What Say You?
Could it be that humans have a natural psychological need for faith, and those who don't fulfill it are less happy as a result?
Or...
Do you think it is some other factor? Maybe ideological structure, community, societal acceptance, etc, play a bigger role?
For now, all we can do is speculate, but I think it may be good for us to explore why "nones" don't seem to report the same levels of happiness and how we can possibly improve and get a bit happier 😄 (just discovered we can use emojis on here... I think my happiness levels went up a bit).
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Are religious people happier, healthier? Our new global study explores this question
Studies have often credited religion with making people healthier, happier and more engaged in their communities. But are religiously active people better off than those who are religiously inactive or those with no religious affiliation? The short answer is that there is some evidence that religious participation does make a difference in some – but not all – of these areas, according to a new Pew Research Center report that looks at survey data from the United States and more than two dozen other countries...(Read More).
"actively religious people report themselves as 'very happy'..."
ReplyDeleteSelf-reporting is perhaps the best we can do, empirically, in happiness research, but it's surely not the most accurate measure of eudaimonia. But I don't want to be churlish about it, if you're happy and you know it AND your happiness doesn't impede mine or anyone else's, I'll clap my hands no matter what you attribute your happiness to. I guess.
But I agree, we need to figure out how to help the happiness-impaired nones cheer up!
Yeah, I'm gonna push a bit harder and say that, based on my cheery view of the ordinary person these days, self-reported happiness is not likely to align with a more substantive idea of flourishing, one that goes beyond the satisfaction of basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, etc. (and these are important, of course).
ReplyDeleteThis aside, what does seem to be persistently missing from the lives of the non-religious is what you point to, Heather, by mentioning the "ideological structure, community, societal acceptance" traditionally offered by religion. Far too many folks come out of religion and don't find a soft place to land among an alternate community, rich ways of celebrating and observing live (AKA rituals), and a robust, integrating framework for making sense of the world and one's place in it. What winds up happening is much more ad hoc and piecemeal. We can and must do better!
Both you and Dr. Oliver bring up great points about the problems with self reporting. I would agree that it is hard to pinpoint exactly what "happiness" means to each person, as well as what standards the individual is comparing their experiences to. As you mentioned, there is a big difference between satisfaction of basic needs and flourishing beyond that.
DeleteSince a lot of "nones" often come from religious backgrounds, leaving such communities without a comparable social replacement may leave a lot of nonreligious people feeling incomplete or alone as a result. If this is the overarching problem, maybe atheists/secularists/humanists need more social groups to share ideas and find likeminded people. Just a thought.
Right on, Heather. If you had your way, what would you suggest? What does the ideal secular community look like to you?
DeleteWell, for one there'd be snacks...
DeleteI guess what I would like to see is a bit more conversation between everyday secular thinkers. We see it some in the media, but it is often focused on what we don't believe in relation to religion. It would be nice for everyday nones to have a chance to share with each other what we actually do think and value on important issues. Coming together to discuss topics, such as morality, would be great for individual development and a sense of community. Maybe instead of church we need weekly think tanks! With that being said, I would never want to sacrifice the intellectual individualism secularists as a group tend to have. Ideally, it would be all about thought provoking discussion rather than telling people what to do/think.
Dr. Oliver once mentioned Sunday Assembly Nashville, which seems to be similar to what I described. I would have to look more into it, but from what I've heard it sounds like a great "church" alternative for nones. In short, my ideal secular community would have more formal organizations like that.
If you have any suggestions, I'd like to hear them too.
Snacks are definitely essential!
DeleteYes, I agree about not overemphasizing anti-religious sentiment. I mean, it can be helpful to hold space for people to express their frustration with religion or their "de-conversion" stories or whatever. All valuable stuff. But that can dominant time that should also be dedicated to, as you said, working out other important thoughts.
The nice thing about Sunday Assembly is you get that sort of thinking and more. Because, beyond thinking, we also need ways to mark life together: celebrate birthdays, grieve deaths, mark the coming and passing of seasons, etc.
You're right, though, secularists tend to be protective of their right to think alone and to be wary of the group-think they associate with organized communities. That's too bad. There's a need to demonstrate that it's possible to be a consistent, meaningful part of a formal community while still thinking "for yourself."
In places like the 'Boro, there's not a lot to offer. So I'd say we need to get busy with the more low-key, small-knit gatherings. Somebody bring an idea, somebody a poem or song, somebody a dish, somebody an ethical action to propose, etc. Then let the magic happen!
I agree, sharing thoughts and discussions are important, but celebrating meaningful life events together is what truly forms a strong community bond. I am definitely going to look more into Sunday Assembly, at least once all of us can safely leave our houses again...
DeleteAnd, you're right, the 'Boro does seem to have fewer opportunities to gather. But small meeting groups, as you described, would be a great start, and I think they would have the potential to be equally as beneficial and impactful!
I believe a good portion lies in the community behaide religious individuals. There is a church that welcomes you every Sunday, a pastor that preaches to save your soul, like minded individuals whom you can go to for support and friendship. I don't believe that this is some novel idea that only religious individuals have, but rather a more readily accessible form of kinship between other humans.
ReplyDeleteI also don't believe this is the ONLY factor that plays into this seemingly happier as a religious individual, belief in system that is reliably consistent where when you die you will be given rewards for your good deeds on earth could easily give a sense of ease for some individuals ect.