Report: God’s Institutions of Marriage and Church Result in Happier People
By Movieguide® Staff
Mainstream TV, movies and media often champion the idea that true happiness is found within oneself.
But, according to a study of data collected from the General Social Survey by the Institute For Family Studies, Americans without faith outside themselves are the most unhappy.
“From 1972 to 2018, no more than 18% of Americans ages 35 and over had ever claimed to be ‘not too happy,’ and no more than 16% of Americans under 35 had done so. In every year ever measured, people over and under age 35 had similar levels of unhappiness,” author Lyman Stone wrote. “But in 2021, unhappiness rocketed upwards for both groups, to 22% for those 35 and over, and a whopping 30% for those under age 35.”
Due to the pandemic and a rise in singleness, unhappiness continues to rise.
Conversely, God’s institution of marriage also resulted in more happiness for Americans over the same time period.
“Marriage, then, served as a valuable buffer against unhappiness,” Stone wrote.
It is established from Genesis that marriage is an institution gifted to us by God.
Proverbs 18:22 – “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”
But the study also found that people who attended church answered more positively to the survey.
Movieguide® previously reported:
As mental health becomes a growing concern in the digital age, a recent Gallup poll found that regular church attendance improves mental health.
According to the poll, 44% of people who attend church regularly described their mental health as “excellent.”
“The wellbeing of most groups mirrors the national trend, with their mental health scores worsening last year followed by little to no improvement this year,” Gallup reported. “However, Democrats’ mental health rating has been steady at a relatively low level since 2019 while frequent churchgoers’ has been steadily high.”
Conversely, of the people who do not regularly attend church, only 29% described their mental health as “excellent.”
The study also showed that the overall mental health in America has decreased over the past 21 years, with just 34% saying it is “excellent.”
But as children are inundated with messages of anti-biblical solutions to the pursuit of happiness, it is all the more important to teach media-wisdom based on God’s word and promote the movies and TV that are uplifting, moral, and biblical.
Movieguide® publisher and founder Dr. Ted Baehr describes the importance of teaching a biblical worldview in his book, The Culture-Wise Family.
“Parents can stimulate children to ascertain, discern and reflect on the messages of the media. Through guided discussions, media literacy develops the capacity to enjoy a positive cultural experience,” Baehr says. “Applying the Word of God sets the hand of the Master on the situation and engages families in discussions which, in themselves, redeem time (cf. Eph 5:16.) Further, overcoming ungodly influences through recognition of biblical precepts magnifies the power of the Word of God. Ultimately time spent communicating biblical precepts uses God-given parental authority to lead our children in worship and spiritual growth.”
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
