GroshLink

A poll conducted by the Associated Press and MTV indicates that young people who consider themselves religious are happier than those who are not. The survey of 13-24 year olds, indicates that 44% of young people say that religious beliefs are at least very important to them. Only 14% said that it was not important at all. 80% of those who said that spirituality was the most important thing in their lives said they are happy. Only 60% of those who do not consider God important at all indicated happiness. Sociologists say the results confirm the importance of the sense of community found in most religions. (AP August 29,2007) -- information provided by the September Ivy Jungle Network Emailer.

Comment:  Not sure what to take away from this excerpt except that I need to read the article/results myself as I'm not sure of how the conclusion of community is reached from the earlier statements (not to mention the validity of such polls).  Even with a longing for community, the new forms of community leave many yearning for deeper connection.  Granting the presence of some bulging youth ministries, that does not lead to high commitments to religious communities in adult years, see Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton's Soul Searching.  The attempts of broad spirituality for those seeking happiness may be stop-gap (and something that might need to be returned to again and again as one lives a life without purpose and direction), the impression which I come away with from the earlier post College Depression & Harvard Course in "Positive Psychology".