In case one missed the revelation in the Time magazine dated January 17, 2005, here it comes – religion fosters happiness; money does not.
In case one missed the revelation in the Time
magazine dated January 17, 2005, here it comes – religion fosters
happiness; money does not.
In an issue focused on the general topic of
happiness, writers examined key areas of life – including religion and
money.
“Religious people are less stressed and happier than
nonbelievers,” the subhead to the article on religion reads.
In turn, the section on happiness and money wonders
“why we remain keen for green even though it often gives us more social
anxiety than satisfaction.”
The ensuing articles affirm a longstanding
affirmation of the Christian faithful – happiness is found in
relationship with God not as a result of riches.
In the article on happiness and religion, writer
Pamela Paul notes that studies suggest faith commitment provides a life
buffer, leading religious persons to be less depressed, anxious and
suicidal than non-religious counterparts. “And they are better able to
cope with such crises as illness, divorce and bereavement,” she adds.
Paul also points out that incorporating religion
into one’s daily life – through such things as reading the Bible and
praying – is beneficial at two points. It leads to more frequent
positive emotions and more overall satisfaction with life, she notes.
Overall, the article notes that the benefit of
religion in seen in four areas – social support, spiritual support, a
sense of purpose and meaning and the avoidance of risky and stressful
behaviors.
The first two benefits focus on the building of a
sense of community and connections with others. The third offers
religious adherents a “unifying narrative” of life, the article
suggests. And the fourth helps persons avoid such “thou shalt not”
behaviors as adultery and drugs.
Religion also can provide boundaries that help simplify life, Paul adds.
“In a world in which anything is possible, religion
can provide guidelines to those who are overwhelmed by an abundance of
options,” she explains.
However, money does not hold the same appeal, an accompanying Time magazine article maintains.
“If you made a graph of American life since the end
of World War II, every line concerning money and the things that money
can buy would soar upward, a statistical monument to materialism, …”
an article by writer Gregg Easterbrook notes.
“Everything is up, up, up.
“But if you made a chart of American happiness since
the end of World War II, the lines would be as flat as a marble
tabletop,” the article adds.
In ensuing paragraphs, Easterbrook describes the
increase in depression in the nation – despite the fact that more
Americans have more money that ever.
He also points out a telling incongruity – at some
level, Americans truly know that money does not buy happiness, but they
simply do not act like it.
In a Time poll, people ranked money 14th as a source
of happiness. “Still, we behave as though happiness is one wave of a
credit card away,” Easterbrook continues.
The articles does not deny the importance of money,
noting that poverty is a very real concern. Indeed, a lack of money
sufficient for decent existence is a tremendous source of frustration
and stress.
But the converse simply is not true – more money
does not bring good feelings, the article adds. Instead, research shows
there “is no significant relationship between how much money a person
earns and whether he or she feels good about life,” Easterbrook points
out.
He spends time exploring that fact, noting that
persons feel anxiety when they are not keeping up with those around
them or when they do not anticipate improvements in their conditions.
In addition, people seem conditioned to think that they simply never
have enough – no matter how much they have, he says.
In other words, no matter how much one has, they
remain focused on getting more, failing to appreciate what they already
have, Easterbrook notes.
He then concludes with a telling paragraph that
echoes the thrust of countless sermons and falls in line with various
biblical admonitions.
“Psychology and sociology aside, there is a final
reason money can’t buy happiness – the things that really matter in
life are not sold in stores,” Easterbrook writes. “Love, friendship,
family, respect, a place in the community, the belief that your life
has purpose – those are the essentials of human fulfillment, and they
cannot be purchased with cash.
“Everyone needs a certain amount of money, but
chasing money rather than meaning is a formula for discontent,”
Easterbrook insists. “Too many Americans have made materialism and the
cycle of work and spend their principal goals.
“Then, they wonder why they don’t feel happy.”