Rodgers 1

Lauren Rodgers
Instructor D. Jizi
UWRT 1102
15 March 2016
Are Individuals whom are Active in a Belief System Healthier and Happier?
Tentative Title: A Higher Calling for Happiness
Describe: I choose this topic because I liked all of the readings we did in class on
happiness. After a couple of assignments, I began to think what makes me happiest.
Naturally I thought of at least ten things off the top of my head, running, being active,
playing lacrosse, learning, and most importantly religion. When I was younger I was
baptized as a Presbyterian Christian, but my family never really attended church much
after that. I always felt like something was missing in my life by not going to church, I
just so happened to figure out one day that maybe church would make me happier, by
feeling closer to my God. The first time I went to church, I was in High School. It was
the first time that I could remember being inside the same church that I was baptized in.
When I walked into the room I felt a flood of happiness almost wash over me. Happiness
seemed to radiate through the room, and the one thing everything everyone had in
common was our love for God. For my sixteenth birthday I did not get a new car, I
received a Bible. To this day I cherish my Bible and still think that it is one of the single
greatest gifts anyone has ever given me. I went to church, but after a while I began to
steer away from it as I found new friends to hang out with. Looking back on it now, I can
tell that my level of happiness dropped dramatically. This class helped me realize that I
was happier before that point in my life; was it my religion and meditation or just a

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coincidence? Do other people feel the same way I do, and is there evidence and proof
that a belief in something other than us can make us happier?
What I already know: I know that my religious days, in the past as in the
current, have made me happier than in times where I did not have a relationship with God
or did not meditate and take time to reflect. I have encountered many others who feel the
same. Meditation and reflection can calm the nerves and reduce stress, in turn reducing
the cause of many preventable diseases such as hypertension and heart disease. Belief in
something greater can also create a sense of belonging and serving something that is
worth spending time on and connecting with.
What you know: There are around 4,200 religions practiced around the World,
but there are a couple that are more popularly practiced than others. Christianity, which
includes man Christian branches and Catholicism, Islam, and Buddhism are the main
three religions practiced worldwide. Religion is no longer contain and tied down to their
country of origin as demonstrated by the United States, where people of many
backgrounds combine together to share ideas and encourage conversions. Now-a-days
religion is closely monitored and scrutinized, wars often arise over religious tensions.
Generate Questions
If religion is supposed to be peaceful, why are wars fought over them?
Where did religions originate?
What are the major differences between the Worlds most popular religions?
Why are there so many different branches? What are the main, most common
branches each?
Does meditation affect the bodys functions and health?

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Does prayer and a connection with a higher being or something greater than self
cause happiness and better health?
How does religion shape culture and society?
My primary focus for this project is to explore religions and their
connections to health, happiness, and impact on societies.
Prejudices: I am personally Christian Presbyterian; I might have a bias towards
my own religion and see their views as correct. During this project I will try to stay as
objective as I can, because truly another should not scrutinize others religions. I also feel
as if religion will play a huge roll in making people happier and healthier, I figure this
from personal experience.