This. Also, have they even controlled for any confouding variables?

Hmmm I don't see the second part of the title in the article, I wonder why that was added on there?

The major problem with these studies is that they're often only done in the United States where the religious are a majority and the non-religious are a minority. This of course satifies another criteria for happiness.

In fact, a study done in the Netherlands and Denmark, where the non-religious are the majority, resulted in much, much lower differences between the two. As the study concludes:

There are just so many variables involved here, namely geographical, that a blanket conclusion that 'religious people are more likely to be happy' is a gross oversimplification.

A sense of community is what I would attribute as being the strongest factor for that argument. Of course, I'm talking purely out of my ass on that thought.

Again, you need to take into consideration the people that claim they're religious, but go to Church 3 times a year.

If you sifted these people the results would change.

lies!!!! we all know you want to kill yourself

I'm sure it has already been said, but ignorance is bliss. Atheists are more in touch with reality than religious people, so no shit they are happier. It's like believing in santa or not. Atheists statistically also happen to make more money. Somewhere around 10% or something like that.

Shit. I've been uncovered.

Both make me sad. Third option?

Being religious has got nothing to do with the amount of times you go to church in a year.