Are religious people happier?

Are religious people happier?

Neal Tadken ( Associate Rector for Pastoral Care) gives expert video advice on: How is a clergyman's perspective on happiness different from the average person's?; What can others learn about happiness from a clergyman?; How does religion address the issue of happiness? and more...

People who practice religion may on the whole be happier. But it's also my experience that in the church, the church is often a place for wounded people. A lot of people come with their wounds and I don't think necessarily having wounds precludes happiness. In fact I think they are rather interconnected. I think we have to deal with our suffering and our vulnerability in order to know real happiness because one of the things that I think is core to our happiness index is our ability to be connected. And that's what religion in its best forms is really about. How are we going to connect with God and with one another.