A spiritually inclined student is a happier student

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Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
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Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: mobobuff
I won't deny that, but who said I can't have human interaction and companionship without religion? The two aren't mutually exclusive.

In many rural areas and areas of the south & midwest religion is the only way, or one of but a few ways, to go about it.

Aye. THe main problem is that those who have left religion tend to want to get as far away from it as possible, without taking into account that the companionship was independant of the religion and is gravely needed.
 
May 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: dighn
I wouldn't be surprised. Religion does fill some psychological needs. But personally I wouldn't be able to suspend my belief long enough to really get into a religion.
I?ve found that, for me, Christianity was simply about truly accepting what i already knew to be right.

Something that is, admittedly, quite hard.

Who am I? Where am I going? Why are we here?

...

Screw that, I'll figure that crap out when I'm near death. I'm off to have some premarital sex.
better to be hot or cold than luke-warm, eh?

I'd rather have a void than a hole crammed with horseshit.
so how's filling it with anger working out for you?

I wonder what the stats would be for someone who was high on pot 24/7?
it gets old.
 

clicknext

Banned
Mar 27, 2002
3,884
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Certainly not surprising to me. I've never believed in a religion, but I think that in general, having religion betters society.
 

Kibbo

Platinum Member
Jul 13, 2004
2,847
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The fact that Religion=Prozac does not surprise me.

I've been tempted by the teachings of many faiths over my lifetime. Thing is, I've never been able to truly accept that fait in an authentic manner. Yes, it would probably make coping with the day to day easier, and would likely be more constructive than my current coping mechanisms (neffing on various forums and drinking. . . ooh, and serial monogamy) but I see all of those as merely attempts to avoid the true obstacle in our lives: absurdity.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
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Originally posted by: clicknext
Certainly not surprising to me. I've never believed in a religion, but I think that in general, having religion betters society.

to an extent, however oxymoronic that may sound.
 

Kerouactivist

Diamond Member
Jul 12, 2001
4,665
0
76
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact than a drunken man is happier than a sober one. "
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

You knew I would make an appearence in this thread.
 
May 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: Kibbo
The fact that Religion=Prozac does not surprise me.

I've been tempted by the teachings of many faiths over my lifetime. Thing is, I've never been able to truly accept that fait in an authentic manner. Yes, it would probably make coping with the day to day easier, and would likely be more constructive than my current coping mechanisms (neffing on various forums and drinking. . . ooh, and serial monogamy) but I see all of those as merely attempts to avoid the true obstacle in our lives: absurdity.

Interesting, I?d say the true obstacle that we face in this human condition is laziness.

If you ask you'll be granted the ability to accept in an authentic manner.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
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Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: mobobuff
I won't deny that, but who said I can't have human interaction and companionship without religion? The two aren't mutually exclusive.

In many rural areas and areas of the south & midwest religion is the only way, or one of but a few ways, to go about it.

Aye. THe main problem is that those who have left religion tend to want to get as far away from it as possible, without taking into account that the companionship was independant of the religion and is gravely needed.

And what exactly are we doing here on ATOT?
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: mobobuff
I won't deny that, but who said I can't have human interaction and companionship without religion? The two aren't mutually exclusive.

In many rural areas and areas of the south & midwest religion is the only way, or one of but a few ways, to go about it.

Aye. THe main problem is that those who have left religion tend to want to get as far away from it as possible, without taking into account that the companionship was independant of the religion and is gravely needed.

And what exactly are we doing here on ATOT?

You don't get my point. Many have no recourse and tell themselves that they don't need one.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
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Originally posted by: Goosemaster
You don't get my point. Many have no recourse and tell themselves that they don't need one.

I think you're just not seeing ways in which people achieve it without religion. Such as participating in the AT community.
 

Wahsapa

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
3,004
0
0
Originally posted by: DAGTA
Originally posted by: Riprorin
College students who participate in religious activities are more likely to have better emotional and mental health than students with no religious involvement, according to a national study of students at 46 wide-ranging colleges and universities.

In addition, students who don't participate in religious activities are more than twice as likely to report poor mental health or depression than students who attend religious services frequently.

Link

Wow, no atheists have come in saying, "It's because religious people are more stupid and stupid people tend to be happier with life" ?!

hmmm hows that saying go...?... oh ya... ignorance is bliss

edit: damn i should really read more then half the thread before replying... oh well ++

edit#2: to add some substance
Originally posted by: LordMagnusKain
I wonder what the stats would be for someone who was high on pot 24/7?
it gets old.
does not! :p
 

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
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Originally posted by: bthorny
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact than a drunken man is happier than a sober one. "
George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

You knew I would make an appearence in this thread.

George Bernard Shaw co-founded the Fabian Society, on the belief that capitalism had created an unjust and inefficient social order. He promoted Socialism instead.

..in the 1930s Shaw approved of the dictatorship of Stalin and even made some ambiguous statements that could be interpreted as being pro-Hitler. In 1945 in his preface to his play Geneva Shaw claimed that the majority of the victims of the Nazi extermination camps had in fact died of 'overcrowding'. However, he also stated that Hitler had become a 'mad messiah' over time: Shaw contrasted this with the situation in the Soviet Union where, according to Shaw 'Stalin.... made good by doing things better and much more promptly than parliaments'. Shaw also made numerous anti-semitic comments at this time, although the extent to which he was merely being ironic or provocative is unclear. His (un-ironic) pro-Stalin bias is undeniable, however, although it is rarely commented on in discussions of his work. Perhaps the best way of looking at Shaw's political position is that he remained in many ways an Edwardian who (wrongly) attempted to apply the lessons of pre-World War One politics to a totalitarian age.

Link
 
Nov 7, 2000
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Originally posted by: mobobuff
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Atheism seems to commence in the outright admonishment and ignorance towards anything religious. What many feel to realize is that the void left behind must be filled or problems will occur.

So religion is a placebo taken to avoid emotional problems, got it.

I'd rather have a void than a hole crammed with horseshit.
yup

 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
You don't get my point. Many have no recourse and tell themselves that they don't need one.

I think you're just not seeing ways in which people achieve it without religion. Such as participating in the AT community.

I am not criticizing atheism. Hell, am not 100% firm in what I believe. What I am saying is that those who do not find an outlet such as AT many times tell themselves that they don't need one, and out spill the goth kids into the world;)

I am specifically disscussing those who choose atheism, and have to community to go to such as AT, friends, and or family who understand them.
 

EXman

Lifer
Jul 12, 2001
20,079
15
81
Originally posted by: yllus
Makes sense. Being an agnostic, it troubles my soul deeply when I ponder the greater mysteries of life. Who am I? Where am I going? Why are we here?

...

Screw that, I'll figure that crap out when I'm near death. I'm off to have some premarital sex.

What if the hooker robs you and kills you on the way out? :D ;)
 

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
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Spirituality is Important for Health

Religion appears to promote health and therefore physicians should consider attending to their patients' spiritual beliefs.

According to Dr. Mark Su from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, 94% of the American public believes in a God or a "higher power," and most claim that religion is "fairly" or "very" important in their lives.

However, American physicians tend to be less likely than their patients to believe in God -- only 64% compared to 91%, one survey found.

"Patients are more likely to desire spiritual issues to be discussed in their healthcare than are physicians to actually address them," Su notes. According to one survey, a large number of patients wanted their physician to pray with them, Su points out.

Su reviewed the literature on religion and health, restricting the review to studies pertaining to the Judeo-Christian religion, "due to the large number of studies available within this sect compared to other religions, as well as the relevant pertinence that it has among the majority of US citizens."

According to Su, of the 212 studies examining the effects of religious commitment on healthcare outcomes, 75% showed a positive benefit, 17% had mixed or no effect, and 7% showed a negative effect.

Positive effects of religion were found in most or all studies of drug use, adjustment or coping, depression, alcohol abuse, marital adjustment, life satisfaction, anxiety and extramarital or premarital sexual activity.

"I can't speculate whether health is promoted by the religion itself or the healthy behaviors that religious people are often encouraged to practice," Su explained.

"Some researchers think that people who are more religious are taught not to drink or smoke, but others believe the health benefits are due to feelings of peace and a sense of purpose, confidence and identity that religion can promote," he added.

Su also pointed out that addressing patients' spiritual beliefs can strengthen the doctor-patient relationship.

"Most doctors are concerned that they are crossing boundaries if they bring up spiritual beliefs," he said. "But I treat it in the same way as discussing their use of alcohol or tobacco. I just take it as part of being interested in what is going on with their lives.

"Doctors should deal with their patients on a case-by-case basis," Su added. "The bottom line is patient sensitivity -- the literature does not justify proselytizing.

"If a patient isn't interested in discussing it, then I don't push them about it," he said. "But I think it's reasonable for patients to mention that they have certain religious or spiritual beliefs."

Annual Scientific Assembly of the American Academy of Family Physicians Atlanta, GA October 2, 2001

Link
 

Attrox

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2004
1,120
0
0
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
You don't get my point. Many have no recourse and tell themselves that they don't need one.

I think you're just not seeing ways in which people achieve it without religion. Such as participating in the AT community.

or listening to mp3 on iPod ;)
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
12,963
1
0
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Spirituality is Important for Health

Link

A few reasons for this... firstly, I'm sure a good portion of those studies were funded by organizations with agendas. They don't fund unbiased studies - they buy findings, and a researcher looking for more grant money better find what is wanted... Studies are like silly putty - they can be twisted indefinitely, molded into any desired shape...

94% of Americans believe in a god? That's depressing; it's higher than I'd have guessed & hoped. At any rate, it means that if someone's in critical condition in a hospital bed, 94% of wellwishers will pray for him/her. Oddly enough, if they were instructed not to pray for the person, or if only atheists were allowed to visit, you'd have the same findings - the importance of human contact and interaction is dictated by our genes, and it's the only thing helping people in these situations. Studies done for the christian coalition and such make no distinction between not being visited and not being prayed for, which is why they're flawed (and which is the only way they can draw the conclusions they do).

Have a look at this, it's a very interesting and eye-opening read.

Originally posted by: Attrox
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
You don't get my point. Many have no recourse and tell themselves that they don't need one.

I think you're just not seeing ways in which people achieve it without religion. Such as participating in the AT community.

or listening to mp3 on iPod ;)

:D