“Study Reveals that Religion Does Not Lead to a Healthier Society”

Faydwyn · 10-16-2006, 08:51 PM

Here is an article about said study and its findings; and which also includes a link to the study’s publication.

Skeptic: The Magazine: Featured Article

Below is the first paragraph.

Religious Belief & Societal Health
New Study Reveals that Religion Does Not Lead to a Healthier Society

by Matthew Provonsha

It is commonly held that religion makes people more just, compassionate, and moral, but a new study suggests that the data belie that assumption. In fact, at first glance it would seem, religion has the opposite effect. The extensive study, “Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religi-osity and Secularism in the Prosperous Demo-cracies,” published in the Journal of Religion and Society (Journal of Religion and Society) examines statistics from eighteen of the most developed democratic nations. It reveals clear correlations between various indicators of social strife and religiosity, showing that whether religion causes social strife or not, it certainly does not prevent it.

DizzyDee · 10-29-2006, 01:29 PM

I thought this was a great article. I'm probably going to share it on some other websites - I know of one that keeps stating that youth with religious belief tend to have better self-esteem and implies that research has shown that religious belief makes societies healthier. I would like to look up the actual study and see the whole thing - would be interesting to see how things go. I know religious people will say that the correlation is meaningless though and that it is not the religous people who are getting the abortions, committing the murders, etc.

}SoC{Sumguy · 10-29-2006, 07:55 PM

it really depends on the religion and how faithfully people follow it....

DizzyDee · 10-29-2006, 11:05 PM

Does it really though? Notice that the least religious demoncracies reported better societal health than those with higher religiousity. We are talking about general trends. Also, in your opinion, what would be the "best" religion that would inspire the most faithful devotion? If you say Christianity, which brand?

I think it needs to be pointed out though that this study does not claim to explain cause and effect - just correlations. And in theory, you might be right - the right religion with people who follow it faithful may produce a healthy society (I have my doubts, but I allow the possibility), but the fact is that in practice, it does not seem to have that effect. In fact this particular research shows that societies that are less religious are healthier. Lots of ideas are good in thoery but don't work in real life.

Faydwyn · 11-18-2006, 03:46 AM

DizzyDee, I’m glad you found it interesting and helpful. I found it particularly interesting because its results are the opposite of what most people believe.

I have also heard that non-theists have a lower divorce rate, but I have not seen data or studies to back up this claim. Does anyone know if this is true?

Quote:

Originally Posted by }SoC{Sumguy

it really depends on the religion and how faithfully people follow it....

I am also curious about which religion(s) you consider superior (and inferior), and what constitutes faithfully following this superior religion?

MickinEngland · 11-25-2006, 08:32 PM

I often wonder which part of this a lot of people don't understand?..
"Love one another, love your enemies,
bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you,
greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends,
Hungry and you fed me,
Thirsty and you gave me drink,
A stranger and you took me in,
Naked and you clothed me,
ill and you tended me,
In prison and you visited me.
When you did this to others,
you did it to me.
You're my friends if you follow me, I don't call you servants, I call you friends" - Jesus of Nazareth