Do you see any benefits to religious faith?

[Arkilogue]

I'm surprised that few have made reference to any studies or scientific literature. I think the general unbiased consensus is that religion tends have a net positive mental health benefit:

http://baylorisr.org/wp-content/uploads/...health.pdf
http://roa.sagepub.com/content/27/2/197.short

So does watching a lot of comedy videos.  Doing some form of meditation.  Basically, religion falls into the same category as every other escape from reality.

Ugh, can't stand most comedy movies or any sitcom with a laugh track. They come across to me as puerile and very irritating. The pacing is manic. Have you ever watched a sitcom without the laugh track? A bunch of dumb one liners and awkward silent stares.

But with the laugh track you are entrained by false social pressure, and I see peoples eyes glaze over. Part of a modern social trend to be entertained to death...all the while paying taxes of course!

Personal religion is not about entertainment. Abram was asked to sacrifice Isaac for a covenant with God. Isaac means "to laugh". And was Isaac destroyed? No. But the urge to be entertained must be put on lethal hold....because it has a lethal hold on the egoic monkey mind, chasing the dancing banana.