Author Topic: Religion linked to optimism (Read 2359 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** December 05, 2002, 07:35:55 AM »

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Teenagers who attend worship and rate religion as important have positive self-images, are optimistic and enjoy
school, a study released yesterday said. The survey of thousands of 12th-grade students found that optimism and confidence correlate with exposure to religion as much as with success, race, wealth or "self-esteem" education in public schools."The more religious the kids are, based on its importance to them or their attending worship, the greater their positive outlook on life," said sociologist Chris Smith of the University of North Carolina, where the National Study of Youth and Religion is being conducted. "The most striking finding, he said, is that nonreligious students "hate school" more.

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021205-16184008.htm

Dowding (Work) · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2002, 07:48:05 AM »

I've been atheist and agnostic by turns since I was 10 years old.

I used to go to Sunday School and Church; then I took off the rose tinted spectacles, looked at the world in a clear light and thought for myself.

The concept of a benign god, with a great unfathomable plan which should include such horrifying events as the Holocaust and the day to day, mundane torture, killing and misery struck me as absurd.

From then on, I excelled academically and would consider myself well adjusted socially. I don't suffer from depression and I laugh alot.

Despite this study, I still believe religion should be separated from the school curriculum, apart from Religious Study, which would examine all major religions and secular beliefs. That's the approach I was taught, and I learnt alot about Hinduism, Islam, Christianity etc. It taught me alot about the motivations of others.

Ignorance is the enemy.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2002, 07:52:14 AM »

Do you consider yourself optimistic or pessimistic? (I can tell you that you appear Pessimistic in your posts, 95% of the time)

Eagler · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2002, 07:52:33 AM »

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Originally posted by Dowding (Work)
I've been atheist and agnostic by turns since I was 10 years old.

you figured out the world by age 10 did you ???

LOL

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2002, 07:56:00 AM »

Think the key sentence was "since age 10" Eagler.

Dowding (Work) · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2002, 08:00:34 AM »

I disagree, Ripsnort. I'm a skeptic, definitely. I spent 4 years studying hard, cold science - it leaves an impression on the way you think. I also believe that the nature of the topics here might heavily bias any impression you have of me.

Having said that, I had several very Christian friends who studied the same course and my best mate was a devout Catholic.

However, London women have put an end to his piety, if you know what I mean.

Eagler - read what you quoted again. I believe you're putting words in my mouth.

Moreover, have Christians got the world figured out? Or do they simply give a theological shrug of the shoulders, and put everything down to the 'Wonder that is God'?

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2002, 08:05:25 AM »

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Originally posted by Dowding (Work)

Moreover, have Christians got the world figured out? Or do they simply give a theological shrug of the shoulders, and put everything down to the 'Wonder that is God'?

I think you missed the point of the article. A good outlook in life thru religion can be a positive thing. Its not that Christians have the world figured out, its that they have THEMSELVES figured out. I'm sure you're familiar with the psychological term called "Teenage Identity Crisis"...if you've gotten past this thru religion, your more apt to have less stress amongst your peers because frankly you could care less what they think about you. This leaves the student to tackle more important things like school work.

Dowding (Work) · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2002, 08:13:15 AM »

Fair point. But do you need an overseeing omnipotent deity to know yourself and who you are? And to succeed? I disagree. Personally, what drove me academically was the complete belief that I didn't want to end up like the people around me - there were few jobs without higher qualifications. My parents have been brilliant - I was/am very lucky to have them and I will do well to be half as supportive/encouraging as they were, when the time comes to raise a family myself.

I was also competitive and enjoyed success.

It wasn't all plain sailing, sure, but hey that's life!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2002, 08:21:54 AM »

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Originally posted by Dowding (Work)
Fair point. But do you need an overseeing omnipotent deity to know yourself and who you are? And to succeed?

Not everyone does. Some people do need guidence. Thats the optimistic viewpoint

popeye · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:16:34 AM »

"Note that the cross-sectional data (gathered at one point in time, not over time) upon which the analyses in this report are based make it difficult to determine the direction of cause and effect between religion and life attitudes and self-images. It might be that religion influences youth to have more positive attitudes and self-images. It also might be that youth and families who are already predisposed to be positive choose to become more religiously involved as one strategy to pursue that kind of lifestyle. It might also be that some youth who for whatever reasons develop negative attitudes about themselves and their lives subsequently reduce their religious involvements and so count on surveys as less religious. It might be that some other unknown factor influences youth both to be religious and to have more positive attitudes, or a combination of these influences might operate to produce the results presented in this report."

Ripsnort · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:20:06 AM »

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Originally posted by popeye
"Note that the cross-sectional data (gathered at one point in time, not over time) upon which the analyses in this report are based make it difficult to determine the direction of cause and effect between religion and life attitudes and self-images. It might be that religion influences youth to have more positive attitudes and self-images. It also might be that youth and families who are already predisposed to be positive choose to become more religiously involved as one strategy to pursue that kind of lifestyle. It might also be that some youth who for whatever reasons develop negative attitudes about themselves and their lives subsequently reduce their religious involvements and so count on surveys as less religious. It might be that some other unknown factor influences youth both to be religious and to have more positive attitudes, or a combination of these influences might operate to produce the results presented in this report."

Your showing your pessimistic side Popeye

midnight Target · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:22:05 AM »

Picturing one of the blonde vapid "Up With People" singers saying..

"I'm just so totally up about life!" "By golly, if it weren't for Jesus I'd be getting B's in School and have way more acne!"

popeye · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:25:09 AM »

I find it always pays to read the fine print -- especially for Social "Science".

EvilDingo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:51:24 AM »

God is a personal thing. How can science kill your faith? Easy. Scientists say we crawled out of the ocean and religion (At least Christianity) says we were created by God.

So you say, "HAR HAR! We crawled out of the ocean! Christianity is clearly wrong!"

Maybe not. You need to take a step back. What you are and what I am is more than science will ever be able to understand. Does that mean there is a God?

When the universe was created there was absolutely no light. According to cold hard science, the universe just one day 'appeared'. But it was pitch black.

Things were swirling and colliding and everything was expanding at a rapid pace, but it did so in complete and utter darkness. Then one day, LIGHT! This is science. This also has a striking resemblence to the old testament's description of the creation.

Then life. Where does life come from? It comes from cosmic dust. Everything that we know to exsist comes from cosmic dust. Does this mean there isn't a God?

Then came us. According to science we decended from monkeys, but as of right now, there is no link. We just one day appeared. Even if there is a link, does evolution mean there isn't a God?

You need to have an open mind. No matter how great you are, you'll never understand everything completely.

According to my belief, God wants you (and everyone) to know him. He has broad shoulders. You can tell him you're angry. You can tell him you don't believe.

I bet the one moment you set aside what you're doing and make an effort to investigate further, you'll find something just under the surface.

Read a gospel. Do it only for the scientific and historical value. Maybe you'll feel the enormity of what really happened 2,000 years ago and why so many people in the world believe.

Anyway, this is really long winded. All I wanted to say was don't set aside God just because the scientific data doesn't appear to match up.

Beeker

Sandman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2002, 09:55:07 AM »

Hell... and all this time I thought religion was linked to terrorism.