There are studies which indicate that atheism is a causal factor for suicides.




http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism_and_Mental_and_Physical_Health#Atheism_and_Suicide

Existential angst?

sure and so is being right handed,having red hair,wearing blue shirts,waking up before noon....

Wow, they ripped off Wikipedia's look, but one can bet that Conservapedia will NOT allow any objective editing of their articles. So I guess it can't be said they stole the format lock, stock and barrel.

That's the mark of a propagandist, NOT an objective community of seekers of truths.

Usually people that commit suicide are hurting in some form or another, and really badly. I think it's pretty low to use that for propaganda purposes. Unless they've been in that kind of pain, there's no real reason to believe that what these people say has any value whatsoever. You know what they say-- doctors make the worst patients.

-Kerry O.

http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html


According to a recent study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry religious affiliation is associated with significantly lower levels of suicide compared to religiously unaffiliated people, atheists and agnostics. Source: Kanita Dervic, Maria A. Oquendo, Michael F. Grunebaum, Steve Ellis, Ainsley K. Burke, and J. John Mann. "Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt" (161:2303-2308, December 2004).

Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference. These data were published in the chapter titled "Atheism: Contemporary Rates and Patterns" in The Cambridge Companion to Atheism, ed. by Michael Martin, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK (2005). In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:


Concerning suicide rates, this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations. According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism. It is interesting to note, however, that of the top remaining nine nations leading the world in male suicide rates, all are former Soviet/Communist nations, such as Belarus, Ukraine, and Latvia. Of the bottom ten nations with the lowest male suicide rates, all are highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism.

seems to me there would be more suicides from thinking god abandoned them then lack of faith...

I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if world-wide statistic show that non-spiritual people commit suicide more often than spiritual people. That seems to stand to reason to me.

Just the same, this doesn't in any way support the truth of any particular spiritual or religious philosophies or mythologies.

So what would be the point to it anyway?

People are either going to be naturally drawn to spirituality or they aren't. Attempting to draw people toward spirituality using negative statistics would be a very poor means of inspiration anyway.

Clearly this was brought up by a Christian as an 'offensive tactic' against what is perceived to be an attack against religion or spirituality in general.

I would be the first to support spiritual ideals and notions over atheism. However, there is also the danger of going overboard into highly dogmatic forms of religion like Christianity that have their own negative pitfalls.

It's truly a shame that most arguments tend to go to the extremes. People either want to support total 'atheism' (basically a belief that there is no spiritual element to life at all), or they go to the other extreme and demand that a particular mythological demigod must be recognized as the "Son of God" and worshiped as a 'savior' from a demonic fallen angel who would otherwise possess our souls.

I'm not even sure if the latter is true "spirituality", it's more like a mere dogmatic belief in a particular mythology. In fact, it's worse than just that, it's basically a demand that the mythology itself must be worshiped as-is, otherwise this demigod will condemn a person to hell.

Personally I think that kind of extremism is worse than "spirituality" and why it's more often simply referred to as "religion". The idolizing and worshiping of a very bigoted dogma.

Is that truly "spirituality"?

I don't think so.

It's just another face of proselytism. "If you can't convert them, pronounce 'em crazy." I had this happen so much in my family. Funny thing is, the ones that have the most emotional problems are the ones who espouse this theory most vigorously.

I'm quite sure a relgious conversion has indeed cured many a drunk. On the other hand, getting away from Fundamentalist family members who drilled fire and brimstone into my young mind with unrelenting precision did wonders for MY mental hygiene.

The most peaceful thing about the whole ordeal is that after puzzling it over for a lot of years, I realized that had no clue what they were doing. Since there was no malice involved, it makes it a lot easier to just detach and assume a Live and Let Live posture.

But I'm not convinced that Fundamentalists don't see malice in Unbelievers. And that's why I think they act they way they do towards them sometimes.


-Kerry O.

atheists don`t have to fear eternal damnation for ending their life when they see fit,,,,,might be a factor

Of course they see malice in anyone who doesn't think like they do. For one thing, it shows that it's POSSIBLE to think differently which is something they don't even want to consider. And the really insecure ones are afraid "thinking differently" will spread like a disease if not nipped in the bud, so to speak, by any means necessary.

And if you follow Christian dogma that a soul is created at conception, 10% of the future inhabitants of heaven will be unborn embryoes. Because that's how many pregnancies Mother Nature herself spontaneously aborts.


-Kerry O.

I thought it was closer to 75% of fertilized eggs...

What did they do to arrive at this conclusion...

I know...

The got a telepath to talk to the dead and so asked them if they believed before they cashed in...

How can anyone know what the true 'causal' factor is in such cases...

Somebody left a note that said 'I did this cause I don't believe in god'?

Porpy-boogers.

Indeed. There's probably a thousand factors for why someone would take their own life. Not the least of which, for atheists, would be how good christians treated them. I know this for a fact.


And statistics can be made to show nearly anything. For instance, I bet most males who commited suicide wore pants. I'm thinking pants may be a casual factor in males commiting suicide. Of course, this is absurd, but I hope my point is clear.

I'm getting a kilt, just to be sure....

Don't get the bagpipes though! I heard that a lot of bagpipers have died whilst playing those things! Maybe they were just snatched up early in rapture. Who knows?

On the other hand, getting away from Fundamentalist family members who drilled fire and brimstone into my young mind with unrelenting precision did wonders for MY mental hygiene.

I have to agree with this one...it isn't rather or not they believe in god or not...it is the fact of feeling like they belong. The nature or nurture affect has alot to do with the way one thinks and believes.

Male or female...given the overbearing, emotional distress of being without...love, financial gain, encouragement and support has all played its role in suicides.

Ok, yes...probally statistically proven atheist does have a higher percentage of suicides but in the same manner...those who "believe" in something can do just the same with or without a biblical base.

so funny and so untrue.

I kinda like bagpipes...

Bagpipes and Kilts.... Delicious combination.

I think it's 75% of fertilized eggs, but 10% of of pregnancies where the person/people actually knew they were pregnant at the time. Abortions are fairly common within the first month due to genetic malformations, but many women don't know they are pregnant till they missed a full month or two.