ass as always.
those stats are bias making them useless..
btw that would be stats "are"

 

[Sherry]

bullshit! believers believe there are consequences above and beyond "earthly" consequences for their behaviors ..as if bad behavior and good behavior are not punished or rewarded in real life...
nonbelievers think that being punished twice is overkill.

What part of "and not just on a spiritual level" was lost on you, Skippy. Don't pretend to know what believers believe...and I don't have any concern what a non-believer believes. I think it's amusing when non-believers accuse believers of being so judgmental, as they sit on their holier than thou little pedestals looking down at the poor misled fairy in the sky believers.

because you religious often USE your religion to rationalize NOT HELPING OTHERS

Trying to justify your assumptions and generalizations about Christians simply highlights your level of intolerance. All the negative presuppositions you purport reflects on how little you must think of the Obamas for professing their faith in Christianity.

bullshit! believers believe there are consequences above and beyond "earthly" consequences for their behaviors ..as if bad behavior and good behavior are not punished or rewarded in real life...
nonbelievers think that being punished twice is overkill.

What part of "and not just on a spiritual level" was lost on you, Skippy. Don't pretend to know what believers believe...and I don't have any concern what a non-believer believes. I think it's amusing when non-believers accuse believers of being so judgmental, as they sit on their holier than thou little pedestals looking down at the poor misled fairy in the sky believers.

the spiritual level is what's at issue....diva!
I know exactly what believers believe... I like lots of people were raised with so called Christian values.
my family attended church religiously (pun intended).
so when you say i and other nonbelievers are pretending to know...that's because WE DO know..
it's not like god just proofed us in to existence just to test you ass hats.
also your feinted indifference to what non believers think is a steaming pile of bullshit...
if that were true then why were you compelled to answer if you didn't give a shit?

You only know what you believe, and no amount of insisting that you do know will make it the truth. Just because you had a dysfunctional environment that molded your opinions doesn't make you an expert on what other people believe. Putting you in your place doesn't lend any credence to assuming that I must care about what you do or don't believe in. I'm just throwing it in your smug ass face that you don't get to make the determination what anyone except your poor angry self feels.

 

[Vox]

can you say extremely bias..I knew you could!

I know stats is too biased for your little brain, dawsy

talking out your ass as always.
those stats are bias making them useless..
btw that would be stats "are"

dawsy, that you are ignorant of the basic math and statistical concepts has been proven on this site numerous times.
It is way over your intellectual abilities, so don't even try

 

[Vox]

While Daws and I don't agree on everything concerning faith - I find him to be extremely intelligent. If I had to vote on a top three he'd be in it.

you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I have had a different experience. one "bronze age monk" was priceless

dawsy is ignorant on most topics and does not show any ability to learn. While it does not describe the IQ per se, it certainly shows the rigidity and stubbornness which have their own predictive value on mental capacities.

 

[GibsonSG]

Religious people are happy(ier) because they've managed to give purpose to their lives through delusion. But then again, muslims NEVER look happy, a right ornery bunch.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

I think believers are happier since non-believers seem to spend an inordinant amount of their time being nasty to believers.

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

 

[Vox]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

agree, but that is exactly the point - dawsy is not intelligent enough to debate with.
in general it is very rare to meet an atheist who is knowlegeable and does not substitute his/her ignorance by activism and aggression.

Delta4Embassy and pacer are the ones on this board which come to mind as very decent counterparts.

 

[GibsonSG]

Here's a happy bunch of believers:

 

[GibsonSG]

Or these happy worshippers.

 

[Book of Jeremiah]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

agree, but that is exactly the point - dawsy is not intelligent enough to debate with.
in general it is very rare to meet an atheist who is knowlegeable and does not substitute his/her ignorance by activism and aggression.

Delta4Embassy and pacer are the ones on this board which come to mind as very decent counterparts.

Daws impresses me as someone who hasn't revealed a fraction of his true potential - intentionally. He's a sandbagger. Don't count him out.
( Delta & Pacer are both very knowledgable - agreed )

 

[Delta4Embassy]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

agree, but that is exactly the point - dawsy is not intelligent enough to debate with.
in general it is very rare to meet an atheist who is knowlegeable and does not substitute his/her ignorance by activism and aggression.

Delta4Embassy and pacer are the ones on this board which come to mind as very decent counterparts.

/blushes

 

[pacer]

Thank you, Jeremiah. I appreciate the compliment.

 

[pacer]

Daws impresses me as someone who hasn't revealed a fraction of his true potential - intentionally. He's a sandbagger.

I too always felt this about daws.

 

[rdean]

People in Red State insist they are very religious, yet that is where most suicide occurs.

 

[Vox]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

agree, but that is exactly the point - dawsy is not intelligent enough to debate with.
in general it is very rare to meet an atheist who is knowlegeable and does not substitute his/her ignorance by activism and aggression.

Delta4Embassy and pacer are the ones on this board which come to mind as very decent counterparts.

Daws impresses me as someone who hasn't revealed a fraction of his true potential - intentionally. He's a sandbagger. Don't count him out.
( Delta & Pacer are both very knowledgable - agreed )

Jeri you are very kind hearted person - that is all I will say

 

[daws101]

What part of "and not just on a spiritual level" was lost on you, Skippy. Don't pretend to know what believers believe...and I don't have any concern what a non-believer believes. I think it's amusing when non-believers accuse believers of being so judgmental, as they sit on their holier than thou little pedestals looking down at the poor misled fairy in the sky believers.

because you religious often USE your religion to rationalize NOT HELPING OTHERS

Trying to justify your assumptions and generalizations about Christians simply highlights your level of intolerance. All the negative presuppositions you purport reflects on how little you must think of the Obamas for professing their faith in Christianity.

What part of "and not just on a spiritual level" was lost on you, Skippy. Don't pretend to know what believers believe...and I don't have any concern what a non-believer believes. I think it's amusing when non-believers accuse believers of being so judgmental, as they sit on their holier than thou little pedestals looking down at the poor misled fairy in the sky believers.

the spiritual level is what's at issue....diva!
I know exactly what believers believe... I like lots of people were raised with so called Christian values.
my family attended church religiously (pun intended).
so when you say i and other nonbelievers are pretending to know...that's because WE DO know..
it's not like god just proofed us in to existence just to test you ass hats.
also your feinted indifference to what non believers think is a steaming pile of bullshit...
if that were true then why were you compelled to answer if you didn't give a shit?

You only know what you believe, and no amount of insisting that you do know will make it the truth. Just because you had a dysfunctional environment that molded your opinions doesn't make you an expert on what other people believe. Putting you in your place doesn't lend any credence to assuming that I must care about what you do or don't believe in. I'm just throwing it in your smug ass face that you don't get to make the determination what anyone except your poor angry self feels.

bahahahahah!
put me in my place!

 

[daws101]

I know stats is too biased for your little brain, dawsy

talking out your ass as always.
those stats are bias making them useless..
btw that would be stats "are"

dawsy, that you are ignorant of the basic math and statistical concepts has been proven on this site numerous times.
It is way over your intellectual abilities, so don't even try

golly! you got me on that one!
when you wake up you'll realize it was all a dream.
oh and please show me the evidence of my assumed ignorance..

 

[daws101]

I missed the bronze age monk and the failed math test but as Einstein wasn't too into monks or math the first part of his life I'm not sure it makes a difference, Vox. I believe Daws intelligence is what leads him to many of his conclusions on the topic of faith, judgment, etc. I could be wrong but I believe he is still young and even 10 yrs from now I doubt he'll have the same thoughts on some things that he holds now.

Some months ago... I met a confirmed atheist who changed his mind about the existance of G-d in a single night. He hasn't made the leap to believing Jesus Christ is LORD but he is most definitely not the same young man he was before. He told me he had been reading my writings prior to his change of mind. He had read other threads on the religion board and for the most part people were not nice to him so he wasn't nice back. He also gave me permission to share that if I thought it would ever help anyone. So this is my first time sharing it with anyone. It made me realize the responsibility we all have to season what we say with love because otherwise we could be playing a very bad part in someones life. It was keeping him stuck! ( I wasn't the person who gave him a hard time - it was another christian here )

Anyhow, if that could happen to him it could happen to others and my olive branch is out to Daws always. I really care about what happens to Daws. He counts. So do you! You know God! I would like to see everyone know Him and enjoy a relationship with Him / have the opportunity to have one.

p.s. Intelligent people seek each other out - even to argue - so perhaps you enjoy the debate because he's going to give you a challenge you wouldn't get from someone else.

agree, but that is exactly the point - dawsy is not intelligent enough to debate with.
in general it is very rare to meet an atheist who is knowlegeable and does not substitute his/her ignorance by activism and aggression.

Delta4Embassy and pacer are the ones on this board which come to mind as very decent counterparts.

wow bias and jealousy !
also there's that pesky sexual identification problem.
jeri if 54 is young then thanks for the complement.