EMU is a self-described “Christian university like no other,” and does have a large population—80 percent— of students who identify as religious. Therefore, the question of religion in relationship to happiness is one that hits close to home with many students here.

According to a study by Pew Research, people who identify themselves as religious are more likely to self-describe as “very happy” than those who don’t identify as religious. Thirty-six percent of religious people in the U.S. and 71 percent in Mexico describe themselves as “very happy.” Additionally, the same study noted, those who are religiously active are more likely to join clubs and organizations, as well as vote. They are also more likely to not smoke and to drink less. It is up for debate if this correlates directly with happiness, but can certainly be related to overall health. Since happiness is such a relative concept, selfdescription is the primary way that it can be measured.

Martha Unruh Szambecki is a hospice social worker for Good Shepherd Hospice. In her nearly nine years at this job, Szambecki has encountered many people of faith, most often those who are at the end of their life, reflecting on the role of religion in their life and in the dying process.

“One thing that has surprised me recently: Overall a lot of the people that have a strong faith and practice their faith … seem to have more peace at the end of life,” Szambecki said. “And I’m talking about people who have lived their faith in such a way that they have resolved conflict with people, that they have lived out their faith throughout their whole life—they have a sense of peace at the end. That’s not to say that people don’t have that same sense of peace when they don’t associate with any religion.” Sometimes her patients are so fragile that they can’t talk about these things, so Szambecki doesn’t always know if religion is a factor. However, insurance for her agency covers a chaplain, and many people choose that service, so many of her patients are of some faith.

In a study done by Leslie J. Francis and Gemma Penny, 6,194 children aged 8 to 14 were surveyed using the Oxford Happiness Inventory and by the Powell Index of Global Happiness. The study confirmed the same conclusion— happiness and religion have a positive correlation, even among children. Given that happiness was not something self-identified in this study, but based on a fixed, define scale, the accuracy of the study is questionable. Even so, results are similar across the board. A similar study done in Oman showed that as religiousness increased, so did people’s objective happiness.

Objective is the key word, as happiness is based mostly on opinion. Happiness is not necessarily quantifiable. Some may base it on health or overall mood, but it comes down to what one feels is happiness for them.

EMU’s website states that its mission is “grounded in the enduring biblical values of Christian discipleship, community, service, and peace.” EMU is a Christian school, but aims to be religiously inclusive, and therefore attracts students and staff of many religious backgrounds.

About 80 percent of EMU students identify with a specific religion, and 19 percent of them as Mennonite. Only 9 percent of students identify as nonreligious, and 11 percent are unknown. By the large number of religious students and the positive correlation found between religion and happiness in several studies, EMU should be one happy campus.

However, students who identify as religious do not necessarily have everything figured out, and are not necessarily happy.

Junior Anali Martin identifies as Mennonite, especially culturally. “I don’t really know where I’m at with my faith,” Martin said. “I think faith has really helped me in certain points in my life, but where it gets sticky is where my faith would run into the church and its rules, and when those rules would go against or support my own faith.”

In trying to integrate her faith and the church, Martin has decided to take a break. She said the church has made her happy in the past, but currently, that discrepancy would take up too much energy to reconcile. Dwelling on it would make her feel “inadequate or less happy,” she said.

Martin is not the only one questioning her feelings on religion. First-year Claire Wetzel is still figuring out her faith. She identifies herself as a “closet Catholic,” but her mother is a devout Catholic. “I definitely think that if [my mother’s faith] hasn’t brought her happiness, it has brought her solace, which I think is a foundation for happiness.”

Worship brings her mother joy more so than happiness, Wetzel said. She is very happy to worship. “I used to be more Catholic and am not as much anymore. I think there is something to be said for certainty. I think that that brings you happiness. Sometimes I feel like I’m fumbling around, and maybe I would be happier if my fumbling had a purpose.”

The correlation between religion, certainty, and happiness in life was a shared idea between these EMU students. But first-year Jake Myers does not feel uncertain—faith is something that makes him happy, and that he knows with certainty. “It does make me happier, because it gives me a sense of direction and fulfillment that I’m not sure I’d be able to find elsewhere,” said Myers. “I have trouble with being a perfectionist. If I was just doing things for myself, I’d want them to be perfect, and my inability to do things perfectly would be really hard to deal with. But part of Christianity for me is admitting that I’m not going to be perfect. That’s part of the journey.”

Myers tries to take 30 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to sit in silence and read the Bible or journal—just to spend time with God. He goes to church every Sunday. “I try to treat everyone like I want to be treated.” Myers tries to live his life through God, and that brings him happiness.

Between studies and personal accounts, happiness does seem to have a positive correlation to religion. Causation is questionable, but correlation, whether that be in certainty or overall lifestyle, has been consistently present. However, it is all personal, and all relative.

*The Martha Unruh Szambecki quoted in this article is the author’s mother.