Are Atheists Mentally Ill

What purpose is there to life besides being happy?If believing in a god makes me happier, shouldn't I believe in a god regardless of whether I think that god actually exists?Hell, at least 70% of the reason I believe in a god is because of how it makes me feel; and since I'm not dropping bombs on folks based on my beliefs, there's really no reason not to go the happy route.

We are naturally superstitious critters prone to believing most anything we can manage to invent.Forcing off this nature can only have a unbalancing effect on our simplistic minds.Life is better with a level scale.

Obviously not an answer to the question I was asking. But that's okay; if being obtuse makes you happy, knock yourself out.

When does anyone do anything without contentment of some sort being the hoped-for outcome? Sure; because the small discomfort you feel today over the low balance and not being able to order pizza is nothing compared to the huge discomfort you will feel when you are bankrupt and living in an alley.Knowing how much is actually in your bank account is just another way for you to maximize happiness. Nah; you're discontented believing in nonsense when you know there is some other truth out there. Finding that knowledge and truth assuages the discontent and thus brings greater happiness. We all seek happiness. The paths we take may differ. But no one desires misery. Edited by Jon, : Don't worry... be happy...

I did?Where?

I haven't taken anything in this thread to be an argument or implication for the existence of deities. I don't see this addressed in the quote at all.The quote just says that it can be dangerous to believe in things just because they make you happy, and that this caution extends to religious beliefs.

What floats the boat is what makes you happy.

And it makes you happy.

Then what does the quote have to do with this thread?

I think it's clear that Tangle was being an equivocating wise ass.No need to dwell on his nonsense.

Where does the article claim that happiness in the belief in a deity is evidence for that deity's existence?

I think my case can be rested on this.

And how exactly is the conservativeness of a religion determined?

It's clear the quote doesn't fit the context of this thread. I don't think there's any more point in discussing it.

How do you actually measure the strictness with which a religion adheres to its holy book(s)? What are 'traditional rules and roles'?Are Muslims really less conservative than Jehovah's Witnesses? Are secular folk more conservative than Hindus?