Contrary to Previous Research, Study Finds That Atheists and Believers Have Similar Levels of Mental Health

Common wisdom holds that religious people generally have stronger mental health than atheists. On the surface, it’s easy to make sense of that. They have a built-in community, a sense of belonging, and a feeling that a Higher power is looking out for them.

New research, however, indicates that the perceived mental health gap may not exist after all.

According a paper published in the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, by the University of Louisville’s Mark M. Leach and Jon T. Moore of the...