People who are active in religious congregations tend to be happier and more civically engaged than either religiously unaffiliated adults or inactive members of religious groups, according to Pew Research Center worldwide data.
As an agnostic leaning toward atheism, who holds both reason and (according to my grandmother) the evil eye as foundations of enlightenment, I feel out of the loop. It’s another year and everybody’s wishing everybody happiness.
Here in Mexico and Central America, atheists are the one group held in greatest contempt, according to the Catholic News Agency. But it’s true everywhere. Atheists are suspected of being immoral and untrustworthy, and people who, without thinking twice, would run for public office. This, even though they are the only group who can safely walk the streets of Jerusalem. With their card: “Please don’t beat me up. I don’t believe in anything, especially if it’s printed on animal skins.”
Anyway, I want to be a believer.
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