Churchwork
09-17-2009, 11:40 PM
Charity and positive social behavior. Harris also argues that predominantly atheist nations tend to be the healthiest 45 (Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation (New York: Knopf, 2003), while individual atheists are the most charitable (p. 46). Hitchens holds that it is "impossible to argue that religion causes people to behave in a more kindly or civilized manner. The worse the offender, the more devout he turns out to be" (p. 192). These charges simply fly in the face of an entire cadre of recent findings.
Is Harris correct about charitable giving? In one recent survey, American atheists and agnostics were far less likely to volunteer for non-church charities (20%) than were their active-faith counterparts (30%), to work in their communities (41%-68%), or to serve a homeless or poor person (41%-61%). More¬over, individual atheists and agnostics donated an average of only $200 apiece in 2006, seven times less than those who were active in their faith. Further, almost a quarter of agnostics and atheists (22%) contributed nothing to charity that year, compared to only 7% of the religious group. 20
Is Harris correct about atheists being healthier? His dubious claim is based on a general health report issued by the United Nations in 2005 that ranks entire nations. Harris then takes his health statistics from "Countries with high levels of atheism" (pp. 43—46), hardly the best way to gain specific statistics concerning the benefits of atheism.
But myriads of specific studies argue just the opposite. Mayo Clinic researchers reported the results of an in-depth meta-analysis of about 1200 studies of physical and mental health in relation to spirituality. The conclusion was that a majority of these studies "found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes," a conclusion that "seems valid" even if establishing strict causality is more difficult.21
Other studies have likewise concluded that being religious promotes significantly greater emotional and mental health among college students,22 higher employment rates,23 and a greater level of happiness, including a description that begins, "Those with religious beliefs are likely to be happier than atheists or agnostics."24 The Barna study cited above also reported that the perception of experiencing peace by atheists and agnostics (67%) was much lower than that reported by the actively religious group (90%).25 At each of these points, then, atheism appears to be at an often large disadvantage.
20. "Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians," The Barna Group, June 11, 2007, http:// www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspi?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=272 (accessed 9/24/2007 (http://%20www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspi?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=272 (accessed 9/24/2007)).
21. "Study, Review and Editorial Focus on Religion, Spirituality and Medicine," Mayo Clinic, December 11, 2001,
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2001-rBt/921.html (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2001-rBt/921.html) (accessed 4/2/2008).
22. Sarah Honus, "A Spiritually Inclined Student is a Happier Student," USA Today, October 27, 2004, http://www.usatoday.conVeducate/college/education/article8/20041031.htm (http://www.usatoday.conveducate/college/education/article8/20041031.htm) (accessed 4/2/2008).
23. "Religion to Thank for High Employment Rates, Study Shows," Times Online, October 1, 2007. http://www.timeBonline.co.uk/tol/commenffaith/article2566736.ece?print=yes&randnum (http://www.timebonline.co.uk/tol/commenffaith/article2566736.ece?print=yes&randnum) (accessed 10/4/2007).
24. "Go to Church and Pray If You Want to Be Happy, Say Scientists," The Daily Mail, March 17, 2008. http://www.dailymai].co.uk/page8/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=537628&in_ (http://www.dailymai].co.uk/page8/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=537628&in_) (accessed 3/24/2008).
25. "Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians."
http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Evangelical_Theological_Soc/habermas_JETS_Plight_of_new_atheism_critique.htm
Is Harris correct about charitable giving? In one recent survey, American atheists and agnostics were far less likely to volunteer for non-church charities (20%) than were their active-faith counterparts (30%), to work in their communities (41%-68%), or to serve a homeless or poor person (41%-61%). More¬over, individual atheists and agnostics donated an average of only $200 apiece in 2006, seven times less than those who were active in their faith. Further, almost a quarter of agnostics and atheists (22%) contributed nothing to charity that year, compared to only 7% of the religious group. 20
Is Harris correct about atheists being healthier? His dubious claim is based on a general health report issued by the United Nations in 2005 that ranks entire nations. Harris then takes his health statistics from "Countries with high levels of atheism" (pp. 43—46), hardly the best way to gain specific statistics concerning the benefits of atheism.
But myriads of specific studies argue just the opposite. Mayo Clinic researchers reported the results of an in-depth meta-analysis of about 1200 studies of physical and mental health in relation to spirituality. The conclusion was that a majority of these studies "found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes," a conclusion that "seems valid" even if establishing strict causality is more difficult.21
Other studies have likewise concluded that being religious promotes significantly greater emotional and mental health among college students,22 higher employment rates,23 and a greater level of happiness, including a description that begins, "Those with religious beliefs are likely to be happier than atheists or agnostics."24 The Barna study cited above also reported that the perception of experiencing peace by atheists and agnostics (67%) was much lower than that reported by the actively religious group (90%).25 At each of these points, then, atheism appears to be at an often large disadvantage.
20. "Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians," The Barna Group, June 11, 2007, http:// www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspi?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=272 (accessed 9/24/2007 (http://%20www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspi?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=272 (accessed 9/24/2007)).
21. "Study, Review and Editorial Focus on Religion, Spirituality and Medicine," Mayo Clinic, December 11, 2001,
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2001-rBt/921.html (http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2001-rBt/921.html) (accessed 4/2/2008).
22. Sarah Honus, "A Spiritually Inclined Student is a Happier Student," USA Today, October 27, 2004, http://www.usatoday.conVeducate/college/education/article8/20041031.htm (http://www.usatoday.conveducate/college/education/article8/20041031.htm) (accessed 4/2/2008).
23. "Religion to Thank for High Employment Rates, Study Shows," Times Online, October 1, 2007. http://www.timeBonline.co.uk/tol/commenffaith/article2566736.ece?print=yes&randnum (http://www.timebonline.co.uk/tol/commenffaith/article2566736.ece?print=yes&randnum) (accessed 10/4/2007).
24. "Go to Church and Pray If You Want to Be Happy, Say Scientists," The Daily Mail, March 17, 2008. http://www.dailymai].co.uk/page8/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=537628&in_ (http://www.dailymai].co.uk/page8/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=537628&in_) (accessed 3/24/2008).
25. "Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians."
http://www.garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Evangelical_Theological_Soc/habermas_JETS_Plight_of_new_atheism_critique.htm