You would probably find the same results form any group setting. Most people like routines and schedules.
I think many other Christians feel this way but can't be honest enough to admit it. It is probably just normal human behavior to need to believe there is more after this life.
Judging from the last few days, apparently Christians are not the only ones who need the comfort of something after this life, atheists can believe in an afterlife as well.
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I agree b50m, something in our evolved mind responds to such things and makes humans happy. For some its meditation, for others its prayer. For me its a good book, a glass of wine and a bath. Give me an hour of that and all is right with the world.
I have tried to find that study, because it went far deeper and really looked at how the brain works when dealing with religion and religious rituals. If I could just remember the guys name that headed it up....arghhhh. I hate when I go blank like that. As best I remember what they found was that (as you said) it didn't really matter what type of religion or ritual a person engaged in they got a rush of dopamine and other chemicals released in their brain. It gave them a warm and fuzzy feeling so to speak. Most people apparently use religion like a drug. While others just use weed.
As for the afterlife comment. I have stated how I feel about reincarnation. I don't believe in it. As an atheist myself I have a hard time seeing how anyone who does not believe in the supernatural can then say they believe in reincarnation. However, reincarnation does not require the belief in a deity, so I guess it could still be defined as atheistic on some level.
I think I have seen similar studies. The human being is a gregarious creature. Very few people are truly happy when completely alone. I think that being part of some church or club or organization gives them more a purpose to their life. Just simply touching another person's hand can calm someone down almost instantly. As for the meditation, I agree. Sometimes you have to shut out the world, reset your own biological stress meter and then you feel able to attack the masses again. Wine and a hot bath works for me as well.With some soothing Gregorian chants in the background. Ahhhhh.