[[File:Twitter bird logo2012.jpgsvg.png|right|160px|thumbnail|CNN reported that Christians are happier than atheists - on Twitter.<ref>[http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/28/christians-happier-than-atheists-at-least-on-twitter/ Christians happier than atheists – on Twitter], CNN</ref> ]]
[[CNN]] reported about '''atheism and happiness''':
{{Cquote|The study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign tapped [[Twitter]] as a research tool and compared the messages of Christians and [[Atheism|atheists]].
== Happiness: British non-religious vs. British religious ==
''See also:'' [[British atheism]] [[ImageFile:Desperation_manSadness.jpg jpg|thumb|225px|left|Atheists have a higher suicide rate than [[theism|theists]].<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html Adherents.com - suicide rates]</ref> Please see: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]
''The Telegraph'' reported:
{{Cquote|...new analysis of findings from [[Britain]]’s national happiness index suggest that religion really can make people more content with their lot.
But those who describe themselves as having no religion typically score their happiness slightly below average, at 7.22 out of 10.
That compares with 7.33 for [[Islam|Muslims]] and 7.37 for [[Judaism|Jewish]] people, rising to 7.47 for [[Christianity|Christians]], who were just ahead of [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] on 7.45.<ref>[httphttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/12136531/Religion-can-make-you-happier-official-figures-suggest.html Religion can make you happier, official figures suggest], ''The Telegraph'', 2016</ref>}}[[Image:Jhcfju6.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C. S. Lewis]], photographed in 1947. Lewis wrote the book ''Surprised by Joy''. See: [[Atheism and joy]] ]]
In December 2003, the University of Warwick reported:
{{cquote|Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of [[Christmas]] are on the whole likely to be happier.<ref>http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html</ref>}}
{{See also|Atheism and Christmas}}
== = British Ex-atheist C.S. Lewis: Surprised by Joy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and joy]]
== China, economic growth and a decline in happiness ==
=== China and atheism === ''See also:'' [[China and atheism]] Most atheists live in [[East Asia]] (see: [[Asian atheism]] and [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]]). East Asia contains about 25 percent of the world’s population. [[File:China location.png|thumbnail|200px|leftright|[[China]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> ]] [[China]] has the world's largest [[atheism|atheist]] population.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref>See: [[China and atheism]] China’s population represents 20 percent of the people on earth.<ref>[http://www.sbts.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/10/Pages-from-SBJT-V15-N2_Terry.pdf The Growth of Christianity in East Asia]</ref> Razib Khan points out in ''Discover Magazine'', "most [[secular]] nations in the world are those of East Asia, in particular what are often termed “[[Confucianism|Confucian]] societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s [[Atheism|atheists]] are actually East Asian."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref> See: [[Asian atheism]] and [[Global atheism]] === China and unhappiness ===
In 2012, ''Time'' magazine reporting on a study published in the ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'' by a team from the University of Southern California headed by economist Richard Easterlin:
''Time'' magazine also indicated:
{{Cquote|While China’s poorest are increasingly unhappy, it’s unlikely that the country will see Arab Spring–like unrest and revolt. The problems are too diffuse and the state security organs too adept at clamping down on acts of dissent that have the potential for wider appeal. But on a local level, protest is widespread, averaging about 500 a day nationwide, according to economist Niu Wenyuan, an adviser to China’s State Council.<ref>[http://world.time.com/2012/05/15/for-china-economic-growth-doesnt-always-equal-happiness/ For China, Economic Growth Doesn’t Always Equal Happiness], Time magazine</ref>}}
== Pew Research: religious Americans, less religious Americans and happiness ==
Various studies within the [[Western World]] indicate that atheism is negatively correlated with physical and mental health (see: [[Atheism and health]], [[Atheism and depression]], [[Atheism and suicide]], [[Atheism and alcoholism]], and [[Atheism and drug addiction]]).
As noted above, although it is certainly not the only variable related to a person's overall happiness, happiness is positively correlated to wealth.<ref>[httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/nigel-barber/does-wealth-equal-happine_b_7560684.html Does wealth equal happiness?]</ref>
''Psychology Today'' declares:
== Irish author and journalist Mary Kenny says most atheists are gloomy blighters ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]
The Irish author, playwright and journalist Mary Kenny wrote in ''The Guardian'':
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
*[[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimismmotivation]] *[[Secular leftists and psychogenic illness]] *[[Atheism and gratitude]]
*[[Atheism and hedonism]]== External links ==
*[http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/02/office-for-national-statistics-well-being-data_n_9138076.html Official ‘Well-Being’ Statistics Show Religious People Are Happier Than Atheists]*[Atheism and world peacehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1581994/Believers-are-happier-than-atheists.html 'Believers are happier than atheists'], ''The Telegraph''*[http://religionnews.com/2016/04/12/happiness-christians-nones-pew-research/ Highly religious people say they’re happier, too, survey finds], ''Religion News''*[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/de-stress/religious-people-are-happier-than-atheists-finds-study/articleshow/67973675.cms Religious people are happier, finds study], 2019
== Notes ==
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[[Category: Atheism]]
[[Category: Sociology]]
[[Category: Psychology]]