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''See also:'' [[Hopelessness of atheism]]

''See also:'' [[Hopelessness of atheism]]

 

On March 8, 2013, Damon Linker wrote in ''The Week'':

On March 8, 2013, Damon Linker wrote in ''The Week'':

{{cquote|If [[atheism]] is true, it is far from being good news. Learning that we're alone in the [[universe]], that no one hears or answers our prayers, that humanity is entirely the product of random events, that we have no more intrinsic dignity than non-human and even non-animate clumps of matter, that we face certain annihilation in death, that our sufferings are ultimately pointless, that our lives and loves do not at all matter in a larger sense, that those who commit horrific evils and elude human punishment get away with their crimes scot free — all of this (and much more) is utterly tragic.<ref>[http://theweek.com/article/index/241108/where-are-the-honest-atheists Where are the honest atheists?]</ref>}}

{{cquote|If [[atheism]] is true, it is far from being good news. Learning that we're alone in the [[universe]], that no one hears or answers our prayers, that humanity is entirely the product of random events, that we have no more intrinsic dignity than non-human and even non-animate clumps of matter, that we face certain annihilation in death, that our sufferings are ultimately pointless, that our lives and loves do not at all matter in a larger sense, that those who commit horrific evils and elude human punishment get away with their crimes scot free — all of this (and much more) is utterly tragic.<ref>[http://theweek.com/article/index/241108/where-are-the-honest-atheists Where are the honest atheists?]</ref>}}

''See also:'' [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]]

 

In 2004, the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' reported:  

In 2004, the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' reported:  

{{cquote|Religiously unaffiliated subjects had significantly more lifetime suicide attempts and more first-degree relatives who committed suicide than subjects who endorsed a religious affiliation. Unaffiliated subjects were younger, less often married, less often had children, and had less contact with family members. Furthermore, subjects with no religious affiliation perceived fewer reasons for living, particularly fewer moral objections to suicide. In terms of clinical characteristics, religiously unaffiliated subjects had more lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and past substance use disorder. No differences in the level of subjective and objective depression, hopelessness, or stressful life events were found.<ref>[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=177228 Religious affiliation and suicide attempts]</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 Religious affiliation and suicide attempts]</ref>}}

{{cquote|Religiously unaffiliated subjects had significantly more lifetime suicide attempts and more first-degree relatives who committed suicide than subjects who endorsed a religious affiliation. Unaffiliated subjects were younger, less often married, less often had children, and had less contact with family members. Furthermore, subjects with no religious affiliation perceived fewer reasons for living, particularly fewer moral objections to suicide. In terms of clinical characteristics, religiously unaffiliated subjects had more lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and past substance use disorder. No differences in the level of subjective and objective depression, hopelessness, or stressful life events were found.<ref>[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=177228 Religious affiliation and suicide attempts]</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 Religious affiliation and suicide attempts]</ref>}}