Does religion benefit society?

In this video, I demonstrate from gathered statistics the societal benefits of religion within several areas such as health, crime, education, etc.
References can be found here (since they exceed 5000 characters):
http://referencesdoesreligionbenefitsociety.synthasite.com/

My hypothesis for all these findings is that being involved with a religious institution gives the person an ordered and structured environment that usually cannot be provided in most homes and schools. The indirect benefits of being able to interact in a stable environment with (relatively) responsible people without fear, can be tremendous.
Song is 'every day' by Carly Comando

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Christianity
• statistics
• atheism
• theism
• debate
• society
• benefit
• religion
• harm
• good
• bad
• health
• crime
• education
• substance

[BigFatHeretic]

I don't get it! I've been hearing and reading that the divorce rate is lower among atheists than among the religious denominations. Also, atheists make up the lowest percentage of our prison populations. About 39% percent of prison inmates are Catholic and 35% percent are Protestant, but atheists make up less than 1% percent of prison inmates.During 10 years in Sing-Sing those executed for murder, 65% Catholics, 26% Protestants. Atheists, 37% of total USA population. - To be continued . . .

[UNFFwildcard]

@BigFatHeretic

1) That divorce statistic comes from a single study that has been copied and pasted ad nauseum among atheist sites

2) There are several benefits to identifying with a religion in prison. The better question to ask is why the religious are far less likely to reoffend.

3) Religion was a contributing factor in only a few wars throughout history.

3) To train up a child? Yes, I heard of that.

4) Ah, an atheist who chooses to hate despite the evidence. Typical.

[bigboy45454545]

All of these benefits to society as suggested by the video. But let's take America as an example. Arguably the largest Christian nation with 85% of the people Christian. Disease and poor health, crime and mental illness rampant. The social structure of this country being very poor compared to many Scandinavian countries with far less believers. This is a poor argument for mindless religion. A drunk is said to be happier when drunk too. What does this tell us? Same argument. Derp!

[BigFatHeretic]

. . . . . Continued from previous . . . Religion inspires violence. Look at all the wars in the name of religion. Ever hear of Daniel Pearl? He's a rabid Christian Fundamentalist who advocates beating children, even 2 year old infants, with a length of quarter-inch plumbing supply line, just for crying too much. Sorry, but I have to disagree with the whole premise of this video. Religion is the cause of much evil in this world. Hey boys and girls! Can you say, Inquisition?

[kain5056]

-->When people are free to chose, they indeed make mistakes, but also learn from those mistakes.So, such a freedom might come at the price of a society of worse persons, but at the long term I think it offers greater knowledge of how society and the self actually work.This is a personal opinion, though, so I could be mistaken.I would like to see your opinion on that matter, and to apologise if my choice of words is poor.

[kain5056]

I like this video, and I agree that religion offers a more stable environment that helps the person and the society.However, It is the same benefit that a dictatorship may offer in a strong country.Germany was strong and stable with Hitler, after all.So, I think that, like a dictatorship, religion may have benefits but at the price of certain freedoms, offering us directions but no actual choice, thus making people act better as members of a society by blindly obeying, instead of knowing why.-->

[Clubbingshawn]

I also believe that if this country were not built upon secular ideals we would be totally screwed. I hear people say all the time that America is a "Christian Nation". If that were true gays would be dead, adulterer's would be dead, non virgin brides would be dead, non-believers would be DEAD. Granted that's IF christians actually followed the fundamental proponents of their holy book.

[Clubbingshawn]

You fail to mention the underlying benefits that all these people received. Which was medical care, a product of science. Science isn't atheism I know. But right now, in the present day, Christians in America are doing their best to STOP the progress of science, specifically medical science. Which has been the case throughout the history of religion. Not to mention all the civil rights people have been denied because of religion. Secularism undeniably helps mankind more than religion.

[BENFICA60]

Most of what you claim is either speculation, propaganda, or unprovable. However, I would prefer a shorter life span firmly rooted in logic and reason.

[downright92]

thanks for the awesome video i have a presentation on how religion benifits socitey and this has started me in the right direction its so hard to find something so good in a positive light of religion and dont worry i am not copying your hard work onto my presentation it has just help keep up the good work

god bless