Throw BABE Out with the Bathwater? Canadian Atheists are No Less Healthy than the Religious

Abstract:

Many studies suggest that being religious is linked to better health, a pattern known as the belief-as-benefit effect (BABE). This study used Canadian survey data from over 15,000 people to see if atheists experience worse health than religious individuals. It found that religious practices like prayer or attending services were generally not linked to better health across any group. Atheists reported similar levels of stress, life satisfaction, and mental and physical wellbeing compared to religious people, even when comparing the most and least religious individuals. Read the full article to explore why these findings challenge common assumptions about religion and health.

About the Author: Dr. David Speed

Dr. David Speed an Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick in the Department of Psychology. His research focuses on challenging the commonly held belief that religion and spirituality inherently lead to better health outcomes. While numerous studies suggest that religious attendance, prayer, and religiosity are correlated with improved health outcomes, there are significant gaps and inaccuracies in the existing literature.

Through his research, Dr. David Speed highlights the lack of confirmatory evidence that being nonreligious is detrimental to health. His work indicates that atheists do not necessarily fare worse than believers, suggesting that the health benefits attributed to religion and spirituality are overstated. Dr. Speed’s research critiques the prevailing assumptions in the field and addresses the complexities of studying the growing nonreligious population.