New Age religions don't make you happy

[athon]

It seems Pentecostal religions and the like, focussing so much on personal gratification, aren't exactly conduits to feeling content at all. Who'd have thunk it?

Moving away from traditional religious beliefs to trendy, self-focused religions and spirituality is not making young adults happier, according to new research.

A UQ study has found that young adults with a belief in a spiritual or higher power other than God were at more risk of poorer mental health and deviant social behaviour than those who rejected these beliefs.

Athon

 

[six7s]

I have noticed this, especially with 'new-age' woos and for a while my sig line (on another forum) was "it's interesting to note that those on the path to enlightenment are usually rather gloomy" (or words to that effect)

It seems, to me, that many who profess to be part of the 'Green Movement' are scared stiff (i.e. not part of a movement at all) and in morbid despair about climate change, peace/war, etc

If y'aint part of the solution...

 

[schlitt]

It seems Pentecostal religions and the like, focussing so much on personal gratification, aren't exactly conduits to feeling content at all. Who'd have thunk it?



Athon

I don't find this suprising. The self indulgent nature of new age religion is a dead give away really. The new age religions promote a very superficial way of thinking about happiness. It basically amounts to satifying your desires with fantasy. The self sacrifice and personal responsibility required for the more traditional religions satisfies the human psyche better due to the effort expended to psychologically justify the percieved reward.
Traditional religions require a whole lifestyle change, where new age religions are just fantasies tacked on top of your current worlview, and require little of you.

 

[joobz]

I'm not certain how you are use pentecostal there. The pentacostal christians seem to have a distinct non-self centered religious view and are all about giving themselves up to the lord.

 

[athon]

I'm not certain how you are use pentecostal there. The pentacostal christians seem to have a distinct non-self centered religious view and are all about giving themselves up to the lord.

They're rather 'new age' here in Australia. We have a substantially well funded organisation called 'Hill Song' in Sydney which focusses primarily on seeking success in life. It's rather sad. My stepfather was in a pentacostal group for years and there was a slant in their preachings on attaining goals and being individually successful, which implied in some ways accruing wealth to give over to the church.

Athon

 

[joobz]

They're rather 'new age' here in Australia. We have a substantially well funded organisation called 'Hill Song' in Sydney which focusses primarily on seeking success in life. It's rather sad. My stepfather was in a pentacostal group for years and there was a slant in their preachings on attaining goals and being individually successful, which implied in some ways accruing wealth to give over to the church.

Athon

hmm. Yeah, the pentacostals here are the guys who
speak in tounges, lurch around in church, fire and brimstone, ol' time religion kinda people.

 

[fuelair]

hmm. Yeah, the pentacostals here are the guys who
speak in tounges, lurch around in church, fire and brimstone, ol' time religion kinda people.

They just need a touch of the real 'ol time religion: put a little of the Elder Gods in their lives - a touch of Yog-Sottoth, a smiting of Dagon, a crush of Cthulhu and see how they survive.

 

[Kevin_Lowe]

It also wouldn't surprise me if depressed people were more likely to try (or to be talked into trying) alternative religious systems if they offered the promise of happiness.

Campus church recruiters are trained to target depressed students, or so I am told.

 

[-Fran-]

It also wouldn't surprise me if depressed people were more likely to try (or to be talked into trying) alternative religious systems if they offered the promise of happiness.

Campus church recruiters are trained to target depressed students, or so I am told.

I think you're on to something. I'm not sure if it's the New Age stuff that makes (formerly happy and stable) people depressed, or if, as you say, it's depressed people that are attracted to/targeted by New Age stuff.

In my personal, and limited experience the people I know personally who are most into New Age stuff, are also the ones who are the most neurotic and have the most personal problems. They try all and everything in this vein and yet seem to be very unhappy year after year. To me it seems that they [the ones I know] are desperately looking for something to make them happier as from magic, but they never seem to look to themselves to actually try to change things, they just look for the easy cure. But that's a group of no more than two people so I don't know what you can tell from that.

 

[halofish2000]

From personal observations, this is as close to a cult I want to get. Usually has a self proclaimed leader(pastor) that no one is to question. Like, who would dare question God's annointed. Speaking in tongues, rolling in the aisles, barking like dogs, hysteric laughing.... all signs of the Holy Spirit. Yet, no historical evidence of things as these occurring pre-1800. I wonder if I can blame a mild onset of touretts on the HS.

 

[six7s]

... into New Age stuff, are also the ones who are the most neurotic and have the most personal problems

...

They try all and everything in this vein and yet seem to be very unhappy year after year. ...desperately looking for something to make them happier as from magic, but they never seem to look to themselves to actually try to change things, they just look for the easy cure...

... But that's a group of no more than two people so I don't know what you can tell from that.

It echoes what I have observed

Through one close but frankly weird friend, I have met (rather than got to 'know') and been bored witless at 'gatherings' by a loose group of perhaps 50 new-agers who collectively adopt one brand of woo after another, pausing just long enough to hold yet another $300-per-head, life-affirming weekend 'retreat' where, with phrases cherry-picked from orthodox scientific journals, they are seemingly 'inspired' to devise, hone and 'share' yet more woo-affirming/science-slamming jargon and propaganda that PROVES!!eleventy!! the conspiracy...

 

[athon]

It also wouldn't surprise me if depressed people were more likely to try (or to be talked into trying) alternative religious systems if they offered the promise of happiness.

Campus church recruiters are trained to target depressed students, or so I am told.

Yeah, the ol' causation thing occurred to me as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a relationship both ways, though.

Athon

 

[Big Les]

Curiously, several of my new-age-but-constantly-troubled friends are now rediscovering their childhood christianity. Talk about out of the frying-pan.

I don't think new agers are more unhappy than mainstream religious people, or atheists for that matter. They just talk a lot more about their problems and the next great solution they've discovered (which doesn't pan out and is forgotten). Often to anyone that will listen.

 

[quarky]

It gives me joy to discuss my misery with others.
Unfortunately, I'm too generous to do it very often.

Sometimes, I feel guilty for being depressed around my dog. She's mostly happy.
Is there any help for me?

(I'd like a program with a prime number of steps)

 

[juniper_ann]

I think you're on to something. I'm not sure if it's the New Age stuff that makes (formerly happy and stable) people depressed, or if, as you say, it's depressed people that are attracted to/targeted by New Age stuff.

That sounds plausible. Most people aren’t born into New Age religions, and you don’t usually go searching unless you feel that something is missing in the first place. Furthermore, many students who self-identify as New Agers are actually still searching. Perhaps at least some of the polled New Age students are depressed and anxious because their core philosophy is in flux.

 

[sinclairmcevoy]

Barking and rolling in the aisles? Haven't seen that where I go to church. Speaking in tongues? Saw the pastor doing that. I then realized that it was a pentecostal church. Shows how much I looked into it. But to answer the OP, it doesn't make me unhappy to attend services. I leave feeling good, people are always nice, smiling and saying hello whether they know you or not. It's hard not to feel good when you are surrounded by people who do feel good and want to share that feeling.

 

[six7s]

It's hard not to feel good when you are surrounded by people who do feel good and want to share that feeling.

Indeed, and its a factor acknowledged by the promoters of successful performing arts and sports events

So why do people go to church? Free admission?

TANSTAAFL

 

[sinclairmcevoy]

Free admission to heaven I guess......

 

[halofish2000]

Here's a very simple test anyone can do...
If you can feel it, hear it, taste it, see it or smell it, is the meaning of CARNAL
I am sure those at Jonestown were having a good ole time before the koolaid.

 

[Tressa]

One person's opinion/experience: I was Christian for 28yrs then Wiccan for 12 yrs and found that, in general, the Christians were more focused on being good Christians by converting others while the Wiccans were interested in making the world better by being better individuals. I did not find that either group had more or less than their share of depressed or deviant individuals.