Wysiwyg,

I have problems to understand the logic of your argumentation. Bagpuss posts that people with religious belief have better mental health than those without, Clinton asks for a source and you respond that there are studies showing that. That adds nothing at all to what Bagpuss has posted.

The actual picture is far from conclusive, unless you digest studies selectively. You can't change religious beliefs experimentally, so whatever you find are correlations with all their problems. In addition to that, the picture depends upon which mental health problem you look at.

Among schizophrenics, there are more religious people than can be expected on a random base. Now what does that tell us? Do religious people get schizophrenic or are schizophrenic people drawn towards religion?

There are indications that the incidence of depression is lower among religious people. Now what does that tell us? Does being religious prevent onset of depression or do religious people show only less symptoms due to being in a strong support group?

There is nothing in the data yet to milk them for a one-sided agenda. Forget this line of discussion.

Wolfgang