Agnosticism and loneliness

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries are often lonelier societies.

The agnostic Lyndsay West wrote in Religion News:

“  |  I know that I am not the only 25-year-old agnostic in the world, but the fellowship that is so easily accessible within the Christian community seems relatively lacking for nonbelievers. I went from being inundated by church events celebrating like-mindedness to feeling pathological in my irreligious rebirth.[1] |  ”

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Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries are often lonelier societies.

In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower emotional intelligence and lower social skills (see: Atheism and emotional intelligence and Atheism and social skills).

For more information, please see:

* Atheism and loneliness

## Shortage of successful secular institutions and loneliness[edit]

Guy Stagg wrote in The Telegraph:

“  |  It shows that, although secularists have realised that they cannot simply be defined by opposition to religion, nevertheless they have little to offer in its place. Crucially the secular tradition has no successful institutions to preserve and spread its principles....

Secularism does not offer the sense of fellowship you find in religion.[2]

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## Agnosticism, alcoholism and loneliness[edit]

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.[3]

At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”[4]

Irreligious cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: Atheism and alcoholism).

For example, as far as secular Europe, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol."[5]

Many alcoholics experience intense feelings of loneliness and isolation.[6]

The article The Loneliness of the Agnostic Alcoholic? declares:

“  |  You will remember me as the life long doubter. The woman who rejected organized religion. The one who looked up defiantly at the effigy of Jesus on the pulpit while all the other supplicants bowed in deference. For twenty years I resisted Kim’s offers of bible study and church and the comfort they might bring.

And then I had that day on the abandoned beach; when I was so lost and shaky and hung over and desperate, I actually fell to my knees and begged for help to the vast, overly blue of the heavens. That moment didn’t change a thing really, but afterwards I didn’t feel quite so alone.

So I am going to do what I always do. I’m going to boil an hour long, complicated, well-educated discussion to a simple fact I can get my head around.

Not believing in God and being a recovering alcoholic seems lonely to me.[7]

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## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ Agnostics need more support in coming out to family and friends By Lyndsay West
2. ↑ Secularists on Thought for the Day will expose the loneliness of atheism, Guy Stagg, The Telegraph, Last updated: April 3rd, 2012
3. ↑ World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe - Alcohol usage of Europe
4. ↑ The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism
5. ↑ World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe- Alcohol usage of Europe
6. ↑ The Reclusive Alcoholic
7. ↑ Loneliness of the Agnostic Alcoholic?