Freethought & Rationalism Archive

philechat · 03-24-2003, 09:39 PM

You know, to get maximum life expectancy, shouldn't we all give up the fat juicy steak, all alcoholic drinks, all spicy food, all drugs, while living in some banal farmland (married of course) and singing church hymns every Sunday? Sounds downright interesting to me.

Are there not many other factors? For example, it is more likely that atheists live in cities, stay unmarried, adventure more (thus accidents), think more (ignorance is bliss), spend more time pursuing career and worldly activities, and create more art (are not the artistic type the most depressed bunch?)

Well...I mean if the correlational statistics actually mean something...

keyser_soze · 03-25-2003, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Soyin Milka
Hi again.

Keyser Soze. You're right to point out religions have led the the brutal ending of many lives. I'm more interested by religious practice (and equivalents) as a health issue tho.

Thank you both for taking time to reply.

Soyin

You misunderstand. Their was a commonly held belief that washing your hands was not required that came from the supper episode in the NT. Whether it was interpreted incorrectly by older societies, is not the point. The point is that IT was percieved to be true, and lived as such. Poor hygiene=disease.

03-25-2003, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by philechat
,[atheists] create more art (are not the artistic type the most depressed bunch?)

You mean atheists are a depressed bunch of people?

philechat · 03-25-2003, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amos
You mean atheists are a depressed bunch of people?

No, I mean if the data in the OP were actually relevant. The more "artistic" temperaments are more likely to be skeptical from my understandings, and it might contribute to the statistics.

Loki · 03-25-2003, 01:07 PM

From my completely non-empirical, non-scientific personal sociological survey, I'd say that atheists tend to suffer from depression or anxiety moreso than the religious folk. Personally, I think it's just part of how the mind works, that inclines certain people towards certain ideas and beliefs, which may help induce depression. I have several friends who are both atheistic, and are now, or have been depressed or diagnosed with a form of an anxiety disorder. But, fwiw, the atheists that attend my evil heathen (tm) group meetings also tend to be some of the brightest people on campus. We have a disproportionate amount of honors students with an absurd amount of credits for their time here (they bring them in), and are absurdly advanced in their fields of study (which is especially impressive [to me] for the math and physics people).

Or maybe the theists just do a better job of hiding the depression, or are just so on fire for god that they don't have time to feel sad.

keyser_soze · 03-26-2003, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Loki
From my completely non-empirical, non-scientific personal sociological survey, I'd say that atheists tend to suffer from depression or anxiety moreso than the religious folk. Personally, I think it's just part of how the mind works, that inclines certain people towards certain ideas and beliefs, which may help induce depression. I have several friends who are both atheistic, and are now, or have been depressed or diagnosed with a form of an anxiety disorder. But, fwiw, the atheists that attend my evil heathen (tm) group meetings also tend to be some of the brightest people on campus. We have a disproportionate amount of honors students with an absurd amount of credits for their time here (they bring them in), and are absurdly advanced in their fields of study (which is especially impressive [to me] for the math and physics people).Using this logic, we can also state that atheists are brighter than average also, but that doesn't make it true. Remember to remove belief from deductive reasoning so that the conclusion is not affected. Even if this was based on substantive measures, one can wiggle statistics at will. Remember, 90% of all accidents occur within 10 miles of home(please leave out the fact that 90% of driving is within 10 miles of home so that this statistic is catchy...thank the advertisement department for the buckle-up program in the 80's for this bit of slight of hand)

Or maybe the theists just do a better job of hiding the depression, or are just so on fire for god that they don't have time to feel sad. One could assume that they might be more emotionally fulfilled because they have dropped the baggage of doubt and fear by giving over control of their "destiny" to a mythological creature, thus shedding themselves of the every day burden of "living". Just said one could assume it...didn't state veracity of it btw...

03-26-2003, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by philechat
No, I mean if the data in the OP were actually relevant. The more "artistic" temperaments are more likely to be skeptical from my understandings, and it might contribute to the statistics.

Sorry that was just a cheap shot. I knew what you meant you didn't present it quite right.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-24-2003, 09:39 PM	#11
philechat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Mind of the Other Posts: 886	You know, to get maximum life expectancy, shouldn't we all give up the fat juicy steak, all alcoholic drinks, all spicy food, all drugs, while living in some banal farmland (married of course) and singing church hymns every Sunday? Sounds downright interesting to me. Are there not many other factors? For example, it is more likely that atheists live in cities, stay unmarried, adventure more (thus accidents), think more (ignorance is bliss), spend more time pursuing career and worldly activities, and create more art (are not the artistic type the most depressed bunch?) Well...I mean if the correlational statistics actually mean something...

03-25-2003, 01:07 PM	#15
Loki Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Land of hippies and fog Posts: 2,075	From my completely non-empirical, non-scientific personal sociological survey, I'd say that atheists tend to suffer from depression or anxiety moreso than the religious folk. Personally, I think it's just part of how the mind works, that inclines certain people towards certain ideas and beliefs, which may help induce depression. I have several friends who are both atheistic, and are now, or have been depressed or diagnosed with a form of an anxiety disorder. But, fwiw, the atheists that attend my evil heathen (tm) group meetings also tend to be some of the brightest people on campus. We have a disproportionate amount of honors students with an absurd amount of credits for their time here (they bring them in), and are absurdly advanced in their fields of study (which is especially impressive [to me] for the math and physics people). Or maybe the theists just do a better job of hiding the depression, or are just so on fire for god that they don't have time to feel sad.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.