Major Religions and Life Satisfaction

Everyone approaches happiness in different ways. They way that one religion or culture approaches it will differ from another. Aristotle argued that the purpose of human existence was to achieve happiness. However, this is a view that differs from every belief system you may run into. In Hebrew, there isn’t a precise word to describe happiness. Prophet Micah, who is revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, is recorded as having said, “do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” Catholics view happiness as being something that you can only achieve after death. In Islam, happiness comes from worship.

Muslims are taught that the purpose of human existence is to worship Allah, which is the Arabic word for God. However, this doesn’t mean that happiness isn’t important. Research done by Joshanloo (2013) backs this view. Much of Islam’s text focuses on scripture that state the principal of being happy in this life so that a person may have a proper Hereafter. For instance, in the Qur’an it mentions, “But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust, Lo! the Garden will be his home” (Joshanloo, 2013). Though it is not mentioned specifically, happiness comes when a person adheres and obeys the commandments that are given to him. If there is a conflict between this world and the Hereafter, the Muslim is encouraged to choose the Hereafter since that is the longer lasting source of happiness. In another saying, it is mentioned that this world (dunya) is a prison for the believer. Therefore, Muslims should increase their acts of worship and do “righteous good deeds” (Joshanloo, 2013).

Despite many of the findings largely being tied to religious practices, research has shown that is not the only source of happiness. The author argues within the context of the study that Islam’s social identity and social context is consistent with the Greek’s social aspect of happiness (Joshanloo, 2013). Part of this has to do with Islam being formed and practiced among societies that are collectivistic. Therefore, the synergy between individuals and society is significant. Islamic concepts of happiness tend to be misunderstood in current research, which is something the author was trying to bring to light, since they are not dominant themes in Western society. Being pious, spiritual, and possessing high ideals seems to be a staple of Muslim society as the key to happiness (Joshanloo, 2013).

In another study that focuses on religion as being centric to happiness, Cohen (2002) researched the importance of spirituality in well-being among Jews and Christians. Cohen starts with the premise that people who are more religious tend to be the happiest. What has been found by the research is that what constitutes happiness is different from Catholics, Protestants, and Jews. For instance, Jews differ in spirituality and deal with problems by turning to God (Cohen, 2002). Though coping, religious belief, and spirituality are important to all three groups, spirituality is a predictor with regards to the satisfaction of life for Catholics and Protestants (Cohen, 2002). Lastly, as the author made mention of in the beginning, religiosity and life satisfaction are correlated. This was found to be true among the Jews, Catholics, and Protestants alike.

In both of the articles, it is found that religiosity plays a role in happiness. Whereas happiness is the primary focus for Muslims in the afterlife, there is evidence that there is a basis for happiness in this world as well by way of good deeds and doing charitable works (Joshanloo, 2013). Likewise, with all four groups that were presented between both of the studies, spirituality is a high predictor as well when it comes to overall life satisfaction. These views of happiness differ from other beliefs such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhism encompasses the idea that life is suffering (Sharpe & Bryant, 2005). Means to happiness include entering Nirvana, which can be done by repeating Amitabha’s name repeatedly (Sharpe & Bryant, 2005). Having a happy mind is another way of happiness. This is attained by having a concentrated mind; one that is concentrated on Buddha (Sharpe & Bryant, 2005).

In Hinduism, universal determination plays a role in happiness. In other words, what’s going on today with us is the effect of what we did earlier in life (Sharpe & Bryant, 2005). Also, Hindus believe that what we did in a previous life determines our happiness as well. Therefore, if you were a killer in a past life, you can probably expect to have a miserable life in this life. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. A lot of influence is placed on karma, which is something that neither of the major beliefs that are addressed in the research I presented, have beliefs in. In much of the belief systems I showed earlier, evil deeds are negated by way of repentance.

Though the differences between the major belief systems with regards to happiness differ tremendously, heeding religious ideals are all key in the pursuit of happiness. Whether it is by way of doing god deeds in this life, turning to God to cope or finding solace in religious practices, all beliefs have some way to ensure that their adherents are happy. Sometimes, as in the case of Islam, real happiness comes not in this world, but the Hereafter. Whereas beliefs such as Hinduism feel that a person will continue to deal with the consequences of their actions as a result of a previous life’s activities. In conclusion, if religious practices and spirituality are key among these particular beliefs which seem to be routine, for a person who is agnostic, would these same principals apply?

References

• Cohen, A. B. (2002). The importance of spirituality in well-being for Jews and Christians. Journal of Happiness Studies, 3(3), 287–310. doi:10.1023/A:1020656823365 ↩1 ↩2 ↩3
• Joshanloo, M. (2013). A comparison of Western and Islamic conceptions of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14(6), 1857–1874. doi:10.1007/s10902-012-9406-7 ↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6
• Sharpe, K. J., & Bryant, R. (2005). Has science displaced the soul? Debating love and happiness (Kindle Edition.). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4