It doesn't surprise me that religious people are more happy. Not only do they have a very strong support system but they have the assurances that they are absolutely right and that ultimately everything will turn out fine. Even if everyone turns against them, they still have someone(god) on their side. And if this life is crappy, well there is always an eternity of happiness waiting for them. None of what they believe is true, of course, but I can understand why they are happy. Atheists have to face the world as it is, without any softening of the hard parts. We can't say there is a plan created by some deity that will ultimately make everything just okay.
People have faith because they are weak but I can't look down on someone for being weak. There are times when I have been weak and vulnerable also. My best friend came from an abusive home. She felt unloved and unwanted. The idea that someone bigger then herself loved her and thought she was special helped her through some very dark moments. There are lots of religious people with similar stories. For whatever reason, they need the myth of religion. I don't think that a lot of the needs that drive people toward religion will ever go away.
Before there is a world without religion, we have to figure out the emotional reasons that people need religion and provide them alternatives.
People have faith because they are weak but I can't look down on someone for being weak. There are times when I have been weak and vulnerable also. My best friend came from an abusive home. She felt unloved and unwanted. The idea that someone bigger then herself loved her and thought she was special helped her through some very dark moments. There are lots of religious people with similar stories. For whatever reason, they need the myth of religion. I don't think that a lot of the needs that drive people toward religion will ever go away.
Before there is a world without religion, we have to figure out the emotional reasons that people need religion and provide them alternatives.