Faith equals happiness, no faith equals misery

Shadow Attorney General Dominic Grieve MP gave an interesting speech last week to the Conservative Christian Fellowship which you can download here , addressing the issue of British identity. But he also touched on well-being, a topic of concern to party leader David Cameron and which is the focus of an interesting report by a cross-party group of MPs. We've got a story in the paper today on this, which on which I was interested to see this morning a supportive comment by one Benita Hewitt! St Louis Catholic has also posted an interesting response.

The cross-party group says that the Christian voice is not being respected properly because it comes across too often as "negative", and that Christians are identified too easily by what they are against, rather than what they are for. The report comes as Parliament prepares to debate the bill today that would allow the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos. The bill has been strongly opposed by the Roman Catholic Church in particular, which yesterday came under fire from Lisa Jardine, chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, for having a "fatal imediment" to any research of this nature.

Comments

[sally marshall]

Speaking as an atheist I had not noticed that my absence of faith in some fairy tale makes me unhappy. What makes people unhappy is uncertainty so perhaps the solution is for those who claim to be agnostic would be for them fully to embrace rationality and call themselevs atheists.

[Soreofhing]

You are right Sally.
For years during my youth I was too scared to come right out with it and declare that I was an atheist.
It's so much more wishy washy and non committed to say you are an agnostic.
With age comes confidence and I now state proudly that I´m an atheist.
Not much happens and I feel better.

[George Parr]

Whilst the report demonstrates in numerous ways what constitutes unhappiness, it is pitifully short on evidence that either, a) we are all more miserable than we would like, or b) pursuing faith for itself solves the problem.

Against what imaginary utopia or stated ideal are these notions set? There is nothing new here that cannot be achieved by a personal rejection or a modification of some of the obvious facets of modern life the report identifies as either lacking or undesirable. A re-assessment of what is important and how to achieve it impacts directly on feelings of success. Since the Christian ethic constantly reminds us that it exists in order for Christians to go to a better place, perhaps they are expecting far too much from where they currently reside. Not much is mentioned over how much religion contributes to the general gloom, with one fifth of their fairly small sample claiming not to trust priests.

Who on earth elected these people? And who paid for their partial deliberations? It bothers me that alleged societal problems, defined or wrapped up within a secular context, are being looked at through a cross-party self-interest group whose clear agenda is to address them selectively. I can see that in part they are tugging at their own optical plank. But the criteria here is still being assessed on their own terms. It would have been far more impressive if an extensive and unbiased survey had firstly shown that society was actually intrinsically unhappy and then demonstrated that a lack of faith was the cause. This, of course, is unlikely.

It seems to me that the staggering 70% of the population who do not trust the journalists (presently company wholly excepted) are unwittingly identifying one aspect of the problem, if there is one.

Constant loud media comment, in inescapable surround-sound and selected images plastered on every flat surface, issuing overblown dire warnings over every conceivable issue, IS wholly depressing for the weak-minded. The media-generated neurosis is endless and continual, a daily event. Instead of reporting the news, it is skilfully created and presented on a plate. And a very great percentage does not apply.

Rubbish, superficial television and newspapers which appear to be aimed at idiots, support and extend the empty culture of celebrity and 'reality' programming. These things have been internalised and presented as the status quo, with subliminal messages, signifiers of 'we love it', writ large in the ether to reinforce them.

Education is the answer, with imaginative television that accentuates the positive and drills deeper into intelligent issues.
Demonstrably, the 'unhappy' souls who think that the world consists of endlessly phoning in with their 'choice' of mediocrity, or that Albert Square actually exists, have been thoroughly sold a pup.

In this culture, some of the people the report claims to include, will stop feeling miserable when they are told to.

[J Pearce]

"Faith equals happiness, no faith equals misery".

Why might that be? To be honest, I've not exactly seen much evidence of it on this particular blog. Quite the opposite in fact! Half the religious contributors turn out to be either curmudgeonly old goats, or self-righteous elitists. Does a sense of arrogant moral superioirity make you "happier"? Obviously it does...

One might interpret this data to mean that theists are, by definition, too stupid to understand the complexities of life and therefore exist in a perpetual state of unenlightened self-delusion. That is, after all, the raison d'etre of religion - the emotional and psychological "comfort blanket" that one hears bandied about on a regular basis.

Not that I'd ever subscribe to this view myself, of course…existential angst, then, appears to be the domain of atheists and agnostics. Or just agnostics, if we believe Sally. Well, someone has to do it, I suppose :-)

I'd subscribe to the view that there is some truth in the idea that the pursuit of materialistic happiness does not necessarily lead to it; but then, I don't agree with the presumption that religious belief offers transcedent happiness either.

I do agree with the idea that Christians are pretty much framed by what they oppose, though. But who's fault is that? They do tend to single themselves out when their spokespeople (various Cardinals and Bishops spring readily to mind) use the media as a platform for unenlightened or frankly inhumane rants against certain minority groups or proposed legislation, of which they understand practically nothing.

The problem is, the Church has form when it comes to a) opposing things that ultimately prove to be either beneficial, or b) predicting social disasters which transparently never occur. Yet it often remains practically mute and impotent when real horrors occur. Why, for example, is the upcoming Lambeth conference going to be dominated by this ridiculous hand wringing over homosexuality, when it should be going after those African bishops who give murderous African dictatorships the nod and the wink?!

When the Church hierarchy gets its priorities right, then maybe it'll deserve a little more respect.

[Mike Homfray]

This is something which only Christians can do something about. I think the problem is that so many of them find themselves out of sync with society and so they tend to concentrate on what they are unhappy about.

Also, those with the loudest voices tend to be reactionary conservatives. Not all the MP's quoted opposed gay equality, for example, yet Christianity was cited as the source of their opposition by many of the campaigners against gay equality

I used to be a Christian. I'm not now. I'd say I an as happy then as now.

[andrew holden]

I'm a Christian and I think this is total boll*@#\s!

Whoever said that life was about being happy anyway - or being guaranteed wealth and health - or immune from suffering? Why should a Christian expect to be spared the common lot of humanity and guaranteed contentment in this world? In fact the Bible warns us that 'here we have no lasting city'!

As for reactionary anti-gay sentiment, Mike, it's a feature of society in general not just something inspired by (some) religious people. The worst examples of homophobia I've witnessed have not come from genuine religious people (even those who think that same-sex is sinful) - and don't forget that despite the injustices which remain for LGBT people in the Church many retain their faith and hang on in there encouraged by the more enlightened and inclusive believers, of which there are many.

I'm sorry that you are no longer a believer and would certainly hesitate to speak for you (let alone 'at' you) but my first stop when wanting a view on the relationship between religion and sexuality is those who (despite the excesses and injustices) remain in the church to fight for a better way.

[Michael Stevens]

I can't lay my hands on it right now but I am sure I have seen good academic figures supporting this thesis. Whatever the faith is, Buddhism, Shamanism, Islam, Christianity, those who believe tend to have a stronger reading on scores of happiness and confidence.

[iain rae]

Many Christians resent the fact that most people enjoy life without the guilt of original sin,and do not need "saving".

[Dr Alan Marsh]

"Happiness" is a rather imprecise term. It seems to me that St Augustine was more accurate in his diagnosis of the situation:

Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.

[Mike Homfray]

Andrew: I came to the conclusion that the better way is humanism. The problem with Christianity is inherent - the Bible, basically. And in British society, virtually all anti-gay campaigning is fronted by conservative Christians.

[alan]

As a child, some sixty-odd years ago, I was unhappy becauseI thought I was alone in not being able to believe in a god.
It was a long time before I discovered there were many others like me who didn't believe in religious humbug either.
That made me happy.
(I wonder if believers can understand this.)

[Alistair]

"Whatever the faith is, Buddhism, Shamanism, Islam, Christianity, those who believe tend to have a stronger reading on scores of happiness and confidence."

And on scores of 'delusion' too...

"When one person suffers from a delusion, it's called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion, it's caled religion"
Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[Stuart Hartill]

I've seen such research too. It was American and was totally trashed by every peer review but some UK groups still try to use it without revealing the source or the conditions under which it was gathered.
We should be automatically suspicious of such reports. For example, you could produce reports to 'prove' that gays were less happy than straight people, and some Christian groups have. But if you were rigorous you'd have to then ask why. At that point you would discover it's because they are the subject of so much prejudice and discrimination in employment, access to medical facilities, life insurance, mortgages....and if you went on to look at, say, who may legally discriminate against them in employment, housing or adoption.....
Oh, what a suprise!

[andrew holden]

Mike, the problem with Christianity is the same as the problem with anything - people. Some are good and some are bad. You chose humanism as an alternative path, and I respect that though I've chosen a different way (Christian Humanism?).

The heart of Christianity, and indeed of the Bible, is not "God hates gays" (which of course I don't believe) but that God loves us - whatever. I wish that more Christians would stay with the basic message myself rather than adding their own layers of interpretation ("actually God will only love you if.....") which just put people off.

Sadly I don't doubt what you say about the anti-gay campaigning of some Christian campaigners but I do hope you've come across the wider acceptance of gays that I find in many churches (even the ones with a less than helpful official line).

[jim]

I have approximate answers and possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything.. --Richard Feynman (theoretical physicist)
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd. --Voltaire
My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot. --Ashleigh Brilliant
Why torture yourself when life will do it for you. --Anon
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never be happy if you are looking for the meaning of life. --Albert Camus
Any idiot can face a crisis--it's day to day living that wears you out. --Anton Chekhov
To succeed in life you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone. --Reba McEntire
You live and learn. Well. at any rate you live. -- Douglas Adams
Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. Charles Schulz
In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back. --Charlie Brown
God writes a lot of comedy...the trouble is, He's stuck with so many bad actors who don't know how to play funny. --Garrison Keillor
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. --Groucho Marx
Love is the answer - but while you're waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty interesting questions.
If you don't fail now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe.
The good people sleep much better at night than the bad people. Of course, the bad people enjoy the waking hours much more.
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans.
What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet. ---Woody Allen

[Rowan Grigg]

'Many Christians resent the fact that most people enjoy life without the guilt of original sin,and do not need "saving".'

Iain, the doctrine of Original Sin is shortly coming up for major revision. The forthcoming dispensation can be easily grasped, even by those who do not have a natural aptitude for belief in God.

The old dispensation was delivered long before anyone (except God) was aware of the geology or the palaeontology. It merely served to introduce us to the symbolism, rather than the reality, of the relationship between God and Man. It went like this. The first man, Adam, was created immortal. Adam then wantonly disobeyed God, and because of this sin, God had no choice (so the story goes) but to rescind his immortality. To roll back all of the misery that Adam’s sinful act had caused, God himself became a man in the person of Jesus. God’s death on the cross paid the only ransom for Adam’s original sin that was acceptable to God, and this act allowed us to regain our immortality.

In this day and age, there are reasonable objections to this story. We now know that we have evolved from the apes, and have always been mortal, and whatever it is that Jesus did for us, it does not yet appear to have made us immortal again.

The new dispensation will instead be about the reality, rather than the mere symbolism, of the relationship between God and Man. At the end of time, God will wash away the sin of the world, by taking over full responsibility for our sin. It was God who took the first step when he caused Man (and all his precursor species) to be mortal, and it is mortality which in turn was the root cause of our sin. It turns out that Adam (the emerged species) did not bring about his mortality, but has been innocent all along. God has been incarnate in all of us, not just one of us, which is why Jesus declared that whatever we did to the least of our brothers and sisters, we did it to him. The sacrifice that has already been made for we who are now alive, is not just the perfect sacrifice of one man who became God, but of Mankind throughout history.

When God finally makes the decision to repeal our mortality, it will become effortless for us to love our neighbour as ourselves, and we will all become angels in Heaven. What Jesus demonstrated, through a showcase of miracles, was the breadth of God’s power. In him, all things are possible, and he has a very exciting prospect in store for us.