Which Makes Us Happier? Knowing the Truth or Believing Fiction is Truth

There are fewer atheists than there are Christians. It's amazing there are any atheists. Christianity, and some other religions, have sales pitches that run circle around atheists.

We all know some religions sell themselves as outsmarting death. They tell us, ""Look, we have this death thing figured out. All you have to do is give yourself to religion and you don't have to die. We guarantee it."

Atheism, however, tells you this is the only life you get. Our competition, religion, can't prove they deliver what they sell you.  We can only offer truth. Most of the time, religion wins. The link makes some interesting (to me) observations on all of this. The author points out the pleasure from learning what one believes is true and verifiable. This makes out one life better because we are not wasting it going down rabbit holes of gods and fake news.

Doubt, reflection and critical thinking should be part of every educated citizen's makeup. Christianity discourages all three. 

I recall one of the huge dictators during my lifetime said the best soldiers were illiterate ones and ones that had no interest in figuring out why things happened or that there might be alternatives. Simply following the dictator's orders was best for the dictator. So it seems in religion. The Catholic Church wants the churches beliefs to be passed down to the faithful from the clergy. They do not want people studying the Bible and figuring it out for themselves. This is the best way to do things. That is, best for the clergy.

The question, then, is this: Are Catholics happier not knowing for certain what the Bible dictates, or, would they be happier figuring that out for themselves. 

As I understand it, the Baptist branch, though it has splintered into many different threads, tells followers the individual shall retain the right to see and understand the Bible for him/her self. This brings up the same question: Are Baptists who learn the truth for themselves happier than Catholics. 

We atheists read the Bible but find no evidence it was inspired by anything of anyone other than those unknown people who wrote it. From our point of view, this is the ultimate truth. Does this make us happier than either the Catholics or the Baptists?

I suppose that since all three believe they know the ultimate truth all three are equally happy. I myself think we humans will survive longer, and be happy we have survived, if we know and believe things that are grounded in fact and are not myths and superstitions.