In his book Hillbilly Elegy, J. D. Vance says:
“… a phenomenon social scientists have observed for decades: Religious folks are much happier. Regular church attendees commit fewer crimes, are in better health, live longer, make more money, drop out of high school less frequently, and finish college more frequently than those that don’t attend church at all. MIT economist Jonathan Gruber even found the relationship was casual: It’s not just that people who happen to live successful lives also go to church, it’s that the church seems to promote good habits.”
“… a phenomenon social scientists have observed for decades: Religious folks are much happier. Regular church attendees commit fewer crimes, are in better health, live longer, make more money, drop out of high school less frequently, and finish college more frequently than those that don’t attend church at all. MIT economist Jonathan Gruber even found the relationship was casual: It’s not just that people who happen to live successful lives also go to church, it’s that the church seems to promote good habits.”