Connecting and religion
What is it about practicing a religion that seems to make people happy?
Researchers point to three factors in happiness that people may be finding in their religious practices:
- A strong social network and close relationships
- A sense of meaning and purpose in life
- Opportunities to experience positive emotions
People who were raised with religious beliefs and a church community are happier as adults—even if they have since left their religious tradition. A religious community may help provide stability and community to children as they grow up.
Positive effects of religion depend on the beliefs
For instance, religions that teach that only their faith is the right one and that other people must be condemned tend to produce lower life satisfaction—and, of course, human history is full of examples of religiously motivated persecution, violence, and war. People who believe in a loving and inclusive God are happier than those who believe in a punitive or unresponsive God.
Cultural context of the research findings
There is also a cultural context to the research findings. In the United States, research has shown that religious people are happier. The consistent difference in happiness among religious Americans is not replicated in other free societies. For example, Danes and Swedes consistently rate themselves happier than Americans, and they are also among the most secular democracies.
A study of 18 democracies found that the more secular countries had lower rates of violent crime, suicide, teen pregnancy, and abortion than the United States. These findings are leading researchers to focus on the important role of social support and connection (which is highly valued and implemented in Danish and Swedish policy). It may be that in the United States, religious communities are a significant source of social connection; other countries may develop social support in other ways.
Researchers have found the following positive effects among people who participate in religious practices (such as prayer, worship services, reading the Bible or other sacred texts):
- Lower levels of stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Faster recovery from surgery
- Longer life
- Stronger immune systems
- Less alcohol and drug abuse
- Fewer divorces and happier marriages
- Fewer episodes of depression
- More forgiving
- Make more money
Whether you consider yourself religious or not, experiencing positive emotions, having a strong connection to a community, and feeling a sense of meaning and purpose in your life are all linked to greater happiness. Participating in a religious community is one way to increase these factors in your life.
Happiness, by Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener
Psychology Today - Spirituality