Religious States Are Also the Unhappiest

I wonder if wealth or educational attainment play a part? For example, 5 out of 6 of the "religious/pill-popping" states are in the bottom 20 in terms of high school graduation (2009 US Census Bureau statistics). On the other hand, 4 out of 5 of the named "non-religious, non-pill-popping" states are in the top 20 in high school graduation.

Perhaps if the people in the states being criticized had better educational and employment opportunities they wouldn't have the level of despair and difficulty that tends to lead to the need for clinical help.

This is about the stupidest attempted hatchet job on religion I've seen in a long time. Farcical.

Economically, are these the poorest states, too? It would seem at least some are. Poverty is rampant these days.

It also manages to trivialize and stigmatize mental illness.

At least the irony with the author's last name is entertaining. :)

Lol on the name! 8-)

Perhaps the pursuit of spiritual attainment has began to lose it's creative glitter, in the face of environmental realism and requires an artifical boost to dim an individuals expectations?

Tis does not surprise me!!! While it's true that one's FAITH can be a comfort, religious pressures can push someone over the edge. This is why I'm an admitted agnostic. I have some very Christian beliefs, and am a member of the Presbyterian church, but as far as I'm concerned, God can not be defined by one religion. I believe that different religions exist only because God, if God exists, chooses to be enough of a mystery to humanity, and if there was to be only ONE right answer, God (if God exists) will reveal it when ready. i believe in the possibility, and if God and Jesus are who people think they are, then they will hear me, and reveal themselves to me in a way of their choosing, and theirs alone.

I have been in several situations where people have tried to coerce me into joining churches, being more religious, not being a feminist, giving up my identity, all kinds of stuff, in ways ranging from the very subtle to the very blatant. I'm not going to let them have one bit of me. I'd rather have my identity, than a medicine cabinet full of pills prescribed to make me think and feel a certain way.

Leah, I can see why you would say the faiths all have some measure of truth, and some error. While you don't accept that any one faith has it, do you acknowledge that there is one truth?

I believe that whatever the truth is, it's the middle of a wheel, in which all religions are the spokes. Take the 10 commandments, for example. I don't care how those were created. What matters is that good advice is given. I believe that as long as we are all good people doing our best to love, and not harm, our fellow humans, we are well on the way to whatever devine plan MAY exist.

So, you do or don't believe we are all born speaking lies, or in other words "sinful"? Why do you think that is? If there is a God, surely he was able to create us perfectly, don't you think?

If we were meant to have all the answers, we would not be sitting here having this conversation right now. As far as I am concerned, we are here, and have two choices. Do good, or do evil. My motivation to do good is not for some kind of "reward," but rather because I want to do my part to make the world a better place.

I am talking about the fact that no matter how "good" we try to be, we are flawed. Would you agree that is true?

I believe that nobody is perfect.

And I believe that is why we all need the Savior. None is good enough to stand in the presence of a holy God. The glory of perfection would obliterate us. You didn't say if you recognize Christ as the sacrifice.

I believe in the possibility of everything that is written in the Bible. However, humans have bastardized religion to the point that I am going to need to see a little devine proof, and not just in writing, before I'll say yes, OR no. I am not going to commit either way.

While this article concentrates on the evils of Christian Fundamentalism, it is important to note that this is rife among ALL major religions. Look at Louisiana that has a rich cultural background of Haitian/Vodun. The strictures of those religious pressures weigh very heavily on those people, also.

Several times in the past here on Gather I have mentioned that I have a former son-in-law who was born in Palestine, his parents murdered by the Israelis. When his uncle fled from the territory with him and his two sisters to Egypt, he escaped and came to the U.S. where there wouldn't be that much religious pressure. One of his sisters is a medical doctor, the other has a masters in engineering...they have both asked how he managed to escape to where he could follow his dreams.

The culture of fundamental religion, regardless of flavour, is toxic. I would honestly say that, if allowed, most Amish and Mennonite communities would be ripe for Big Pharma to begin air dropping Prozac, Celexa, and Paxil.

Big Religion, like Big Pharma, is a poison to the soul. In the U.S., it is made to be considered a black/white issue...either yes or no. Most of this stems from the misogynistic Pauline doctrine which places one above another in a hierarchy that is total crap.

We can thank the first Council of Nicea in 325 AD (composed of MEN) that chose what books they would consider cannon (religiously correct). They notably deleted the book of Mary (Mary Magdalene, wife of Jesus) as well as many others that did not fit into their narrow view.

Take a close look today at what the various churches force their members into and then read the original texts depicting what Jesus actually preached and I guarantee that you will discover a mile-wide disconnect.

In my Bible, I toss out everything that Paul wrote because HE NEVER MET JESUS or HEARD what he actually said. To follow the fundamental Pauline doctrine is so much tossing the hope that was actually preached and the methods that were advocated by Jesus is almost laughable. Quite frankly, God should have left Saul/Paul blind so that he couldn't have written this garbage.

Well said, Walker. Just because a person is saved by grace, does not automatically make them a religious schollar. Remember the woman at your church who had some kind of a religious emotional meltdown of "crying in the chapel" up there infront of everyone? That scared the crap outta me. Faith is one thing, but should never be used, in my opinion, to pull the strings of others, in order to get them to think, or feel a certain way.

Some very wise words from my theology teacher at my catholic highschool (I'm not catholic, as you know). I'm here to teach, it's up to you whether you want to believe it or not." Awesome!

Totally agree with your assessment of what I refer to as Paulism.

WB, the Gospel of Mary was not written by Mary Magdalene or any contemporary of Jesus as He walked on earth. It was composed in the mid to late second century. Numerous second century texts were named for famous figures in earlier texts. Modern research on ancient texts has shown that the books selected by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 CE are reliably among the earliest written. In addition, in almost every case they are "original sources;" in other words they do not rely on earlier texts for their accounts. (An example of an exception is the Book of Enoch, which is mentioned in Jude.) It should be mentioned that other texts offer spiritual guidance irrespective of their inclusion in the canon.

There are many imitators of Jesus Christ and also of the founders of the world religions. For Christians, as with the teachings of other faiths by many who claim to be believers and followers, his teaching has been distorted by many , including those claiming to follow a religion in his name. The Bible also has been distorted by many among the nearly 40,000 different Christian sects. Jesus spoke in the language of the Hebrew Bible and the literature of his time, as other world teachers spoke to the people of their times. True followers of the Way of Jesus and of other world teachers may speak in any language, modern or ancient, but they really teach by their example and actions .
The ontological unity of humanity is such that every separate individual overcoming egocentricity in himself inflicts such a defeat on cosmic evil that its consequences have a beneficial effect on the destinies of the whole world. On the other hand, the nature of cosmic evil is such that, vanquished in certain human persons it suffers a defeat the significance and extent of which are quite disproportionate to the number of individuals concerned. A single saint is an extraordinarily precious phenomenon for all mankind. By the mere fact of their existence - unknown, perhaps, to the world but known to God - the saints draw down on the world, on all humanity, a benediction from God.
The kenotic work of Jesus Christ in His Incarnation, in His Theophany, all precede and foreshadow His ultimate kenotic act of Divine love on the Cross and Resurrection In these kenotic events, God shows us the Way. In His kenosis and through our subsequent participation in His work , we experience the Divine embrace of all humanity and the power of God's love that can even displace an egocentric love for self.

Fascinating Clarke. Our pastor always said there was a Theophony body, created before the foundation of the world for each of us, in God's image, in the first creation. Such it is, that God knew the beginning from the end, and gave us free will to choose it, and live it out. (Predestination by foreknowledge.). Yep, that's where I stand on that one. It fits the scriptures from beginning to end. Because of Christ, I expect to claim that Theophony.

Wow. Thanks for sharing! Now featured on Gather Spirituality Essentials!