Belief in God is good for you… and not just in the eternal long run. There’s a powerful link between religious devotion and happiness, mental health, and participation in community.
Earlier this year, Pew Research found that actively religious people report being happier, on average, than both atheists and “nones”—i.e. those who claim no religious affiliation. The religiously observant are also less likely to engage in risky behavior like premarital sex, drinking, and smoking, and more likely by far to join non-religious groups like charities, clubs, and civic associations. In other words, there’s a clear and well documented connection between an active faith and nearly all of the accepted measures of personal well-being.