Such is the conclusion of a report in this month's American Sociological Review.
C. S. Lewis said that Christianity was about achieving perfection in God, not happiness. Even so, a survey in this month's American Sociological Review (ASR) suggests that a "high rate of life satisfaction" is at least a byproduct of the Christian life.
Researchers Chaeyoon Lim, sociologist at the University of Madison-Wisconsin, and Robert Putnam, author most recently of American Grace and most famously of Bowling Alone, found that people who frequently attend church and other places of worship are happier than those who attend less frequently. Lim and Putman say respondents' happiness comes from building friendships in a close-knit social circle around common religious beliefs — not necessarily from the content of said beliefs. “Our evidence shows that it is not really going to church and listening to sermons or praying that makes people happier, but making church-based friends and building social networks there,” Lim said.
Lim and Putnam surveyed some 3,000 Americans from 2006 to 2007. A majority of participants were evangelical and mainline Protestants and Catholics. About one-third of participants who attend church frequently and have at least 3-5 close friends there said they were "extremely satisfied" with their lives. That percentage jumps to 40 percent for frequent churchgoers who report having 11 or more close friends at church. Tragically, 15 percent of frequent churchgoers reported having not one close friend at church. According to the survey, friendless churchgoers are less happy than those who are not religious and do not attend church at all, as well as those who are very religious but do not attend church.
Other nuggets of interest:
-- 28 percent of people who go to religious services weekly will say they are extremely satisfied with their lives, compared with less than 20 percent of people who never go to such services.
-- People who said they “personally experience the presence of God” and who “personally feel God’s love in life” do not report more happiness than those who do not.
-- If you compare two people with the same number of close friends in life -- both inside the church and out -- those with stronger relationships in church report being happier.
An abstract of the Lim and Putnam's article is posted on ASR's website. For a theological treatment of the topic, look for a review of Ellen Charry's God and the Art of Happiness in the December issue of Christianity Today and on CT's website next week.
Posted by Katelyn Beaty on December 7, 2010 10:50AM
Comments
I agree with this post 100%. I had a span of my life where things weren't going so hot and church was the last thing on my mind when It should have been first. I rarely attended church and therefore I kept myself in a down mood. A friend then came to me with concern and asked what church I go to. I sadly had to tell him that I had not been attending for the past couple months. My buddy then invited me to his church and I began to regularly attend with him. Slowly but surely I became a happier person so church attendance is a huge factor in happiness.
Posted by: Payton at December 7, 2010
This is very interesting, but I wonder if it is not symptomatic of a church that no longer has any need of God. We just need social networks. If this is true, then why does the social network need to be church; any gathering of people with common interests will meet our needs and make us happy.
I believe the problem is that "happy" has been defined in such an non - Christian, perhaps even anti - Christian, way that God is not necessary. In classical Christianity, the good life is what makes us happy; and the good life is participation in the life of the Triune God through Christ and the Spirit who indwell the church through Word, Sacrament, and holy living.
Posted by: mike at December 8, 2010
There needs to be a balance. Some churches make you feel too happy and others make you feel too miserable and downgraded.
Our culture is very 'therapy' and 'marketing' oriented so I'm not too surprised to read an article like this.
Of course the focus of the article was on social contacts and many people who regularly attend church feel left out. Some are shy and others are actively non participants. Others are in congregations where only 'beautiful people' and those of high standing are welcome.
Posted by: Basil at December 9, 2010
It does not surprise me that 15% of church goers report having no friends at church. When most interaction takes place over a one hour time period on Sunday in a large group setting like a worship service, how can people get to know one another? Church leaders try to remedy the situation by throwing another program at people - the small group. But Christians' lives seldom intersect during the week. In his day, the Apostle Paul exhorted believers to greet one another with a 'holy kiss,' a symbol of the deep affection they had for one another. The handshake ushers dispense at the church door today hardly bears the same emotion.
Posted by: Craig Olson at December 12, 2010
Who's going to admit in a survey that going to church makes you less happy?
Posted by: ms muse at December 13, 2010
the essence of happiness is love! People want to be valued, appreciated and respected. This expression of love must first be directed towards God, who then fills us and individuals are then able to share and give it to each other, by the working of the Holy Spirit. Therefore its not surprising the impact of associating in communal setting like church meetings will have a positive influence on peoples outlook on life! You cannot be in the presence of God and not receive a blessing or be transformed in some way!!!!!
Posted by: Simon at December 20, 2010