Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Happiness and satisfaction in life may be associated to the degree of commitment in practicing a religion as well as to the religion affiliation. This paper studies life satisfaction and spiritual satisfaction across religion affiliations (Catholics, Protestant, Other Christian, Other non-Christian) as well as for those with no religion affiliation. A large, recent, and representative database for three Latin American countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico) and for the White/Caucasian US population is used. It is then possible to study how life satisfaction varies across religion affiliations and along cultures (Latin American and US Caucasian). A domains-of-life approach is used so that life satisfaction is explained on the basis of satisfaction in the family, friends, economic, health, and spiritual domains. Substantial differences across cultures and across religion affiliations are found. Particular attention is given to the role of the spiritual domain. The study is extended to the degree of commitment/involvement, with the spiritual domain playing an important role in explaining life satisfaction for those who are highly involved/committed. The study is further extended to analyze how folk understandings of what a good life is vary across religion affiliations and cultures. The conceptual-referent-theory-of-happiness framework is used. In general, it is found that religious people report greater life satisfaction than non-religious persons and that, independently of religion affiliation, practicing people report greater life satisfaction than non-practicing people. The domains-of-life approach and the conceptual-referent theory of happiness provide a good framework to understand these differences across religion affiliations, practicing degrees, and cultures.