Take that ya splendid people!

evolving_doors wrote: »

Well science says religion is better

Well not really, the first paragraph for example is not clear at all. It described a correlation not a causation. That is to say religion is NOT being linked to a reduction in depression, but linked to "changes in white matter microstructure" which are themselves also associated with depression.

So this is a case where X independently influences both Y and Z and someone jumps the gun writing a report that Y is affecting Z.

That said though "better" is a subjective relative term here. It is suggesting that it is better to be deluded by lies and fantasy than be depressed? That might be "better" to you but given that choice I would take depression every time. I would rather be sad about reality than mindlessly happy about delusions.

The article only gets vaguer from there however. For example it says "found that belief in the importance of religion or spirituality was associated with thicker cortices in several brain regions". Two problems there. "Religion OR spirituality"? They are massively different things at times. So which is having the greater effect? Secondly.... belief in the importance of it is not belief in the claims of it. Two MASSIVELY different things. So what is actually being correlated with the reduction in depression here? Belief in a god? Belief in the claims of a religion specifically? Or believe that religion itself is important somehow, regardless of whether that person is actually religious or not?

So yea, in summary it is not clear what is ACTUALLY being claimed here, what is being offered beyond a mere correlation, and upon what basis we can be calling anything "better" in this context.

Peregrinus wrote: »

That's your depression talking, Nozz.

Probably I call him Clive. Actually SciShow, in their usual way of acting like they are somehow reading my mind, just yesterday released a video entitled "Does Depression Make You More Realistic".

Turns out, like most things, the answer is pretty much "some, but nah not really".

smacl wrote: »

Religion as a mechanism for avoiding depression, who've thunk it. Like some kind of opium for the masses or some such ...

I dare say fear of death makes some people very anxious, as does fear of leading a miserable and meaningless life. Take the red pill and convince yourself you'll live forever and you're important in the grand scheme of things, take the blue pill and deal with these fears and the reality in which we actually live. Choices, choices.

The more usual explanation is that being religious is associated with a higher degree of social participation and community support than being non-religious is, and the mental health benefits of this are well-attested. If you're non-religious you can access the same benefits by participating in an organisation or movement that, socially and in terms of service to the community, functions like a church - the ICA, for example.

Peregrinus wrote: »

If you're non-religious you can access the same benefits by participating in an organisation or movement that, socially and in terms of service to the community, functions like a church - the ICA, for example.

There's two reasons the ICA won't let me in

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

There's two reasons the ICA won't let me in

You're no good at baking and...?

I thought this was already common knowledge?
The most miserable gits I know are the ones that lead the most religious lifestyle and are forever worried about "sin" or some other nonsense..

smacl wrote: »

Leave or lead? Sin is a religious concept and not really of any concern to anyone other than religious types.

Meant lead. Thanks. Edited now