Do Happy People Need Religion ?

[psychoslice]

“So many religions are there because so many people are unhappy. A happy person needs no religion; a happy person needs no temple, no church — because for a happy person the whole universe is a temple, the whole existence is a church. The happy person has nothing like religious activity because his whole life is religious.” -Osho

I remember when I joined a church many years ago, that i wasn't truly happy with life, there was something missing. I think i was hoping to find something within the church to make me happy, I didn't really know at the time what i wanted.

As I got to know people in the church I begin to feel happy, and I was happy. As time went on I found the church saying things like, if you fall away from the church you will be in Satan's territory and your life will be miserable. I really believed this for many years.

Yes my life was happy at first in the church, but as time went on I started to feel again that something wasn't right, I could see that we were being taught that we are nothing without Jesus or God, that we were nothing but filthy rags and nothing but sinners, that is as long as we don't have Jesus in our lives. I felt that this was all a ploy to keep us in the church, maybe not intentionally, but subconsciously, I felt a lot of guilt over this also.

Also later in my church life i was starting to develop mental illness which later was diagnosed as being schizophrenia. At this time i was really feeling down and the guilt was getting much stronger.

One night when I was so over come by the mental illness, I just fell onto my bed and i felt as if I disappeared into a void, I felt like i wasn't the body, that I was stretched out through all space and time, in this experience I felt that i was all there IS, that there wasn't anything separate from myself or anything.

This experience showed me that I didn't need a church or to believe in anything, I was already all there IS, I cannot be anything more or less, and that it was only my mind that kept me away from realizing this simple truth, or at least the truth that I experienced.

So now I realize that we don't need religion to be truly happy, I am not taking away the pleasure that other people get from their religion, but I am simply saying that we don't need religion to be happy, well at least that was my experience.

So how do you feel, do you believe you need religion to be happy, can you be happy without religion, and if not why not, thank you.

 

[Thana]

I don't know anyone who has claimed that religion fixes all your problems and makes you forever happy?

Is religion a requirement for happiness?
No, Obviously not.

Can religion bring happiness?
Yes, But so can many things.

Religion isn't just for the downtrodden and despaired.

 

[Madhuri]

I am and always have been one of the happiest people I know. Most of my friends would agree that I am a very happy and cheerful person. I am surrounded by love in my life and have always been fortunate enough to get the things I need, and even want.

Despite this abundance of happiness, I feel a pull toward religion. I think this is because it provides me with inner nourishment, a sense of utter peace, reminds me that worldly attachments are futile (which also provides peace) and gives a purpose that goes beyond time limited goals such as career and hobbies.

 

[MoonWater]

It's interesting cause I have had quite the opposite experience. When I was happy and more at peace with myself I clung to my religion and spirituality very strongly, but when I started suffering from depression and anxiety I lost hold of my religion and found myself drifting. In fact, I have found that trying to reclaim my own personal religion and spirituality has helped me find solace and find my center. For me this has happened by following the old ways of nature traditions from the ancient farming and warrior cultures. Trying to adopt a "warrior religion" as it were, has helped me to find my strength again and keep pressing forward. However I was also raised Christian and I find that that imagery and mythology (well I view it as mythology) is still something I find deeply moving, especially when I hear the music I grew up singing.

This is why I call myself Syncretic: if something moves me and helps me have a deeper connection with myself and what's around me then I seek to embrace it, regardless of what religious label it may fall under. I see no need to limit myself to one thing. Now clearly there are people who do stick to one and that works for them or those who don't pick any.

Basically all I can say is that, currently, I need religion to be happy. But that isn't true for everyone and it may not always even be true for me. It's up to each individual to find/create whatever path works for them.

 

[psychoslice]

I don't know anyone who has claimed that religion fixes all your problems and makes you forever happy?

Is religion a requirement for happiness?
No, Obviously not.

Can religion bring happiness?
Yes, But so can many things.

Religion isn't just for the downtrodden and despaired.

Yep, I agree, but if we take away that belief would the same person still be happy without that belief, and if not why not ?. So do you personally believe one can be just as happy as one who believes in a belief system of religion ?.

 

[psychoslice]

I am and always have been one of the happiest people I know. Most of my friends would agree that I am a very happy and cheerful person. I am surrounded by love in my life and have always been fortunate enough to get the things I need, and even want.

Despite this abundance of happiness, I feel a pull toward religion. I think this is because it provides me with inner nourishment, a sense of utter peace, reminds me that worldly attachments are futile (which also provides peace) and gives a purpose that goes beyond time limited goals such as career and hobbies.

Yes I know what you are saying, and I think what you have is a healthy attitude towards religion.

 

[Thana]

Yep, I agree, but if we take away that belief would the same person still be happy without that belief, and if not why not ?. So do you personally believe one can be just as happy as one who believes in a belief system of religion ?.

Hmm, Now that is an interesting and complex question.

Do I believe someone can experience the same sort of happiness that a religious person experiences?

I'm going to go and say no, Not really.

That's because there is something more, with regards to God and the peace and contentment that he gives us.

Especially finding peace through God in times of strife. Whereas one who is going through strife generally do not experience happiness and peace.

I've experienced wordly happiness and religious happiness, And I have to say that there is a difference.

But thats just my experience, I'm not saying it's true for every religious person.

Also, In regards to not having my beliefs,
I just wouldn't survive without them. (without God)

 

[psychoslice]

It's interesting cause I have had quite the opposite experience. When I was happy and more at peace with myself I clung to my religion and spirituality very strongly, but when I started suffering from depression and anxiety I lost hold of my religion and found myself drifting. In fact, I have found that trying to reclaim my own personal religion and spirituality has helped me find solace and find my center. For me this has happened by following the old ways of nature traditions from the ancient farming and warrior cultures. Trying to adopt a "warrior religion" as it were, has helped me to find my strength again and keep pressing forward. However I was also raised Christian and I find that that imagery and mythology (well I view it as mythology) is still something I find deeply moving, especially when I hear the music I grew up singing.

This is why I call myself Syncretic: if something moves me and helps me have a deeper connection with myself and what's around me then I seek to embrace it, regardless of what religious label it may fall under. I see no need to limit myself to one thing. Now clearly there are people who do stick to one and that works for them or those who don't pick any.

Basically all I can say is that, currently, I need religion to be happy. But that isn't true for everyone and it may not always even be true for me. It's up to each individual to find/create whatever path works for them.

Thank you MoonWater, yes I like the way you think, I am in a lot of ways the same, I love gospel music, and I do see all scripture as mythology or metaphorically, it just works well with me personally.

I think what I am trying to say, do we need religion to be happy in life, what if religion never existed, what would we use to fill that void that many feel, and whatever that may be, would we then need that to be happy in life, or should happiness come from within and not to be found outside of us ?.

 

[psychoslice]

Hmm, Now that is an interesting and complex question.

Do I believe someone can experience the same sort of happiness that a religious person experiences?

I'm going to go and say no, Not really.

That's because there is something more, with regards to God and the peace and contentment that he gives us.

Especially finding peace through God in times of strife. Whereas one who is going through strife generally do not experience happiness and peace.

I've experienced wordly happiness and religious happiness, And I have to say that there is a difference.

But thats just my experience, I'm not saying it's true for every religious person.

Yes I understand that, but this feeling of happiness and peace found in your belief, isn't it also found in those who have no religious beliefs, just because one does simply feel happy and peaceful. many also get this same feeling from their interest in life, I get a lot of happiness from oil painting, reading and all sorts of things I love doing. I can say that I have felt this inner happiness from both sides, as I have already said I was a Christian for many years.

One reason I brought this up is because I have so many Christian friends that just cannot understand how I can be happy without being where they are, and that saddens me.

 

[Thana]

Yes I understand that, but this feeling of happiness and peace found in your belief, isn't it also found in those who have no religious beliefs, just because one does simply feel happy and peaceful. many also get this same feeling from their interest in life, I get a lot of happiness from oil painting, reading and all sorts of things I love doing. I can say that I have felt this inner happiness from both sides, as I have already said I was a Christian for many years.

One reason I brought this up is because I have so many Christian friends that just cannot understand how I can be happy without being where they are, and that saddens me.

Hedonism, Happiness, Is a flesh desire, A flesh experience.

Peace and perfect love (no fear, 1 JH 4:18) is what God gives us, As Christians.

 

[psychoslice]

Hedonism, Happiness, Is a flesh desire, A flesh experience.

Peace and perfect love (no fear, 1 JH 4:18) is what God gives us, As Christians.

Yes I once felt that also, but now I still have that deep inner feeling, but its now simply for life, I see beauty in all that is around me, every day seems to be a new day. I have never placed a label on why i feel this way, I feel that its just simply what we are, after all happiness is really only found within us all. You can even see this in animals, and they don't need a belief to be that way, they are simply happy.

 

[psychoslice]

Is happiness just a release of endorphins and other chemicals within the brain, if so, is religion truly the opium of the people, I can't remember who said that ?.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Religion isn't about being happy. Mine isn't, anyway.

 

[ions]

Here's the Vaishnav perspective: Happiness (or perhaps more precisely 'bliss') is an attribute of God. We naturally seek bliss. That is, we naturally seek God. It is a fundamental property of our very self. Maya, satan (whatever you wish to call it) would make you believe this happiness or bliss can be found in the temporary, desires of flesh, which takes you away from the true eternal happiness/bliss. Indeed, we sometimes do experience happiness in material things, a shadow taste of true bliss, a lure that keeps us constantly chasing castles in the sky.

 

[psychoslice]

Here's the Vaishnav perspective: Happiness (or perhaps more precisely 'bliss') is an attribute of God. We naturally seek bliss. That is, we naturally seek God. It is a fundamental property of our very self. Maya, satan (whatever you wish to call it) would make you believe this happiness or bliss can be found in the temporary, desires of flesh, which takes you away from the true eternal happiness/bliss. Indeed, we sometimes do experience happiness in material things, a shadow taste of true bliss, a lure that keeps us constantly chasing castles in the sky.

We also feel this deep feeling with our children, we believe that there is nothing higher than the love of our children, but why is that ?.

 

[iamsharky789]

Are we born needing religion or are we born atheist?

 

[Parsimony]

Are we born needing religion or are we born atheist?

Seeing as how the Pirahã people didn't even have a concept of (a) supreme being(s) before Christian ministers met them, I'd say we don't strictly "need" religion for functioning and happiness (at least not theistic religion). The Pirahã do believe in spirits though, so that might count as some form of religion depending on how you look at it.

 

[psychoslice]

Are we born needing religion or are we born atheist?

I don't feel that we are born either way, were simply just born, whatever label we attach to that is up to us.

 

[iamsharky789]

I don't feel that we are born either way, were simply just born, whatever label we attach to that is up to us.

Well, it has to be clear. Do you believe the brain seeks out a god or the idea of one is already implanted in the head, or the concept has to be introduced (by religion)?

 

[ions]

We also feel this deep feeling with our children, we believe that there is nothing higher than the love of our children, but why is that ?.

I believe love is another basic propensity of our self. We must place it somewhere and we seek it in return. One can love their car or house, children or partner, community or nation, occupation or ideology, and so on, the list is endless. Would you say loving one's child is more significant than any of the others? The selfless love of a parent to child may be higher, because it is selfless, and therefore purer. Likewise, the child's unambiguous love for their parent is pure and unadulterated. Perhaps, love's final conclusion is in pure selfless love of God, through which we can understand and experience God's unlimited love for us, together through which we can love all things more completely and purely than ever (as Jesus even demonstrated).