Do Religious People Have Better Mental Health


For as long as I can remember, I have read that people with religious convictions have better mental health, better careers, fewer divorces, fewer suicides and so on. The link says therapists should get religion, convert patients and make patients mentally healthy. The link concludes more religious therapists is an answer to today's growing mental health problem.

Today, the percentage of people in the U.S. who identify as atheist, agnostic or no religious affiliation is approaching 50%. In Europe it past 50% a few years ago. Of those who remain religious, some are of different religions. This raises the question, can people "choose" to be religious? If people "choose" to be religious, what religion are they to choose? Further, do we have any data that says people who were not religious but found religion have lower suicide rates?

A hypothetical example of the problem is this. If you are a Christian and data showed you would be happier and have better mental health by being a Hindu, could you convert to Hinduism? Most Christian could and would not. The same with Hindus. To propose Christian therapists, first, could convert secular people or those of some other faith to Christianity and second use this to fix their mental health illnesses is absurd.

I have heard in my life as a Christian countless times these statistics that Christians are happier and better adjusted to their live than secular people. How this bit of information can be made into some kind of helpful practice I have never heard. 

There are many variables that affect our sense of well being. Statistics show people with enough money many be happier than very poor people. Maybe the Christian variable hides a money variable. 

The books I have been reading about religious cults makes me wonder about this "happiness" variable. I've read that for some young people the cult is a path to economic and social security. Inside the cult you will find a spouse and raise children. As long as you conform to the cult's rules and pay proper respect to it anointed leaders you should have no worries. You would reply to a poll that you are "happy."

We don't really know what to do with this information that religious people say they are happier than secular people. It does not suggest a cure. 

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