What will replace Christianity?

[Gustaf]

I find the world less 'bleak' as an athiest than I did as a Christian. Even then I had a fairly upbeat view of the world anyway. Same with life.

I was probably too upbeat to remain religious

Yes, the thought that non-theism leads to personal depression, seems a very odd concept to me. That certainly has not been my experience, either within my family, or those whom I know, or for that matter, the posters in general on this forum who are non-theists. Moreover, the suggestion that non-theists are also rudderless when it comes to a workable and ethical value system is also quite silly in my view. Ethics are derived from how our species is wired, combined with what based on experience seems to more or less work. It is interesting however to follow the literature about how perhaps evolution made our brain, as a chemical and physical matter, open to the transcendental because it conferred survival benefits.

I believe empirical studies usually find that religious people are happier than non-religious people.

[Gustaf]

There should always be great care taken when looking at such studies. I would agree with Dibble that the 'link' has more to do with the social side of religion rather than the belief system and using it in any way to justify a net benefit of religion over non religion is tenuous. Likewise studies have shown that if you are elderly, disabled, house-bound, depressed, anti-social etc your level of hapiness can improve by getting a dog. That does not mean dog owners are happier overall than non dog owners (or indeed that there is any 'rightness' in owning a dog as a result)

Faith can be a 'crutch' for people. It can also be something that gives them comfort. Nothing wrong in that. Painting, dancing, singing, teaching, gardening and so on can also give people comfort and strength and a sense of purpose. Because I don't dance I shouldn't be told I would be happier pwith it. The same is true of faith. I take my comfort, strength and inspiration from other things.

I never said that all people would be happier if they turned religious. That isn't the implication of studies showing such a correlation either.

[Gustaf]

I never said that all people would be happier if they turned religious. That isn't the implication of studies showing such a correlation either.

But that's exactly what I'm getting that; there is no net benefit implication of such studies, because other studies show that other 'past-times' can generate a feeling of happiness in those who undertake them. Likewise religion can make you deeply unhappy, as can say dancing, if it's not what you want to do but you are either forced or there is some expectation or burden placed upon you.

That's why I don't understand why you cited the study in the first place and what relevance it had.

You seemed to argue that religious people would be depressed and unhappy and it is evidence against that notion.

[Gustaf]

I never said that all people would be happier if they turned religious. That isn't the implication of studies showing such a correlation either.

But that's exactly what I'm getting that; there is no net benefit implication of such studies, because other studies show that other 'past-times' can generate a feeling of happiness in those who undertake them. Likewise religion can make you deeply unhappy, as can say dancing, if it's not what you want to do but you are either forced or there is some expectation or burden placed upon you.

That's why I don't understand why you cited the study in the first place and what relevance it had.

You seemed to argue that religious people would be depressed and unhappy and it is evidence against that notion.

I never argued such a thing. I said that I felt happier as an example, but what I argued is that such studies do not conclusively mean that someone is happier with or without faith over other possible variables that may induce happiness.

You said something along the lines of you were too happy to be religious which seemed to indicate that you thought there would be a negative correlation between religion and happiness. I offered that there is a positive correlation.