Higher levels of compatibility between religious and scientific beliefs tend to be associated with better well-being, finds a new study of 55,230 people from 54 countries. Pro-science beliefs were also positively associated with well-being.
Higher levels of compatibility between religious and scientific beliefs tend to be associated with better well-being, finds a new study of 55,230 people from 54 countries. Pro-science beliefs were also positively associated with well-being.
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I’ve linked to the news release in the post above. In this comment, for those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2153599X.2024.2363773
From the linked article:
A study involving tens of thousands of participants from 54 countries found that higher levels of compatibility between religious and scientific beliefs tend to be associated with better well-being. In some regions, pro-science beliefs were also stronger. The research was published in the journal Religion, Brain & Behavior.
Results showed that individuals affiliated with one of the religious groups were more likely to believe in a higher plan compared to those unsure of their beliefs or atheists. In Western societies, belief in a higher plan and pro-science attitudes tended to be negatively associated. However, in African and Asian regions, there was no significant relationship between belief in a higher plan and pro-science beliefs. Belief in a higher plan was strongest among Muslims, Hindus, and Jews, and slightly lower among followers of other religions. It was visibly lower among atheists.
Across the regions and belief groups studied, belief in a higher plan was strongly associated with well-being—those who believed more in a higher plan tended to have better well-being compared to those who did not. Pro-science beliefs were also positively associated with well-being, though the association was not strong enough to definitively conclude that it was not coincidental.
Higher levels of compatibility between scientific and religious beliefs were associated with better well-being; in regions where compatibility was higher, individuals tended to report better well-being. Compatibility between scientific and religious beliefs was highest in Southern Asia and Northern Africa, and lowest in North America and Northern Europe.
I wish I was more religious. I struggle to believe in a “higher plan” but I think it would bring me a lot of comfort if I did. I can’t help but think that death is truly the end, but an afterlife where you can meet dearly departed loved ones and feel happiness would be wonderful. Not sure if an eternity of being conscious is ideal though…
This title is objectively crazy.
If your religion stands at odds with the scientific method, you’re a cancer on society. This whitewashing helps nobody.
Religion. The greatest con ever perpetrated against humankind.
It’s comforting to think we understand everything…. But really we know nothing
New Testament Agnostic.
Imo I feel like it’s due to how a lot of people who are atheist have a black or white thinking, especially in Europe and Northern America.
“If I am not religious, everything related to religion is wrong and I am better than that”
Religion is not this all negative way of life, a lot of religious customs actually do help people feel better.