OPEN DEBATE: Religion effects on health

[Aractus]

I get sick to death of hearing the same rubbish spewed by other atheists here that "religion is evil". Perhaps they know something I don't, so it's time for something I like to call EVIDENCE. If you have opposing evidence then post it.

Religion is a determinant of health.

I shall quote a government publication:

• "The freedom to practise one’s religion is a fundamental human right identified in key human rights instruments to which Australia is signatory. Freedom of religious belief is also protected in Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities."
  ...
  
  "The results of the literature review show that the impacts of religious belief on mental health are generally positive, with the strongest association being the link between religious belief and decreased depression, as well as reduced anxiety and suicide risk, and to a lesser extent, reduced psychotic disorders. The association found in most studies was a modest one. Religious belief was also found to be important in helping people to recover from traumatic events.
  
  "There was an increased risk of negative mental health effects on two of the measures above: religious orientation and religious coping style. Those at higher risk of negative outcomes were those who were attracted to religion for reasons other than the creed (referred to above as extrinsic
  religious orientation) and people who used negative religious coping strategies (also described above).
  
  "Religious belief was also found to be associated with a reduced likelihood of engaging in risk behaviours such as alcohol and drug abuse and cigarette smoking.
  
  "There were fewer studies investigating the link between religious belief and poor physical health. The available studies suggest only tentative evidence of a reduced risk. However, people engaging in some aspect of religious belief and practice were found to live longer.
  
  "Reductions in the risk of suicide and certain risky behaviours were especially large for young people, a stage of the life cycle when the risk of these problems is especially high."

As I mentioned in another thread recently: religious attendance is identified as a determinant of health, well-being and happiness, and the information above of course confirms this.

So to the rest of the atheists on this forum: we may be right, but we're going to live shorter lives, suffer more mental illnesses and be more unhappy.