Does faith ensure happiness?

Q: Some people say that if you have a connection with God that you will be happy. Does a belief in God automatically ensure happiness?

By Erica Brown

Too many people believe in God as a quick fix for happiness. While there is much evidence that people of faith lead happier, healthier lives, this is due to many factors working together: being part of a faith community with all of its benefits, enjoying membership in a system of beliefs and rituals that encourage selfless behavior and volunteerism, and believing that God watches over you and protects you. But the other side of that equation is this: if you believe in God, then you must also struggle theologically when bad things happen to good people, when natural disasters strike and when your own world seems to crumble. Faith can bring true joy when it helps us appreciate our blessings. It's problematic when we believe in God as an insurance policy for happiness and the after-life with a money-back guarantee. Religion, to be meaningful, has to be and is more complex than that.

--Dr. Erica Brown, Director for Adult Education at The Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning.

Go to HealthCentral.com to learn more about the connection between faith and depression.

By David Waters  |  December 8, 2009; 12:53 AM ET Save & Share:                 
Previous: Our faith and health experts | Next: Does God only give us what we can handle?

Posted by: rpvt | December 8, 2009 9:12 AM
Report Offensive Comment

The comments to this entry are closed.