Religious membership correlates with well-being, health, trust, and cooperation.

Evidence

Religion is a powerful force in the personal, social, and political lives of a significant portion of the population of the United States and the world. Religion has a positive impact on members and within group interactions. Members of a religious community in comparison with nonmembers have an increased sense of psychological well-being, as well as improved health and longevity (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). Cooperation within large religious communities increases, and in individuals with higher levels of religiosity, who are reminded of an omnipresent God, trust and other prosocial behaviors also increase (Norenzayan & Shariff, 2008). — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

In a recent survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion, 71% of Americans surveyed believe in the absolute certainty of God, 82% say religion is at least somewhat important in their lives, and 53% attend religious services on at least a monthly basis (Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 2008). Religion is a powerful force in the personal, social, and political lives of a significant portion of the population of the United States and the world. Religion has a positive impact on members and within group interactions. Members of a religious community in comparison with nonmembers have an increased sense of psychological well-being, as well as improved health and longevity (McCullough & Willoughby, 2009). Cooperation within large religious communities increases, and in individuals with higher levels of religiosity, who are reminded of an omnipresent God, trust and other prosocial behaviors also increase (Norenzayan & Shariff, 2008). — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Only recently, and only in some places, some societies have succeeded in sustaining large-scale cooperation with institutions such as courts, police, and mechanisms for enforcing contracts. In some parts of the world such as Northern Europe, especially Scandinavia, these institutions have precipitated religion’s decline by usurping its community-building functions. These societies with atheist majorities—some of the most cooperative, peaceful, and prosperous in the world—climbed religion’s ladder, and then kicked it away. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 47 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Religious community membership measurably improves well-being, health, cooperation, and trust. — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887; Religious involvement correlates with improved health, longevity, and prosocial behavior — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887; Social and identity benefits drive religious participation, not only faith — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 894 (+13 more)

Broader Connections

• Religious community membership measurably improves well-being, health, cooperation, and trust. #corroborates (0.95) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887
• Religious involvement correlates with improved health, longevity, and prosocial behavior #corroborates (0.94) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 887
• Secular institutions can replace religion’s community-building and cooperation functions #complicates (0.76) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 47
• Secular institutions achieved large-scale cooperation by usurping religion’s community-building role #complicates (0.75)
• Strong secular institutions raise trust and cooperation for believers and nonbelievers alike #complicates (0.74) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 250
• Religious group solidarity organizes others into outgroups by identity #complicates (0.72) — Deborah L. Hall and David C. Matz and Wendy Wood, Why Don’t We Practice What We Preach? A…, 77