Religion ranks high with today’s youth

By: Danielle Cort
Posted In: News

“I don’t believe in God. Religion plays no role in my life. I believe in a higher power, but it doesn’t rule me,” said Caitlin Sula, a Salve Regina University senior. These powerful (and often controversial) words, are just a glimpse into the reactions of people when asked to relate their spirituality and religious beliefs to the concept of happiness. While most of the American youth finds comfort in a strong belief system, Sula is happy when “my life’s in order, when I’m not stressed and the people around me are happy.” Well, aren’t we all?

According to a recent poll conducted by the Associated Press and MTV, it was found that most of the American youth, ages 13-24, identify their level of happiness with their devotion to God. In an article titled, “Spirituality plays vital role for U.S. youth,” it was concluded that “godliness” contributes to happiness. The goal of creating such a poll was to try and figure out the absolutely impossible: What makes young people happy? In a world where there are so many diverse opinions and evolving viewpoints, it is interesting that the majority of those polled link their religion to their happiness. As the article states, 68% of those polled believe in the following statement: “I follow my own religious and spiritual beliefs, but I think that other religious beliefs could be true as well,” while 31% agreed with this statement: “I strongly believe that my religious beliefs are true and universal, and that other religious beliefs are not right.” Good thing we live in a Democratic society.

Michael E. Nielson, PhD, of Canadian Content, a start page for independent news, believes there are three ways to account for the link between ones religion and ones happiness. First, is social support. Everyone needs someone to lean on, a sense of belonging. Essentially, ones religion will bring them closer to that feeling. Along this point, God can also be seen or used as a form of support in life as well. Secondly, Nielson mentions a firm belief system. As people, we need to have a sense of what is important and why as humans, we do what we do. Third, is the actual religion itself. Nielson identifies religion with most things positively. For many, it is their “contact” with God, or their “transcendence.”

In identifying all the positive and reaffirming attributes of a religious and happy life, we cannot forget that some people actually can feel less happy when thinking about or engaging in religious acts. Religion, much like happiness, also has its conflicts. For some, religion comes in the form of a trend. What is important to them one minute gets changed a minute later. For some, religion holds a sort of mysticism that they simply find no comfort in, while others welcome the unknown in a more optimistic way. Senior Phil Bellafiore is one of those people. “I believe in God and I believe I have to do good and be happy to get to the next life [Heaven],” he said. “Religion plays a role in why I look at all the positive things in life more than getting crazy about the negatives.”

Although Sula and Bellafiore are only two of the hundreds of students who attend the University, a Catholic lifestyle is the predominant one on campus. As Salve prides itself on its’ mission, with the goal to seek wisdom and promote universal justice, the question becomes less about how to make someone happy, and more about how religion contributes to that happiness. Since its birth 60 years ago, Salve Regina University has focused on spiritual growth and development of its faculty, staff and community. With courses such as VIA, “Vital Studies for Whole Life Design,” and the required “Capstone,” Salve students are guided to the construction of the “Good Life.” But that is a whole new question entirely.

What it comes down to is this: the American youth is setting itself up for a positive outlook, a positive life and a positive future. With religious practices and ideals being debated as heavily as they are in this day-and-age, it is reassuring to know that people associate those ideals with their own personal happiness. And usually, that’s a tall order to fill.