[url]http://news.yahoo.com/belief-god-may-boost-treatment-mental-illness-113218743.html[/url]

[QUOTE=chappy;338518]hymn for the elementalist.[/QUOTE]

That's cool!

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;338519][url]http://news.yahoo.com/belief-god-may-boost-treatment-mental-illness-113218743.html[/url][/QUOTE]

I see your study and raise you [URL="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9774259/Spiritual-people-at-higher-risk-of-mental-health-problems.html"]this one[/URL] and [URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/religion-mental-health-angry-god-brain_n_3097025.html"]this one[/URL], and [URL="http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/faculty/zuckerman/Zuckerman_on_Atheism.pdf"]this one [/URL]so even if it is true that 'spiritual' people respond to therapy better, they are also more likely to need the therapy in the first place.

Of course there are lots of issues at work here. Since most people identify as 'religious' or 'spiritual' it is likely that treatment programs would be better geared toward them. Look at any 12 step program, almost all are religious (like AA) and they have ridiculously high failure rates.

Some studies have implied that conversion to Islam while in prison dramatically reduces recidivism. Is this because of the structured nature of Islam? Is this because Allah intervenes? Is it statistical noise? In any event mainstream Christians don't like to bring it up.

I have a gut feeling that people who self-identify as Agnostic/Atheist are obviously less likely to react positively to the Dr. Phil/Tony Robbins/Suze Orman/John Gray/Dr. Laura/The Secret/ Celestine Prophecy non-sense.

[QUOTE=kladner;338529]That's cool![/QUOTE]

Indeed! I'm going to have that printed poster size, frame it, and hang it in my office! (I'm serious.)

[QUOTE=chappy;338541]I see your study and raise you...[/QUOTE]

I always like bringing up [URL="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567"]this one[/URL]....

Aren't some things put forth as science totally unsupportable?

Some people ...

[QUOTE=davar55;339021]Aren't some things put forth as science totally unsupportable?[/QUOTE]

All the time. And then the Scientific Method deals with it.

Aren't some things put forth as faith totally unsupportable?

[QUOTE=chalsall;338543]I always like bringing up [URL="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567"]this one[/URL]....[/QUOTE]
So does this mean that the whole correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation argument only applies when you're trying to disprove the existence of God?

Some people believe that they DESERVE to be helped by God. To this, God responds,"THBBBBBBT!!!!" (That's the approximation of the sound you make when you stick out your tongue and make it vibrate by exhaling over and around it)

[QUOTE=jasong;339090]So does this mean that the whole correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation argument only applies when you're trying to disprove the existence of God?

Some people believe that they DESERVE to be helped by God. To this, God responds,"THBBBBBBT!!!!" (That's the approximation of the sound you make when you stick out your tongue and make it vibrate by exhaling over and around it)[/QUOTE]

Part 1: No.

Part 2: This sound is variously known as a "raspberry" or "Bronx cheer."

[QUOTE=kladner;339150]Part 1: No.

"[/QUOTE]


To further elaborate, where there is no correlation that is evidence of no causation--where there is correlation that is not necessarily evidence of causation.

[QUOTE=kladner;339150]Part 1: No.

Part 2: This sound is variously known as a "raspberry" or "Bronx cheer."[/QUOTE]

(Possibly) interesting etymology there. "Raspberry" is Cockney rhyming slang --- raspberry tart for "fart".

Of course, you probably knew that anyway.

[QUOTE=kladner;339150]Part 1: No.

Part 2: This sound is variously known as a "raspberry" or "Bronx cheer."[/QUOTE]
Didn't know about the Bronx cheer.

I'm never sure how much the non-English will understand certain cultural things, so using the term raspberry seemed like a waste to me.

Edit: I may have gotten my little bit of sarcasm argument backwards. I'm in the "stupid" part of my daily cycle, so I'm not sure.