Can God make you rich and happy?
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According to a recent article in the Times there are economic benefits to being a Christian. There arppears to be a link between religiosity and upward economic mobility in the United States. Jonathan Gruber, a secular economist from MIT has argued that church going produces a boost in income.
Jonathan Gruber argues : a 10% increase in the density of people from the same religious group living in the same local area leads to and 8.5% rise in church going, and a 10% increase in the density of co-religionists to a 0.9% rise in income. So, although a 0.9% rise in income won’t make you rich, it could afford you a few extra treats.
There is also considerable evidence that, regardless of wealth, Christians are happier and healthier that their secular counterparts. Dr Hall, Uni of Pittsburg Med Centre, argues that weekly church attendance can add two to three years to your life. Duke University Med Centre conducted a study of 7000 people in 1997 and found that religious observance had the potential to enhance immune systems and lower blood pressure. There are now 141 medical institutes in America researching the link between spirituality and health.
According to survey results Americans who attend religions services once or more a week are 43% happier than those who attend monthly or less (31%) or seldom or never (26%). Evangelical Christians appear to be happier that mainstream Protestants (43% compared to 33%). Coincidentally the same effect on happiness has been cited when people more from the bottom quartile to the top quartile of income distribution.
Perhaps in the current economic climate we all ought to be looking to church for the answer.
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