Are religious people happier and healthier?

Dear Isabel,

Can you settle an argument between me and my partner? She says religious people are happier and healthier than non-religious people. I think it sounds like a piece of propaganda religions spread to get people to join a church.

Doubtful

Dear Doubtful,

You’re both going to be able to claim a win on this one, because . . . it depends. For one thing, it depends on where the people live, and for another, it depends on what you mean by “religious.”

Happier?: In the United States, there is a definite correlation between involvement in a religious or spiritual community and a self-report of happiness. Simply belonging doesn’t do the trick; it is the active participation that makes a difference. However, there’s also a correlation between civic involvement and happiness. So it may be the regular engagement with other people in a purposeful activity that makes one happier, rather than religion per se. My source here is Pew Research, which does a wide range of interesting studies of religion.

Healthier?: Again looking at the United States, people who are active in a faith community report  better health than the average person. Looking globally, however, this correlation vanishes.

Correlation is not causation, so read this all with a grain of salt.

Now, I’ve been talking about the effects of being involved in a faith community. But what about simply being a religious person, which may be about one’s private beliefs and spiritual practices? The anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann, whose research and writing focus on religion, suggests that belief itself is a process that improves people’s mental health. Religious people, almost by definition, are people who want change, and they want to change for the better. This sets them up in a kind of cognitive behavioral therapy in which they are working towards greater happiness and well-being.

Again I wonder what we would learn if we looked at people who do not describe themselves as religious, but who do move through life with an attitude of self-improvement.

In any case, part of what seems to make people happy is being involved with a community and a purpose beyond themselves. Joining a church only, or primarily, as a kind of personal health-and-happiness plan, would seem to undermine this intent. Not that there is anything wrong with seeking happiness and health for oneself. But maybe rather than settling the dispute, I can leave you both with this idea: trying to become a better person, and working with others toward a beneficial goal, are good things to do and they’re good for you. If a faith community is a good place for you to do those things, great. If that’s not a good fit, do do them anyway, if you can.

Wishing you well,

Isabel

Next column: Is being religious the same thing as being at peace and in touch with your inner self?