Why are secular liberals so unhappy? This question is provocatively discussed in Arthur Brooks' new book Gross National Happiness. Brooks is a sociologist and statistician at Syracuse University. I am reading his book while vacationing with my lovely wife on the beautiful island of Santorini. So it's natural for me, watching the most beautiful sunsets in the world, martini in hand, to think about the question of happiness.
Brooks' book is full of interesting data. We learn, for instance, that money does buy happiness, but only upto a point. Poor people and poor countries are unhappy, and by the self-description of the people involved. So the movement from grinding poverty to the comfortable middle-class brings a huge gain in happiness. But interestingly economic improvement at this point brings diminishing marginal returns. This is not to say that rich people aren't happier: they are. But not by very much.
Brooks also shows that, in his own words, "people who say they are conservative or very conservative are nearly twice as likely to say they are very happy than are people who call themselves liberal or very liberal. Conservatives are much less likely to say they are dissatisfied with themselves, that they are inclined to feel like a failure, or to be pessimistic about their future." Conservatives' mental health is far better than that of liberals.
Equally fascinating, Brooks notes that "faith is an incredible predictor, and cause, of happiness. Religious people of all faiths are much, much happier on average than secularists." Specifically, 43 percent of those who attend church weekly or more call themselves "very happy," versus 23 percent who attend seldom or never. Observant Jews and Christians are by Brooks' measure the happiest people in America.
So why are secular liberals in general so miserable? I offer two reasons. The first is that liberals are political utopians. They consider human nature to be wonderful, and they expect freedom to be used wonderfully well. So they are always bitterly disappointed when they discover that this is not the case. Conservatives, by contrast, have a dimmer view of human nature. So their expectations are more modest. When things don't turn out half-badly, conservatives are pleasantly surprised. They are happier because it takes less to make them happier.
It's not too hard to figure out why religious people are happier. Belief in God gives people a powerful sense of higher purpose in life. It assures people that the universe is in the benign hands of a omnipotent, omniscient, and compassionate higher power. It offers people a code for how to live. It gives us a reason to hope in cosmic justice, which is better than the imperfect justice of our terrestrial world.
By contrast, secular people have little to hope for. They are sure that they came from nowhere--the chance product of random mutation and natural selection--and are going nowhere. They know that terrible things happen, and they don't believe there is any purpose in this. No wonder that secular people have so few children: they have much less reason than religious people to believe in the future.
So why is an atheist like Richard Dawkins so frequently wearing a conspitated scowl? And why am I usually smiling? Some may attribute these differences to our genetic temperaments. Others may put it down to the fact that I live in sunny California, eating healthy nouvelle cuisine and going on walking tours in Santorini. Dawkins, by contrast, lives in dank, rainy England and eats abominable English food. ("May I offer you some more kidney pie, Professor Dawkins? It's somewhat bland, I know, but perhaps it will work as a laxative.")
But Arthur Brooks would probably say that our temperaments are also the consequences of two very different worldviews, one producing the wholesome optimism of What's So Great About Christianity, the other the angry bitterness of The God Delusion. Read Brooks' new book yourself to see if he's right.
Reader Comments ( Page 41 of 42)
601. 'Sounds' like you had my comment on free-will filed under 'g' for garbage before you read it.
not-pboyfloyd at 6:15PM on May 27th 2008
602. Not-pboy,
"The more you accept free-will as a given the more you are predictable and the less you are willing to accept new information or consider new choices.
The less you accept free-will paradoxically the more you will act like a free agent by really considering options."
Yeah, there's truth in that, because often the people who accept free will are more left brained which is less spontaneous, I think, more organized and predictable.
But, just knowing you can do things doesnt mean you should do them. I could really try to stab at some ideas here, but you guys are different than me, and its your choice... I know...
Its funny. I have had several athiest, non internet friends. None of them would change their minds... Why ARE you guys so attatched?
Michelle at 6:18PM on May 27th 2008
603. ...so attatched to your athiesm...
Michelle at 6:23PM on May 27th 2008
604. By the blog's way,
happy... there are different kinds of happy. Most people are happy in some way... I think happiness is the gratification of having achieved... anything.
Michelle at 6:32PM on May 27th 2008
605. Are you saying, Michelle, that you think that you have free will, but that you shouldn't use it?
not-pboyfloyd at 6:37PM on May 27th 2008
606. Not-Pboy,
Well, technically, not everything should be done. I mean you can, but there're consequences, I mean its up to you when you know whats going to happen...
Michelle at 6:41PM on May 27th 2008
607. Michelle - "Well, technically, not everything should be done."
Well, Michelle, technically I never tried to say to you that 'everything should be done', did I?
(people are probably starting to see now how a comment section could be ballooned up to 1500 comments by me saying something and Michelle.... being Michelle.)
not-pboyfloyd at 6:46PM on May 27th 2008
608. Its funny. I have had several athiest, non internet friends. None of them would change their minds... Why ARE you guys so attatched?
Michelle at 6:18PM on May 27th 2008
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Because we like being able to see reality as it is. Warts and all. No Christ-Colored Glasses needed, thanks.
Aw, I knew you were funnin me... I am very happily married as well, and would never even think of cheating. Good for you that you're as moral as I am in that regard. That's one. :-)
And besides, I'd blow your mind. And I really don't want another puppy following me around looking for scraps.
(Last part is a joke, so don't get your panties in a twist...)
(but, cum to think about it...............)
Godless Heathen Brian at 6:52PM on May 27th 2008
609. Warning! Danger! GHB sexrant probability at 20%.
Be very careful with you next comment, Michelle.
not-pboyfloyd at 6:57PM on May 27th 2008
610. Ha, here's a safe comment... I think...
"(people are probably starting to see now how a comment section could be ballooned up to 1500 comments by me saying something and Michelle.... being Michelle.)"
You treat me like some kind of air head. But youre always the one taking comments so literally...
Michelle at 7:08PM on May 27th 2008
611. 604, Not-pboy, was merely answering 603. Do I have to spell it out in black and white...? Many people would understand my words and move forward... but no, not with Not-pboy... pit-stop time!
Michelle at 7:11PM on May 27th 2008
612. And well, 20% isnt that high...
So Godless,
"Because we like being able to see reality as it is. Warts and all. No Christ-Colored Glasses needed, thanks."
Ok. Free to think that. Free to rant about it too. But if you ever want to hear why we think our religion IS logical... here for ya buddy.
"And besides, I'd blow your mind. And I really don't want another puppy following me around looking for scraps. "
I do not have to defend myself to you on this issue...
Michelle at 7:19PM on May 27th 2008
613. Ok. Free to think that. Free to rant about it too. But if you ever want to hear why we think our religion IS logical... here for ya buddy.
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But, it's not. Not at all. You only think it is, because your religion has neutered your ability to discern reality and your sense of logic and even your common sense.
"And besides, I'd blow your mind. And I really don't want another puppy following me around looking for scraps. "
I do not have to defend myself to you on this issue...
Michelle at 7:19PM on May 27th 2008
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Un, no, you don't, since it was a JOKE and I even said so, sensing as I did the fact of your humor impairment if not it's extent. Apparently I needed to put it in ALL CAPS or something. Jeeze. Your insipid rejoinder is more evidence of your lack of perception. In other words, you needed to bust my ass back, in order to appear strong, not take it seriously, which made you look weak.
But I'm sure it made you feel empowered or something. Sigh.
Godless Heathen Brian at 7:36PM on May 27th 2008
614. But if you ever want to hear why we think our religion IS logical... here for ya buddy
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It used to be MY RELIGION. So don't think you're so smart here. Most atheists are just former christians that woke up. I know more about your religion that you do, most likely. And that's not bragging, it's just the level of my exposure to it, and the fact that I've even read the OTHER books about, in other words, NOT the Bible....
The fact is, I keep listening to your reasons, all the time. You all spout them on cue, like children at a recital. And learned by rote, just like the children learned theirs. Every single one is laughable. It's not my fault, so don't blame me for laughing. Your reasons are bereft of reason... lol. In fact, most of them are just what I'd call, in technical terms, fucking stupid. (Ouch, that's gotta hurt...) Your reasons show no depth of thought, no sense of reality, no substance whatsoever. In fact, it's your very reasons that convince us that you're delusional, or more than that, even in many cases, psychotic. Your reasons were givin to you in case you ever ran into MY reasons. Welcome to your programming.
Godless Heathen Brian at 7:48PM on May 27th 2008
615. I know you said it was a joke, Godless. I just dont know how to respond to athiests sometimes, or if I should, or whatever... geez. I dont wanna go n break my christian rules now...
Michelle at 7:50PM on May 27th 2008