What is it about?
We analyzed EVS data from 29 countries of all parts of Europe (49,000 participants). Agnostics reported lower well-being compared to both religionists and atheists. This was found in cultural zones of either Protestant or Catholic heritage, be they more or less secularized. In the more religious (Eastern) Orthodox countries, believers were happier than nonbelievers, agnostics and atheists alike.
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Why is it important?
Faith contributes to well-being; but certainty (in being religious or nonreligious) also contributes to well-being. Therefore, agnostics should be less happy compared to believers and atheists since they lack both faith and certainty. However, one could counter-argue that agnostics, as more open-minded and curious than believers and atheists, would be happier than them. Our study shows that it is clearly the first scenario that is true, at least in societies where non-belief is no more considered negatively.
Perspectives
We distance ourselves from a functionalist perspective where, if evidence shows that religion or irreligion is "good for you" (your well-being), then you should consider adopting them in your life. Choosing a conviction is a much more complex personal and existential issue. But being informed on the (psychological) pros and cons of each convictional status makes us more informed, less naïve.
Professor Vassilis Saroglou
Universite catholique de Louvain
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Agnostics’ Well-Being Compared to Believers and Atheists: A Study in Europe’s Religious–Cultural Zones of Christian Heritage, Religions, December 2024, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/rel15121502.
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