Less Worry, Better Coping Seen Among Religious Folks

[rug]

FRIDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Believing in a benevolent God may help reduce worry and improve a person's ability to cope with uncertainty, researchers report.

The paper, recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, includes the results of two studies conducted by researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital, in Belmont, Mass.

One study of 332 Christians and Jews found that those who trusted in God to look out for them had lower levels of worry and less intolerance of uncertainty in their lives.

The second study included 125 Jews who took part in a two-week program meant to increase their trust in God. The participants reported an increased trust in God and decreases in worry, stress and intolerance of uncertainty.

http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Less-Worry--Better-Coping-Seen-Among-Religious-Folks-84216-1/

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. It's the religious that brought this nightmare economic situation to the U.S.

American churches are right wing, with the rare exception that happens to be exactly that, an exception.

[rug]

4. Relax.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bNE-5TVAmg

[Sarah Ibarruri]

5. Relax nothing. Our country has, over the past 31 years, been turned into a third world nation

And the right wing churches have been instrumental in getting the people voted in that caused that.

The exception churches are too few (I can't think of any), too weak, and unheard.

[rug]

6. Don't worry about a thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjkW6iyXNo

[cleanhippie]

30. "relax" and "don't worry about a thing" is what religion has been teaching. And look where we are.

Ignorance is not bliss, rug. Wake up and smell the coffee, brother. Reality is at the door and wants to talk to you.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Tax the Churches!

Churches get the biggest tax loophole of all. They pay nothing.
Some of them have enormous resources and many of them are very actively involved in politics.

Tax the churches.

[rug]

8. Money is overrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMwZsFKIXa8

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. YES! That's what needs to be done. The rules are broken anyway, and churches are taking FEDERAL

funds. So I say tax the hell out of all churches.

Take religion home to each person's family. STOP the American right wing church (which is nearly the totality of it).

[rug]

14. One for you, nineteen for me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maz9ddxEQnM

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. Trying the LoZoccolo style?

Silly grasshopper, only the original has Joker Immunity!

[rug]

26. Just don't call me Maurice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yle1USyhCY

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Depends upon the denomination . . . .

I think a lot of people find their serenity according to Scripture that guides them to that state of mind coupled with sermons on the same topic.

But I also think there are a lot of other religionists who can't embrace peace as long as there is one soul who hasn't "found Christ", "walked The Path", etc. These people are bent on converting apostates, infidels, and heretics. If this can't be done via evangelism, then they change laws that reflect their goals. Don't forget Salem, Massachusetts as a theocracy.

[roguevalley]

17. extremes exist in and out of religion. for me, I have ditched the dogma

and embraced the spiritual. it gets me more than through my day

[ZombieHorde]

3. Interesting.nt

[Warpy]

9. Cart before the horse?

I would think that most of the people who can believe in a benevolent god who is keeping them safe are relatively free of ordinary worries up front. Likely they have stable families, stable jobs, stable neighborhoods, and stable lives.

People who don't generally believe in a malevolent devil countering a benevolent god and that just adds another layer of worry.

[Kalidurga]

10. The study is flawed...

I wish I was just saying that but it says right in the article.

The second study included 125 Jews who took part in a two-week program meant to increase their trust in God. The participants reported an increased trust in God and decreases in worry, stress and intolerance of uncertainty

In other words this effect is seen in people after a two-week brain washing program. It says nothing about whether this translates into more happiness for people who have never been in a two-week brain washing program or about how long the effect this program had.

[SecularMotion]

11. The study is pointless if it excludes non-religious folks

"One study of 332 Christians and Jews found that those who trusted in God to look out for them had lower levels of worry and less intolerance of uncertainty in their lives.

The second study included 125 Jews who took part in a two-week program meant to increase their trust in God. The participants reported an increased trust in God and decreases in worry, stress and intolerance of uncertainty."

[Nay]

15. One has to wonder how any Jew could possibly be brainwashed by a 2-wk

program to "trust in God to look out for them" when that very same God sure as hell didn't look out for them in Nazi Germany, all within living memory. Unbelievable.

[digonswine]

16. The study is pointless anyway--

People take comfort in crystals, homeopathy, astrology, etc. It has nothing to do with the veracity of these beliefs.

[BR_Parkway]

12. They need a control group - and toss in a homo - then watch them freak out

Far too many of them don't cope with us too well at all.

I guess for a placebo you could throw Marcus Bachmann into another group just to see how they react.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. No atheists in the study? The "other" portion is what, then?

Christians and Jews who do NOT trust in God to look out for them?

Yeah, I can see how such a person may be worried.

[laconicsax]

19. No...don't you see?

Believing in a god is obviously better. "Than what?" you may ask, but by asking that question you're missing the point, which is that it's simply better to believe in a god.

Theists who believe in a god are happier than theists who also believe in a god. Isn't that enough for you to drop to your knees and accept Jesus into your life?

[laconicsax]

20. LOL!

What great studies! At long last, we have definitive proof that Christians and Jews have less worry than Christians and Jews.

I guess I'd better convert RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. Religion is so awesome it's better than itself!

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[NMMNG]

21. They cope better than who???

What a surprise that people already conditioned to trust god felt better when told to trust god more. Control group? Comparison group? This is science? McLean should be embarrassed to be putting this out.

[laconicsax]

27. Better than themselves.

As CPD put it, "Religion is so awesome it's better than itself!"

[Odin2005]

22. Ignorance is Bliss?

[LeftishBrit]

25. I think that people who trust *anyone* to look out for them...

whether their spouse/partner, parents, friends, the state, or God, are happier and better at coping than those who don't. Of course, it's difficult to tell what comes first: a generally trusting personality, experiences that have built trust, or a particular faith.

And helping people to change their beliefs to give them a stronger sense of control of their lives, and reducing negative ruminations such as 'If I don't do well at everything, people will hate me'; 'I am a failure' - or 'God hates me and I'm going to Hell'- is likely to improve their coping skills. Indeed it's a central aspect of some forms of therapy. And I suppose if people are religious believers, their beliefs in God may come into this.

From the point of view of an atheist, believing that God will watch out for you is a form of self-deception. Which doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. Most of us deceive ourselves on all kinds of things to get through life without undue anxiety. There was one study which suggested that moderately depressed people actually have a more accurate perception of their abilities,reputation and degree of control of their lives than people who are not depressed (depressing in itself, huh?)

From the point of view of a religious person, there is a God, and (in most faiths), believing that God will watch out for you is accurate. And sometimes I wish I could believe such a thing, as it would be comforting. But I can't make myself believe in something that I don't believe!

Of course, religion can also imply the opposite: that God is punishing you/ will punish you for your misdeeds, or even that you are predestined to hell whatever you do. It depends both on the specific religion, and on the person.

[edhopper]

28. The people of

Jonestown and Heaven's Gate probably had little worry, right up to drinking the koolade.

We understand thinking the Sky Daddy looks after you makes people feel better. Unfortunately it doesn't solve any real problems in ones life.

[ATLdemocrat]

29. Christians and Jews trust in god????

What a concept! What'll they tell us next? That atheists show an increase in atheism? Or that a study of 332 gays and lesbians found an increase in attraction to the same sex???

[cleanhippie]

31. Whoopee! The study ONLY included believers to begin with. That makes it NOT a "study" at all!

It makes it hogwash.