2004
Volume 51, Issue 1
  • ISSN: 0165-4322
  • E-ISSN: 3050-9947

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between faith and happiness in times of crisis. A review of empirical literature indicates that religion reduces the negative effect of various types of crisis (death of relatives, natural disasters, or unemployment) on happiness. This is not only due to enforcement of social networks, but also to cognitive and motivational dimensions of religions. This article presents additional empirical analyses using data from the integrated World Values Survey and European Values Survey supporting that various aspects of religion reduce the negative effects of unemployment, the death of a spouse, or divorce on a person’s happiness. Tests on the effects of religion on feelings of restlessness, loneliness, depression and meaningless of life, show that particularly participation in religious meetings and membership of protestant churches reduce these negative feelings that often go together with crisis. These results apply to worldwide data and data of the Netherlands only. The findings are further supported and illustrated by ten interviews. Almost all interviewees agreed that their faith provided support in difficult circumstances, particularly in case of illness or early death of relatives.

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2025-06-15
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