Re: Are Atheists as Happy as Theists? Your Secrets of Happiness?

I went to a funeral last night. Some friends of ours lost their 19 year old daughter to an as yet unidentified illness. Yesterday would have been her 20th birthday. All very sad. As I sat in the church listening to the youth minister and the church pastor speaking it was hard not to keep from thinking disrespectful thoughts like "this is so stupid." Here they were feeling the almost unimaginable pain of loosing their daughter and people are telling them to praise god for giving her to them and that they should rejoice in the fact that she is now with the father. If a belief in a god and heaven can provide them comfort in a time like this, good for them. I will say this: having a "Church Family" giving all the support they give is a comforting thing. The outpouring I saw last night was very moving.

I think a belief in god at times like this might be helpful; It's hard to know.

.

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