A new study [1] shows that it is participation in a religious group such as a church, rather than spirituality or theology, 
that produces the beneficial effects of religion.
The research paper is written by Professor Robert Putnam of Harvard University and Chaeyoon Lim of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
It counters the claim that the beneficial effects of religion can be obtained without going to church.
According to the study: “Frequency of religious service attendance appears to account for most of the differences in life satisfaction between those with and without religious affiliations. For life satisfaction, what matters is how involved one is with a religious community, not whether that community is Baptist, Catholic, or Mormon.”
The study also noted that the happiness effect caused by
friendships built in such congregations was dependent “on the presence
of a strong religious identity”.
It pointed out that the suggestion that secular and religious social
networks were equally adept at providing life satisfaction was an
untested assumption.
The study said: “However, if social resources offered by religious
organizations possess qualities that secular social networks do not
provide, measures of general social resources employed by these studies
would not demonstrate religious social networks’ influence.
“In fact, some studies do suggest that religious social resources have distinctive qualities.”
While past studies have revealed a positive connection between religiosity and life satisfaction, American researchers claim a sense of ‘belonging’ made more people ‘extremely satisfied’ with life’s lot.
Sociology assistant professor Chaeyoon Lim of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said: “Our study offers compelling evidence that it is the social aspects of religion rather than theology or spirituality that leads to life satisfaction.
“In particular, we find that friendships built in religious congregations are the secret ingredient in religion that makes people happier.”
The study ‘Religion, Social Networks, and Life Satisfaction’ found a third of people that go to church every week and have three to five close friends in the congregation were ‘extremely satisfied’ with their lives.
Nearly a quarter (23 per cent) who irregularly attend church several times a year but had up to five close friends in the congregation said they were extremely satisfied with life.
In contrast, only a fifth (19 per cent) who had no close friends said they were extremely satisfied.
The same number who never went to church said they had the same level of satisfaction.
The sociologist added: ‘To me, the evidence substantiates that it is not really going to church and listening to sermons or praying that makes people happier, but making church-based friends and building intimate social networks there.
‘One of the important functions of religion is to give people a sense of belonging to a moral community based on religious faith.
‘This community, however, could be abstract and remote unless one has an intimate circle of friends who share a similar identity.
‘The friends in one’s congregation thus make the religious community real and tangible, and strengthen one’s sense of belonging to the community.’
The report said the findings were applicable to the three main Christian traditions and found ‘similar patterns among Jews and Mormons, even with a much smaller sample size.’
The study is published in the December issue of the American Sociological Review.