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A new study concluded "there was no evidence of religion acting as a buffer to prevent depression after a serious life event."
Even if people's faith in religion makes them feel good right down to their souls, they are still more likely than an atheist to get depressed, according to a new study.
The study, published in the October issue of Psychological Medicine but online now, followed more than 8,000 people in rural and urban areas in seven countries for one year. During the research, they were each examined at six- and 12-month intervals.
In those time frames, 10.3 per cent of religious participants became depressed, compared with 7.0 per cent for atheists and 10.5 per cent for those with a "spiritual understanding of life," the study found.
The results also varied between country and religion. For example, spiritual participants from the U.K. were found to be more than three times more likely to be depressed than their secular counterparts.
Those who practised varying religions showed the highest rate of depression - 11.5 per cent - followed by Protestants at 10.9 per cent, those without a specific religion at 10.8 per cent, and Catholics at 9.8 per cent.
Along with the U.K., residents of Spain, Estonia, Portugal, Chile and the Netherlands were involved in the study, which is called "Spiritual and religious beliefs as risk factors for the onset of major depression: an international cohort study."
The researchers concluded "these results do not support the notion that religious and spiritual life views enhance psychological well-being. There was no evidence of religion acting as a buffer to prevent depression after a serious life event."
Despite only select countries being included in this new research, past studies have found the parts of the U.S. with the highest religious rates also have the highest depression rates, according to Guardian Express.
35% of Americans and 48% of whom identify as evangelical christians believeprayer and bible study alone can cure illness and mental illnesses.
reply to post by greencmp
Could it be because of the apparent collapse of morality in the world and descent into authoritarian evil domination?
Thought Provoker
reply to post by greencmp
Could it be because of the apparent collapse of morality in the world and descent into authoritarian evil domination?
That is part of it, speaking for myself. My fondest wish is to see all of humanity cured of evil, from saints to villains, and thus my greatest source of depression is the knowledge that it can never be. There will always be evil men, until a certain Supreme Being comes to clean up this mess. If I wasn't spiritual, I probably wouldn't give any color of damn about humanity's future (or what effects my actions have on others). Since I believe in souls, though, and the possibility of reincarnation, all I can think about is "Boy, I wouldn't wanna be a kid today," or "I sure hope things get better before my next trip through this hall of mirrors that is Life." To the spiritual, simultaneously seeing what is while knowing what could be is comprehensively depressing; adding "...and I'll probably have to live through it all over again later" just compounds the problem.
Then again, the results showed 10% depressed religious people and 7% depressed atheists. A whopping 3% difference. That has to be within their margin of error... and it just makes me wonder: why aren't a much larger percentage of religious people depressed by the state of the world? It must be because those 90% aren't personally suffering from Living On Earth Syndrome and they aren't considering the huge number of people out there who are suffering. That's what depresses me the most: knowing that huge swaths of humanity are living miserably just because some banker or politician or religious leader uses his power for self-gain without any regard for the suffering it causes, and knowing that there ain't snip I can do about it, or anyone else for that matter. The only way to cure civilization is for the evil to get sucked out of all powerful evil people. They have to change themselves, which they never will, or nothing changes for us. It would take someone with more power than them to force meaningful change on them. So until he shows up, all we can do is wait for the cure. The longer the wait, the longer our depression gains compound interest. If there is anything to that study, I'm sure that explains it.
But still... 90% are okay with all that? It's like they just don't care about others. Or something. Doesn't sound very religious or spiritual to me. But what do I know; I talk to an old bearded guy sitting on a cloud. Ha.edit on 9/29/2013 by Thought Provoker because: Fixing the quote. New-ATS takes some getting used to.
If you do not suffer severe depression at some point in your life, -you have not lived- and you are not on the right path.
Jesus said, "Congratulations to those who have been persecuted in their hearts: they are the ones who have truly come to know the Father."
Thought Provoker
reply to post by greencmp
I'd call it "The Church of the Self" myself, but I couldn't agree more. Oppression of others causes depression in the religious as well as in the oppressed. I don't think it's exactly a "religious vs. atheist" schism, though. (That's what they want you to believe.) It's "selfless vs. selfish." Compassion vs. apathy. Good vs. evil. Christians and atheists are subdivided just like every other societal clique. There are good and evil Republicans and Democrats, good and evil geeks and jocks, good and evil atheists and Christians, but it seems like everyone ignores the real line of division and focuses on the imaginary line. You know, the one social forces say is "the real line of division." Conservatives must hate Liberals, but good and evil people abound on each side, and that actual point of actual contention is never even mentioned. We're lumping people into the wrong categories under the direction of our propaganda overlords. Well, I say "we" but I mean... everyone who isn't wise to the situation.
I only have two pigeonholes for people: The Selfish, and The Selfless. It's the Selfish who don't get depressed from just observing what's going on around them, not The Atheists. It's the Selfless who just can't stand seeing it, not The Religious. Someone do a study on that.
Thought Provoker
reply to post by greencmp
Teach the selfish how to be selfless? That'll only work if they want to change. And most of them don't; damn near takes a near-death experience to pull that off. They like comfort too much to sacrifice it. I have a saying: "Evil is all about self-preservation. Good is all about self-sacrifice." Until selfish people decide for themselves to be generous instead, they'll never change, and neither will the way they wield their control over others. The difference between Hellhole and Utopia comes down to the leaders' Intent. Won't you pray with me for each of them to receive the gift of a free NDE? It's that or Armageddon.
No, wait... my terminology is imprecise. I don't mean merely "selfish" and its opposite; I mean that there are these two kinds of people:
I suppose you could call them "Decent Folk" and "Jerks." Decent Folk vs. Jerks is the fundamental conflict on this planet. But what do you call all the people who sit right in the middle, luke-warm, who couldn't care less which side is dominant? "Zombies" sounds apt... y'know what? I bet that study was comprised of 17% Decent Folk and 83% Jerks and Zombies... there. Cracked it.
- Those who base all their decisions on self-interest and ignore the needs and free will of others, especially whenever doing so is necessary to get something they want; and,
- Those who do all they can to avoid being that type of person because they know it's right.
edit on 9/29/2013 by Thought Provoker because: No, wait.
Thought Provoker
reply to post by greencmp
I'd call it "The Church of the Self" myself, but I couldn't agree more. Oppression of others causes depression in the religious as well as in the oppressed. I don't think it's exactly a "religious vs. atheist" schism, though. (That's what they want you to believe.) It's "selfless vs. selfish." Compassion vs. apathy. Good vs. evil. Christians and atheists are subdivided just like every other societal clique. There are good and evil Republicans and Democrats, good and evil geeks and jocks, good and evil atheists and Christians, but it seems like everyone ignores the real line of division and focuses on the imaginary line. You know, the one social forces say is "the real line of division." Conservatives must hate Liberals, but good and evil people abound on each side, and that actual point of actual contention is never even mentioned. We're lumping people into the wrong categories under the direction of our propaganda overlords. Well, I say "we" but I mean... everyone who isn't wise to the situation.
I only have two pigeonholes for people: The Selfish, and The Selfless. It's the Selfish who don't get depressed from just observing what's going on around them, not The Atheists. It's the Selfless who just can't stand seeing it, not The Religious. Someone do a study on that.
I dunno how the hell selfless, attentive, intelligent, open-minded, imaginative atheists can continue coping with that total lack of hope... I wish them luck.
Finally, it began to be researched about 40 or so years ago.
Tardacus
but on the bright side, this just in:
35% of Americans and 48% of whom identify as evangelical christians believeprayer and bible study alone can cure illness and mental illnesses.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
They can just pray the depression away....