Religious Republicans: Happy?

[tyciol]

www.livescience.com/othernews/060315_happiness_pew.html got me thinking... atheists, do you ever feel less happy than theists? Do democrats feel less happy than republicans?

Obviously there's variation, but I've honestly gotten that sense. In my attempts to explain it, I came up with two theories.

1. The truth can often be depressing, ignorance is bliss.
2. Those in power, part of the majority, are more comfortable, and less threatened, than minorities and unique individuals.

What do people think of this?

[snafui]

From the article: People who worship frequently are happier than those who don't.

This is probably just do to the spiritual high you get from feeling a connection with a higher power. And I agree that ignorance may just be bliss. Then, there is the concept that they truly believe in an afterlife. It must be nice to have such a reassuring feeling that you are going to go to a place of bliss one day.

From the article: Republicans tend to have more money than Democrats

This is probably a statistical abuse. I've seen many instances where Democrats have more money.

From the article: About 45 percent of Republicans said they were very happy, compared with 30 percent of Democrats. Republicans have been happier in surveys going back to 1972

When I see Democrats in action they are always whining and complaining about everything. Republicans, except for the abortion issue, don't even seem to know how to protest. This consistent behavior is draining on the psyche.

[solidsquid]

Besides normal, daily frustrations - overall I'm pretty happy. I have some friends who are religious and miserable.

[snafui]

Yeah, solid, same here... I'm bipolar so sometimes not so happy. But I've known lots of religious people that are miserable.

And I thought of this when I was just out driving around:

For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. - Ecclesiastes 1:18

[Unbeliever]

tyciol said:

www.livescience.com/othernews/060315_happiness_pew.html got me thinking... atheists, do you ever feel less happy than theists?

"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact than a drunken man is happier that a sober one." - George Bernard Shaw.

[GodsAreUs]

What Squid n' snafui said.

Plus: Happiness is relative. I've found it's best to not internally label most "events" in a positive or negative light... just take them as a part of living. I'm much happier that way.

[droskey]

The funny thing is that I don't know if I am happier, as happy or less happy than theists in general. I can really only know that I am generally pretty happy. Although a better word would probably be content. I am content with the way my life is and am looking forward to the future.

[necroshine]

i guess i'm as happy as i need to be.
odd statment but if your too happy you tend to be a dick. happy shiny people kill me. i guess its good that you can still be happy when your getting your arm chopped off but i think thoes people have just as big of a problem as someone who is always sad. you can just deal with it easier.

[Dragon*of*Heaven]

As has already been said happiness is relative. For instance if you have a theist and an atheist, and a death occurs of course both will be sad but when looking at the daily workings of the world i doubt such black and whites are really prevalent. I happen to be ecstatic most times.