Rabbi Elan Babchuck and Dr. Wendy Cadge were featured in The Atlantic's podcast "Good On Paper," discussing Arthur Brooks's insights on religion's role in happiness. Brooks highlights the rise of the "Nones" and suggests that, despite this trend, religious community involvement can enhance well-being through connection and self-transcendence. Listen to the podcast episode: “Can Religion Make You Happier?”
In the interview, Arthur Brooks discusses the simultaneous occurrence of the rise in people identifying as having no religious affiliation (“Nones”) and the distrust in institutions influencing the emergence of more personalized spirituality in place of traditional religious practices and norms. Brooks goes on to share that while traditional religious practices may not resonate with everyone, the core human need for connection and transcendence of self remains.
While “happiness” may not be the metric that religion has always been in the business of measuring, religious traditions have long served as a site for practicing and witnessing together in a community. Whether through faith, community groups, or personal pursuits, finding ways to connect beyond ourselves and onto something bigger is crucial in combating the loneliness epidemic.
Ever since Glean Network was founded in 2016, we aimed to unpack the significant shifts in American religion with curiosity and wonder, rather than judgment and fear. As we equip faith and spiritual leaders with tools and skills rooted in empathy, deep listening, and design, we continue to ask ourselves: are traditional religious structures the only answer to building community and fostering togetherness? Could it be that people are seeking connection and meaning in new ways that better align with their personal beliefs and values? How might we meet them where they are?
Faith communities can answer by opening their eyes, ears, hearts, and doors. There is not one village, town, or city where people aren’t suffering from loneliness; while some of them regularly attend services, the majority do not. Look for them. Engage them. Serve them. Point your community’s greatest resources — its people and the care in their hearts — to your community’s greatest needs, and witness how healing happens. Don’t wait for them to come to you.
— Babchuck and Cadge, America has a loneliness epidemic. How about religious groups as part of the solution?
Both Rabbi Babchuck and Dr. Cadge’s op-ed as well as the podcast interview with Brooks invite us all to rethink how we as humans connect, find meaning, and transcend our individuated experiences into belonging to something greater than ourselves as a path to a happier, more connected, less lonely way of being.
Listen to the podcast episode: “Can Religion Make You Happier?”