Religion may be the opiate of the people... but it's some good stuff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts ... -suggests/

Probably has to do with the fact that human beings are happiest when they are part of a group with shared beliefs and goals. Without the belief that we are part of a group that we are contributing to people have difficult finding meaning. See discussion on Durkheim on what causes suicide. http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/Summaries/suicide.html

freeman3 wrote:Religion may be the opiate of the people... but it's some good stuff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts ... -suggests/

Probably has to do with the fact that human beings are happiest when they are part of a group with shared beliefs and goals. Without the belief that we are part of a group that we are contributing to people have difficult finding meaning. See discussion on Durkheim on what causes suicide. http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/Summaries/suicide.html

Not really sure how this is "political."

Well , I didn't think it fit the only other topic discussed regularly on this this site--beer...

The first line references a fairly well known political theorist...

Of course opium makes people happy (for a time at least, and as long as they can get it).

I understand it, really - the idea of a universe without a purpose or a creator is quite scary.

danivon wrote:The first line references a fairly well known political theorist...

Of course opium makes people happy (for a time at least, and as long as they can get it).

I understand it, really - the idea of a universe without a purpose or a creator is quite scary.

No, it's quite illogical. :)

Then again, this is not politics. I'm out.

Clearly there are outliers of miserable people who have religion...

Well , I didn't think it fit the only other topic discussed regularly on this this site--beer...

Well, I've heard of Irish-Americans calling Whiskey "holy water"...

Doctor Fate wrote:

danivon wrote:The first line references a fairly well known political theorist...

Of course opium makes people happy (for a time at least, and as long as they can get it).

I understand it, really - the idea of a universe without a purpose or a creator is quite scary.

No, it's quite illogical. :)

Then again, this is not politics. I'm out.

Never seemed so scary or illogical to me. But he's right, it's not politics.

Somewhat interesting that this study was done on Europeans, all who were older than 50.

theshrizzz wrote:Never seemed so scary or illogical to me.

Scary is perhaps one way. It is far less comforting than the idea that there is a plan, that it is formed for our own good by an attentive and generous deity, and that things would turn out better if we follow the right rules / guidance / leaders.

But he's right, it's not politics.

Somewhat interesting that this study was done on Europeans, all who were older than 50.

Which brings up whether closeness to death affects one's feelings about religion.

An essay on scientific thinking.

http://logosjournal.com/2013/sokal/