The study is probably right that those who are not self-centered, have a close circle of friends, and can control their lives are happy. The great philosopher Epicurus said the same thing.
However, Epicurus did not believe that gods existed, and that even if they did exist they were not significant for human existence. Frankly, God is not necessary for any of the factors that the study says are necessary for happiness.

One of many studies…personally…I’m fine, and am not a regular occupant of a pew anywhere. I have the love of family, and friends…and am perfectly happy. Morality isn’t just taught in houses of worship…though I’m sure some would disagree with that.

“People who believe in no moral constraints on activities have less happiness”
What does that have to do with whether or not one has a religion? Clearly there are religious people with no moral constraints on their activities and there are atheists (I’m one) with moral constraints on their activities. This guy has the sophistication of a John McCain; he has no idea what he’s talking about.
From Wikipedia on the Acton Institute: “The Acton Institute is named after the English theologian, philosopher, and historian Lord Acton, who is popularly associated with the famous dictum that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Its mission statement is “to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.”
So where’s the news in their sponsoring a talk by a guy who’d say this? There’s no hint of documentation for his claims and in fact I recall divorce statistics are higher in the red states where people are more religious.
I’m disappointed this would be considered newsworthy by the b-net picker.

I am not convinced that it is actually “religion” that is the cause of all this unbridled, unregulated, and messy happiness. What religon helps people do is become self-reflective, and it is there that happiness can be discovered. I wonder if the same questions that were posed in this survey were posed to non-religious but self-reflective people would get similar results. I also wonder how they defined “religious”. Did they consider some of the non-traditional or smaller groups. I know many WICCANs and meditators and others from other so-called “fringe” groups (including a couple of “Klingons”, Jedi Knights, and others) who are also quite happy and do not “fear the reaper” (Thank you Blue Oyster Cult).
Surveys are , by definition, suspicious. Reporting on surveys makes the entire process all the more suspect. But they are fun to argue about and to challenge.

Just had a thought…religious or not…who looks forward to death?

Well in theory believing Christians should look forward to it since they’ll be going to their “eternal reward”. In practice I think it’s mostly suffering people of many stripes.

“People who believe in no moral constraints on activities have less happiness,” said Arthur Brooks, professor of business and government policy at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, during a lecture series sponsored by the Acton Institute.
Why would someone draw a connection between lack of religion and lack of moral constraints? I’ve known plenty of people who would call themselves religious who have in many ways and at many times been quite immoral.

One of my favorite bumper stikers is:
Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die to get there.

Excellent bumper sticker….jestrfyl. True too!

Except a few terrorists.

Everyone needs a center of balance and can call it anything they wish, or not even recognize this fact, but it’s there. You can be raised RC, Protestant, Atheist, Pagan, etc. If something “spiritual” hasn’t occured within you in living your life there will always be a sense of emptiness with thoughts of death. What is spiritual within you is what guides your choices and living your life.

“religion makes you happier”….my question is, Happier than what?

To the question happier than what many I know would answer that with happier than before. A lot of people who have a benchmark of happiness that is in accord to what they know are as happy as they can possibly get they have hit the ceiling of happiness according to their own understanding but the Bible speaks of a unspeakable joy that some folk just will never experience and by having no knowledge of this event or change they can only speak of what they know, it is indeed a mystery to them. But for those who have experienced both the burden of lack of hope and fears insurmountable then have the revelation Christ scales of blindness fall and a new light enters in joy is experienced that no human can give or sustain. Many will doubt it and not understand it thus feel no need of anything outside of their own understanding and that is all they will have, their own understanding. It also affects one’s ability to give, can’t give what you don’t have the ability to give, but given this joy you have the ability to give more.

Jesus found Himself often among the unbelievers, pagans, and even atheists but He never found Himself agreeing with them, or living like them, or allowing His association with them to change Good News he was to bring.

I couldn’t be happier with the life I have, so I’ll take your word for it that Christianity makes “life better,” or happier, cknuck. Having gone through some tough times with my husband’s health, (he’s ok now), and having done so as a non-believer, I’m very happy with things the way they are…the love I have from family and friends,and the love and trust from the best man any woman could have. I expect JC spent a lot of time among unbelievers, since he was proposing a whole different type of faith than the one he was raised in. Naturally he couldn’t agree with a pagan or an atheist…they weren’t able to believe what he was pushing, or could he allow them to change what he was pushing…there was a plan…he had to die, had to follow the path he had made…ending up being hung on a cross. How in the world was there going to be a new religion if he hadn’t ticked off the government enough to crucify him? He had to do something to impress the 12 guys that followed him around…so they could continue to proselytize the world.
But being Christians, and pretty good ones from what I have seen, works for my sisters. However I don’t think they are any happier than I am, with my beliefs.

Pep rallies are fun.

Your cheer for your team, I’ll cheer for mine.

I have been thinking about this headline for a while – and bothered by it a bot. I think this is the problem with religion – it is too focused on death. I prefer a religion that makes people less afraid of life. I believe that is what Jesus’ message, “The Realm of God is at hand” was about. It is not a promise of life after death. It is a promise of life – real, full, joyous life right now.
I doubt anyone will see this, but I thought I would set it out and see if anyone is reading this far back.

jest,
I like your post and agree.
That’s one of the things about Judaism – references to the afterlife, or World to Come, are left purposely vague, so as to encourage good deeds in this life, for their own sake, without necessarily the thought of reward after death.
Anyone who is “sure”they know what life after death holds is just blowing smoke.

jest many Christians are well aware that Jesus intent was to bring up there to down here so to speak. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand did not mean what was to come but what is here and He was bringing that reality to all those with ears to hear. Many Christians are living this life to live again but that has nothing to do with good works because good works alone are lonely and can’t do it. Faith and works are the key and it is emphasized in the letters. James says that faith without works is dead but equally works without faith is also dead. Anyone who is not sure of life after death is probably the results of vague faith.

Good posts, jestrfyl and ecl. Now is what is important…no-one, but no-one knows whats “next”.

When was the survey taken?

James says that faith without works is dead but equally works without faith is also dead.
Good for James. Would you care if I started to quote Rashi or Maimonides? Not likely.
Further, no one here said works alone are enough, but simple faith most certainly is not, either.
Anyone who is not sure of life after death is probably the results of vague faith.
Utter, unadulterated, complete bullsh*t.
But continue to enjoy yourself insulting others while trumpeting your own belief as fact and the “best” way. It’s best for you – not for everyone.