Does Religion = Well-being? Gallup says so...

1. 72

   Hugh Williamsonposted 14 years ago

   The Gallup-Healthways well-being Poll says:
   
   "A new analysis of more than 550,000 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index interviews conducted over the last year and a half finds that Americans who are the most religious also have the highest levels of wellbeing."
   
   Why would that be? Do you agree with the poll?
   
   http://www.gallup.com/poll/144080/Relig … being.aspx

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      pylos26posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Religion (or the pretense of) is the only route to wealth via politics, law and most public services because they must suck up to the masses to win their favors and support. Everyone knows that the majority of the populace is big time ignorant and religious, so if you aren’t religious or pretend to believe in fairies it’s over before you start.  Hey!...that's democracy for ya.

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         couturepopcafeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Your answer makes absolutely no sense relative to the question.

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2. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

   I think contentment comes from within regardless of religious views.  there are variables in a poll such as this. I know there are some deeply religious people who seem to block out the rest of the world disregarding it as real.
   
   from what I have seen in these forums, a number of the very religious people seem to be angry. 

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      exorterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I have see more anger and attacking coming from the non-believers,
      watch and see who nis calling how  foolish, childish, ignorant, un-educated and the such

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3. 64

   prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

   Depends on how they calculate religiosity -- going to church once thrice or four times a week? there is a gap between belief and practice. In my own honest opinion it is very difficult to calculate "religiosity", so you cant' generalize whether a person is more religious than the rest. Then when you relate happiness and religion without really knowing the "index of religiosity" the poll is flawed.

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      Castlepalomaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Religion dose have a stronger social club than many, Relationship are 1/5 of the equation. Spiritual for me is the 99% unknown world and universe until its manifest experience into our ego self.  Imagine reaching or for the stars and bringing whatever you can to earth is a healthy concept.
      
      It can assist in the balance of other 3 parts of of your life in which are intellect, physical and financial

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         Castlepalomaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Cagsil
         
         I do find that ancient spirituality is not living in the now, enough. Contradictions keep happening by trying to update their spiritual beliefs, as every word is written as truth. Too much of their lives is living in the pass by over obedience.
         
         Yet still, I think some spirituality is better than none. There are 11% spiritual non religious believer out there. Most people I meet today say they are spiritual rather than religious and most believe in some form of God.

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4. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   Mystic religions that hold a belief in a god and those who are strictly religious, will have a better well-being. Why? Because, they are too selfish and self-absorbed into their own life and family to give a damn about anything outside of it.
   
   Sure, they'll talk a good game, but when action needs to be put forth, then they are nowhere to be found.

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      exorterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      yea, just look at all the unbelievers that are feeding the hungry children

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         Cagsilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         That statement is filled with so much distortion isn't not even funny.
         
         Besides, you commented on my post of all things. You worry about what you are doing to help others and let me worry about what I am doing to help others.
         
         What I do, isn't any of your business. Stick to your life and stay out of others.

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            exorterposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            you said we are to selfish and self-absorbed in our own lives to give a damn about anything outside of it
            then you tell me what you do or do not do is your business
            
            I forgot that we have to live by different rules

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5. 69

   wyanjenposted 14 years ago

   So, the people who have bought into to the propaganda say they are happy?
   
   Interesting.

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6. 75

   Bill Manningposted 14 years ago

   Even though I'm a non believer that makes sense actually. If you believe your going to have a fantastic after life, that everything your doing is going to be rewarded once you die, then of course your content.
   
   I'm very content with my belief and very stress free and easy going. Even though my thinking is that your,,, uh,,, dead. But that is very peaceful, like sleeping, so I'm content.
   
   So whatever you believe, if it gives you peace of mind than your going to be more content than others who are still not sure. More power to you, but please keep it to yourself. You don't want to upset others contentment.

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7. 59

   ninerposted 14 years ago

   I'm not a religious person, but I understand why this would be.  Churches advocate a healthy lifestyle - good relationships, less drinking and partying, "your body is a temple" - all things that lead to a person being healthier.
   
   I don't think this study lends any truth to specific religions, but just shows a strong correlation between religious values and a healthy lifestyle (that you can easily have without being spiritual).

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8. 76

   Aficionadaposted 14 years ago

   And they're off!......Down the straightaway, it's neck and neck......nose to nose...... It's the non-believers, no, it's the believers, no it's the non-believers....... what a race!!
   
   It's pretty clear that many commenters here are just going on their own gut feelings rather than actually looking at the Gallup poll report.
   
   First of all, the Well-Being Index is not a self-assessment of "happiness."  It does include some factors related to contentment, but it also relates to healthy vs. non-healthy behaviors and numerous other factors too.  See: http://www.well-beingindex.com/files/20 … eFINAL.PDF
   
   [EDITED to add: http://www.well-beingindex.com/]
   
   
   Second:  in the report the difference between "religious" and "nonreligious" is actually not identical with the difference between "believer" and "non-believer."  See: http://www.gallup.com/poll/144080/Relig … being.aspx
   
   Third:  the difference in Well-Being is statistically significant, but it is also not all that large.  Very Religious scored 68.7; moderately religious and non-religious both scored 64.2.
   
   I have perused the reports and I will read them more closely when I have more time available.  I would suggest to others that you at least scan the linked article before you comment on it.

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9. 64

   prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

   I still say it is difficult to measure the degree of religiosity by church attendance or the importance of religion in life as there is always the gap between what your church teaching and your actual activities. Plus a phone interview is not reliable way of getting the answers to the question. A longitudinal study is preferred but costly. The method which is good to this kind of study is observation sample or participatory, you live with them to observe whether they are religious or not, can we do that, no.

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10. 86

    rebekahELLEposted 14 years ago

    I did. I saw it as flawed. anyone can say anything.
    
    contentment and well-being are subjective in matter and can't be accurately assessed by a survey.

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11. 72

    Hugh Williamsonposted 14 years ago

    I think what surprised me in the Gallup findings was that from my personal experience, I would have suspected the opposite.
    
    In my background, the family members who were religious (or super religious) seemed the most agitated and ill at ease. The "religious lites" and atheists seemed the most content. Just a personal observation.
    
    Gallup seems to have done a good job of getting a very large sample of the populace for measuring but, polls can be wrong. Maybe that's why the politicos who poll out in front, are still out campaigning. They observe the polls but they don't really trust them.

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       Baileybearposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       no matter how uptight religious people are, they'd still claim they had high well-being

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