Want to Be Happier? Skip the Mall and Go to Church!

We all know that money can't buy happiness, just talk to some of the wealthy people who come to me for counseling. A new study out of Ben-Gurion University in Israel has found that, especially among women, spending money makes us much less happy than going to church. The study looked at shopping habits compared to participation in religious activities over the last 30 years.
The study used data collected by the Univesity of Chicago's National Opinion Research Council which conducts a "General Social Survey" annually or biannually. They collect information from a sample of adults on their level of happiness. Looking at adults who lived in states where "blue laws" (laws that prohibit commercial activities on Sundays) had been repealed between 1973 and 1988, they looked at the happiness levels of adults who reported regular church attendance. Women especially experienced a sharp decline in church attendance and their happiness levels over the course of the 25 year post-blue law period. The data shoed that blue law repeals decreased the level of happiness by at least 17%, but for people who remained active in church, their happiness level stayed the same. The researchers ruled out the possibility that the declines in happiness were related to other issues like family issues or having to work on Sundays.
What can we take from this study? I have a couple of suggestions. First, God instituted a day of rest for very good reasons. We all need a break from the rat race of life and time to reconnect with the people who are closest to us. Second, God instituted a day of rest for us to honor our Creator. We all need the benefit of corporate worship to reconnect with God and each other. The study actually found that for each point increase in church attendance, self-reported happiness increased by 10.7%! Third, do your best to avoid shopping, going to the mall, etc. on Sundays. This can be tough when you work full time and the weekend is the only chance for running errands and shopping. The study's authors suggest that people institute their own "blue laws" to designate one day of the week as a no shopping day (and let's include on-line shopping as well).
Going to church may not give you the immediate gratification you can get from shopping, but in the long run, you will be happier, and you won't have to worry about credit card debt!
Blessings,
Dr. Paul