After the attack of 9/11, more than 90% of Americans turn to religion to cope up with the stress and bible sales rose about 27%. This forms the basis of my argument that, “Is religion a better resource to cope up with stress than atheism?”

Many studies suggest that there is a lower depression rate among the people who are more religious. What religion does is reduces the need for personal control in difficult circumstances by providing roles models through sacred texts, community support and by giving people a sense of indirect control over circumstances. Now, one might argue that taking control of a situation and overcoming challenges will evolve a person’s character? To which I say, yes. But what religion does best is to provide social and psychological resources to deal with situations over which we have little to no control. And unlike many other coping resources, religion is widely available to people regardless of their financial, social, and mental circumstances.

Even though religion can be viewed as a good coping resource, it is still entangled with other issues that make it hard to determine if it is a resource or liability. A lot of extensive research has been done/going on this topic and these are just my views, hence leaving this discussion at an open end.