I just came across this but couldn't fing an url as I'm in the app. So I've just copied the article:
10 Reasons Atheists Do It Better
Over a year ago by PAUL RATNER
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Although the exact number is hard to pin down, an estimated 13% of the world identifies as atheist. While believing or not believing in a God is a complex personal choice, there is a growing body of evidence that points to certain benefits of being an atheist. Being a theist has its own great advantages, but here are some of the reasons being an atheist could be beneficial (not necessarily in order of importance):
Scandinavian countries tend to be the least religious countries of the Western world and yet are consistently ranked the highest in the polls that measure a happiness index. Many factors go into such ratings, like economics, life expectancy, healthcare, social safety nets, and the transparency of the government, but it’s hard not to notice a potential correlation between atheism and happiness.
Atheists tend to have higher IQs and have been shown to generally be more intelligent than religious people. Intelligent people also tend to spend more time in school, which in turn leads to greater success professionally.
This follows from the previous reason - more intelligent people tend to do better in the workplace. The same studies that have shown higher level of IQs for atheists, also equated that with getting higher-level jobs and higher pay.
These are two sides of the same coin. Atheists are not being told that they are guilty and sinful, as is the case with many religious teachings. This leads to higher self-esteem and a feeling of control over life’s events. As atheists do not expect a deity to help them solve a problem, they will address it personally and directly. The increased self-reliance can have a positive effect on their own lives, but also on the lives of others. When there’s no wheel of life, reincarnation, heaven or hell, the responsibility for made choices lies with individuals.
Atheists tend to value scientific discovery more and are less likely to stand in the way of scientific progress as has often happened for religious reasons. An atheistic society is more rational and science-oriented.
Atheists believe in science and would not stand in the way of medical treatments on religious grounds. While there have been studies that showed the mental and physical health benefits of being a believer, there have also been recent studies that showed no significant difference in the mental health of religious and non-religious people. In fact, it can be argued that having strong self-esteem and better economic status would make atheists more healthy.
Four philosophers who realized they were completely wrongFour philosophers who realized they were completely wrong
7. PEACEFULNESS
Atheists do not start wars or commit acts of terrorism for religious reasons, just to prove their deity is the correct one. On the other hand, Marxist-Leninist atheism at the core of communism has certainly given atheism a bad name, but it's not necessarily an argument that it was atheism itself that led to the repressions and killings. There were complex historical, social and economic reasons for that. Atheists tend to not kill others for the sake of atheism.
Atheists are generally skeptical and tend to look at issues from a rational, often scientific standpoint that demands proof. For an atheist, elements of reality are observable and can be tested.
Atheists tend to be very involved in social justice issues. They do not believe in some higher power or order that could have pre-ordained a human’s lot in life. Everything is of this material universe and can be improved upon.
It wouldn't be a worthwhile list if it didn't talk about sex. There have been studies that showed atheists having better sex lives than religious people simply due to not feeling guilty about it. Guilt about sex is certainly a strong feature of some of the world's religions and the political discourses they generate (particularly in the US). There are also studies out that show a greater satisfaction with sex among the believers, but as it's also not something they should really focus on and discuss (according to religious tenets), it's hard to know where their responses are coming from.
Do these reasons mean you should abandon your faith? You make the call. But being an atheist needs not carry any negative stigma in a world still dominated by believers. Professor of psychology Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi profiled a likely atheist to be this person - “We can say that atheists show themselves to be less authoritarian and suggestible, less dogmatic, less prejudiced, more tolerant of others, law-abiding, compassionate, conscientious, and well-educated. ...
I would go along with all of the 10 reasons, not necessarily covering me specifically! I adjust myself, on something if it isn't panning out over time!
The article is anecdotal and lacks citations. It is not a bad speculative piece but I wouldn't take it too seriously.
Thesits of course will object to the notion that atheists are more intelligent. I always say that everyone has potential, some of it unrealized. For example, curiosity is a necessary ingredient to unleash intelligence, but is repressed by religious faith in order to protect against the "sin" of doubt. Some people are just constitutionally incurious, but I can tell you from personal experience that my curiosity was very tamped down when I was religious. Also free inquiry was taboo, so what would I have done with curiosity even if I deployed it?
This all leads to being deliberately blinkered, which is not intelligent -- but is, thanks to the alchemy of religion, often the state that people with native intelligence -- a good brain -- get themselves into.
@mordant what sort of church did you belong to? It sounds just as likely that you were drugged or hypnotised.
@FrayedBear Moderate fundamentalist (yes, something of an oxymoron, but by that I mean, non-pentecostal, emphasis not on hellfire and brimstone, more on grace). I think anyone outside of liberal / mainline denominational Christianity is loaded with operant conditioning to be incurious and compliant. Operant conditioning is enough to explain it and yes it's not unlike being drugged in some ways.
@mordant Some churches uses subliminal messaging underlying the piped music ... It's another form hypnosis.
Interesting article. I think it's more complicated than that. There are levels to belief and understandings as to how religions should work and how they have been turned and twisted to control the masses. It also depends greatly on the individuals involved. There are many who have held onto their belief in deity and how to treat people with real love, understanding and dignity while still managed to throw out the ideas that are clearly dated and regional. What makes people most unhappy is trying to stick to ideals and practices that have little to no relevence today. When they don't change and grow with the times, they loose significance. When they go against the laws of the time and the actual needs of the people, it becomes obsolete anyway.
I do want to make it clear I don't belong to any one religion and frankly don't believe religion is all that necessary or important to everyone. I do see quite clearly that it seems to be a comfort to some people and as long as they are not forcing it on others, I have no desire to yank that from them.
I can tell from personal experience that a lot of these aren't true though, at least not for me. Mostly on health happiness and better jobs.. Oh and self esteem. Anecdotal of course, but unhappiness and crappy jobs seems to be a common thread here
Hmmm that's interesting @Ersomething. I have recently had a lot of problems that I simply put down to coincidences and xenophobia. Having read some eye opening exposures on god botherer beliefs of the character of agnostics I wonder if my naivete has been to blame for my misfortunes - that and thin skinned Australians.
What line of work are you trained for?
Just a criminal justice degree and paralegal training, but I can't even get something entry level. Stuck working 2 menial jobs because I can't get anywhere