A study done by Pew Research Center, suggests that in the United States the "actively" religious are happier. Yet the article also suggests that there is not enough evidence and data to correlate religion and happiness. Instead, according to the Independent, it could be due to the fact that they are more socially active. This article also suggests that "actively" religious people may be healthier in terms of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs but not in terms of exercise and obesity.
An interesting couple of articles about religion and happiness. Although, it reminds of Haybron's Introduction to Happiness, where he states that most people say they are happy in a survey or study. Not many people are inclined to state they are unhappy.
I wonder if these pollsters ever ask people who say their religion makes them happy if they have any fears for a punitive Afterlife? That would seem, as the Epicureans said, to be a mitigating factor.
ReplyDelete