A phantom plague': Evangelicals are dying of coronavirus in frightening numbers

[Hortensis]

121. I'm sorry. You can speak to your own experience, though,

but shouldn't project it on all religious people. That very dark and unrealistic view is not good for you.

What some others don't understand is that a lot of people build good, happy lives around their church communities, which provide strong social support systems. Leaders may not be wise, but hopefully are decent, and in their close, synergistic relationships with their congregants, they reflect their feelings at least as much as their congregants reflects theirs, often more.

Those who choose fundamentalist beliefs are different, with often a host of limitations and even dysfunctions, as you suffered; but when their congregations are functioning well they're a place for them to belong with others who think like them.

But typical church folk, including non-fundie evangelicals, have been studied and found again and again to be our happiest. Overall, these are happy people. The infiltration of pernicious political corruption is damaging that serenity, but some are refusing it and some are able to find local churches that have turned their back on that.