WHO is happier about life — liberals or conservatives? The answer might seem straightforward. After all, there is an entire academic literature in the social sciences dedicated to showing conservatives as naturally authoritarian, dogmatic, intolerant of ambiguity, fearful of threat and loss, low in self-esteem and uncomfortable with complex modes of thinking. And it was the candidate Barack Obama in 2008 who infamously labeled blue-collar voters “bitter,” as they “cling to guns or religion.” Obviously, liberals must be happier, right?
Wrong. Scholars on both the left and right have studied this question extensively, and have reached a consensus that it is conservatives who possess the happiness edge. Many data sets show this. For example, the Pew Research Center in 2006 reported that conservative Republicans were 68 percent more likely than liberal Democrats to say they were “very happy” about their lives. This pattern has persisted for decades. The question isn’t whether this is true, but why.
Many conservatives favor an explanation focusing on lifestyle differences, such as marriage and faith. They note that most conservatives are married; most liberals are not. (The percentages are 53 percent to 33 percent, according to my calculations using data from the 2004 General Social Survey, and almost none of the gap is due to the fact that liberals tend to be younger than conservatives.) Marriage and happiness go together. If two people are demographically the same but one is married and the other is not, the married person will be 18 percentage points more likely to say he or she is very happy than the unmarried person.
The story on religion is much the same. According to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, conservatives who practice a faith outnumber religious liberals in America nearly four to one. And the link to happiness? You guessed it. Religious participants are nearly twice as likely to say they are very happy about their lives as are secularists (43 percent to 23 percent). The differences don’t depend on education, race, sex or age; the happiness difference exists even when you account for income.
Read More at the NY Times. By Arthur C. Brooks.
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True happiness comes from God, only. People who have religion like Christians express that they are happy more often than liberals who reject God is proof that having God in your life brings happiness. Even in the midst of suffering. Liberals are so busy trying to make life miserable for conservatives who “stick to their guns and religion,” that they miss out on true happiness. They can’t stand to see religious and conservative people so happy, because “misery loves company.” See website: http://www.haasstrep68.com
Those who are called liberals usually are dissatisfied with the way other people behave, and want to make other people behave the way they (liberals) want them to. I think that’s a mental disorder, not a lack of religion. Many folks who are called liberals are church-goers.
You’re right, a lot of liberals are church-goers, but really don’t have God in their hearts. Anyone can say they go to Church but not live it. Just like obozo said he is Christian, but his actions tell us he’s anti-Christian and muslim. Chief ‘traitor’ Justice Roberts is so-called Catholic, but he upheld ObamaCare anyway. To me, this proves he’s not really Catholic/Christian at all. “Actions speak louder than words.” A lot of times liberals are not happy because their conscience, or the Holy Spirit convicts them of their ‘sins.’ Even though they may not listen to this conviction, it still contributes to their self-made misery. See website: http://www.haasstrep68.com
Liberals: Can you honestly say that you are happy or do you have joy in your life? Happiness does not come from attending church, it comes from the joy of knowing the LORD.
Knowing even in our darkest hours… We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Take a hint, there is joy and happiness in a loving relationship with Christ.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Psalm 19:8
Light shines on the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Psalm 97:11
The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3