Religion, Politics and Happiness

Politics, Religion and Happiness

Religion and politics, it can be argued are directly proportional to human happiness. History clearly demonstrates that political and religious stability helps civilization flourish, not just at the national level but also at the international level. There are reliable social and scientific studies that confirm this. Additionally, various leaders, scholars and other influential figures across different disciplines have affirmed the fact that religion by itself can lead to societal happiness and political stability. Much has been written and said about this issue, and an overwhelming number of people around the world still believe that religious and political stability hold the key to many of our problems. However, when we look at the present state of the world such claims hardly seem plausible. In the last fifty years, religious and political conflicts have plagued our civilization unlike anything else. What is paradoxical about the present situation is the fact that, the more progressive human societies become, the more destructive religious and political conflicts get. Hence, the links between religion, politics and human happiness have to be critically examined in order find out if they truly complement each other.

Religion, Politics and, Happiness?

Various studies have linked religious and political preferences with happiness. Some scholars believe that religion helps people pick a specific political sect. This happens primarily because people want their political sect to represent their religious beliefs. In the US, for example, people more often than not tend to support a political party that reflects their religious beliefs. The US is a deeply religious country and many people consider religion as the cornerstone which helps them sustain their lives. The trend is obvious because most conservatives tend to associate themselves with the Republican Party, while most liberals tend to associate themselves with the Democratic Party. Interestingly, studies have shown that, in the US conservatives who have firm religious beliefs are generally happier than liberals, whose religious beliefs might be comparatively diverse.

For example, social scientist Arthur C. Brooks (2012) argues that religious conservatives in the US are happier than their liberal counterparts. Brooks also states that this fact is true, regardless of, education, race, sex or age. Brooks tries to tackle the conventional stereotype that “conservatives are ignorant”, by making references to studies carried out by various scholars. According to Brooks, the main reason why conservatives are happier is because of their optimistic outlook on life in general. Conservatives, according to these studies believe, “in each American’s ability to get ahead on the basis of achievement”, while liberals “are more likely to see people as victims of circumstance and oppression, and doubt whether individuals can climb without governmental help.” Some of these studies might be valid, but a closer look at them shows that the data that Brooks incorporates in his article can be interpreted in numerous ways. Furthermore, Brooks, makes no attempt to explain why liberals always “see people as victims of circumstance and oppression”, and why conservatives believe “in each American’s ability to get ahead on the basis of achievement”. America being a deeply religious country has its share of religious liberals as well but they don’t seem to share the same optimism.

Journalist Sally Quinn (2014), is of the opinion that religion gives individuals a sense of direction in their lives. Quinn argues that, without religion, the world would become apathetic and frightfully materialistic. In her article, Quinn refers to a presentation done by psychologist Catherine Sanderson at Amherst College. According to Sanderson, religion makes people happy because it gives them an ideal mindset, and factors like belief in a higher power, prayer and belief in the afterlife, can be psychologically beneficial. Quinn also believes that religion generates more empathy within society. However, I have to point out that. Quinn analysis of religion and its importance, is very courteous. She for instance, does not addresses the unhappiness religion has brought unto the world. As a matter of fact, religion extremism is responsible for a large portion of the world’s problems. I personally think that religious dogmas have divided humanity from time immemorial. Religion also creates tribalism, and is responsible for a great of animosity and violence.

However, it has to be acknowledged that religion does have socioemotional advantages which contributes to individual happiness. Studies clearly affirm this fact. According to a report in the Illinois News Bureau (2011) , a Gallup Poll conducted from 2005-2009 revealed that “Religious affiliation appears to boost happiness and well-being in societies that fail to provide adequate food, jobs, health care, security and educational opportunities”. The poll also discovered that “Religious people in religious societies are more likely to report that they feel respected, receive more social support and experience more positive and less negative feelings than their peers who are not religious.” 

Is the Influence of Religion Receding?

Sociologist Steve Bruce (2006), tries to provide us insights into why religion is a major part of the problem rather than the solution. Brue argues that religious diversity, rather than helping us is starting to become a major hindrance. Firstly, religion is a major source of conflict in the world today, like it always has been. Secondly, religious beliefs are becoming more and more relativistic, and seem to aid only a select group of individuals rather than humanity in general. Brue also points out that Europe is not religious anymore and, in other prominent nations, the influence of religion is fading away. While these are all good points, the article completely ignores the diverse nature of religion. While relativistic religions may be cause social conflicts, there is a large probability that the contrary position might be true as well. Studies have shown that in some highly affluent countries like the US, Indonesia and Malaysia people are united by religion. Bruce himself acknowledges the fact that religious extremism is different from religious moderation but he does not pursue the subject.  

 

Economics and Happiness

                Economics is a major underlying factor that, directly impacts both individual and societal happiness. The importance of economics in determining human happiness is beyond any doubt. Historians, economists, philosophers and other scholars have always endorsed the importance of economics. That being said, economic policies are dependent on, and generally influenced by, other factors like political ideologies, religious dogmas and culture. Studies conducted by various acclaimed scholars prove that economic policies greatly affect political stability, religiosity and social harmony. Hence the link between economics and human happiness is profound.

                Economist Edward L. Glaeser (2011), believes that there is more to economics as a scientific discipline, than just economic policies. Historically, economists like Adam Smith, David Hume, and Lord Kames addressed issues like morality and ethics in great detail. In fact, most of their economic doctrines revolved around societal happiness. Galeser, argues that, good economic policies pave the way for freedom, which is an important factor for establishing human happiness. This assertion can be backed factually. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index, happiness in economics is measured according to economy, entrepreneurship and opportunity, governance, education, health safety and security, personal freedom and social capital. The 2014 Legatum Prosperity Index (2014) ranks Norway, Switzerland and New Zealand as the happiest countries in the world. All of these countries have one major factor in common, their economies are stable and strong.  While on the other land the least happy countries in the world are Central African Republic, Chad, and Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries too, have one major factor in common, their economies are extremely weak and unstable.

                I personally think that the link between religion, politics, economics and happiness, is also an interesting one. Studies have shown that, religious and political preferences, directly influence economic policies, which is largely responsible for human happiness. Out of top ten happiest countries in the Legatum Prosperity Index, nine are considered overwhelmingly non-religious. While on the other hand, almost all of top ten least religious countries are considered highly religious. This is surprising and, contradictory, because studies have shown that religious people tend to happier than non-religious people. In my view, this happens because, people in non-religious affluent countries have found other factors that make them happy and no longer value religion. These factors might include recreational activities like art, music and sports.

                                                               

Politics and Happiness

Another intriguing and important factor is the political system which the most and least happy countries in the world adhere to. The happiest countries in the world, it can be observed, are politically stable. The governments of these countries, focus on issues like public welfare, sustaining the economy, investments, employment and various other constructive factors. The happiest countries also are democratic in nature. On the contrary, the least happy countries in the world, tend to be politically unstable, and additionally are usually governed by dictators or corrupt politicians.  Journalist and researcher Alexander Noyes (2012), in his analysis of Zimbabwean politics stated that, “Zimbabwe is fast approaching a dangerous tipping point. Last month, its ailing octogenarian president, Robert Mugabe, angrily defied his critics, calling for early elections in 2012. If a political settlement with Zimbabwe’s security chiefs is not negotiated before the vote, Mr. Mugabe will no doubt rely on them to once again begin a campaign of intimidation and violence, leading to sham elections that could precipitate a regional crisis”. Politics, therefore plays a huge role in ascertaining how happy the general population within a country is. The political situation of a country along with its political policies, also influence other important factors like individual freedom, economic policies and culture.

                                                                 

Conclusion

Human happiness, when examined critically and objectively is paradoxical. The factors that determine happiness and wellbeing seem to be relativistic and contradictory. In a deeply religious country like the US, religion appears to be a big factor, because it makes a large amount people happy. Religious conservatives, according to various studies, are the happiest people in the US. While one the other hand, people who describe themselves as non-religious tend to be less optimistic. This is not universally true, when we look at Europe and some affluent Asian countries, the fact “religious people are happier”, which was true in America’s case, gets falsified. People in these parts of the world tend to non-religious, yet are no less happy than Americans. In fact, statistics show that there is a greater amount of equality and opportunities in these countries when compared to the US.  

The notion of happiness is not absolute, and it depends on various factors like culture, education and society. I think that theories and statistics don’t justly represent the feelings of people. While statistics and theories can provide us with valuable and accurate insights into how happy a particular country is, they can be both fallible and falsifiable and are not objectively true. William Blake believed that “Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence.”  What Blake meant is that human nature is diverse, and cannot be explained away by rationalism and numbers. The world holistically, is too diverse and complex to generalize.