I den mån man kan tolka effekter av religiositet på lycka som kausala fann jag följande resultat, från den nya studien ”Who Benefits from Religion?”, publicerad i Social Indicators Research, intressanta:

While fervent believers benefit from their involvement, those with weaker beliefs are actually less happy than those who do not ascribe to any religion—atheists and agnostics. These results may help explain why—in spite of the well-documented benefits of religion—an increasing number of people are abandoning their faith. As commitment wanes, religious involvement may become detrimental to well-being, and individuals may be better off seeking new affiliations.

Börjar man tappa sin tro är det nog bra att låta den fortsätta falla helt.