Free Republic

American Affairs Journal has published an interesting essay looking at what the author calls the “well-being gap.” Essentially this is the idea, which is apparently fairly well known among social scientists, that conservatives tend to be happier in general while liberals are more likely to be depressed. Author Musa al-Gharbi is a sociologist at Columbia University and he starts with a topic that I’ve raised several times recently: The fact that liberal teens are struggling with mental health much more than conservative teens, especially over the last decade.

Christie Brinkley, who has been gracing magazine covers for nearly five decades, is often asked about her beauty secrets. But Brinkley, 67, says her best tip isn’t about beauty and has nothing to with products or special diets. It’s about all gratitude, she says. “Every day, I count my blessings,” Brinkley tells CNBC Make It. “Because some days can be better days than others but by the time I finish counting my blessings, I feel like it’s a pretty good day.” Taking time each day to practice gratitude gives her added health, energy and productivity, she says. “I always tell...

Teleios evaluated whether those who most ardently adhere to several key foundational principles of Christianity (prayer, praise, fellowship, outreach, Bible study, belief in salvation by grace and security of salvation) have better wellbeing compared to those who practice these measures less frequently. Our database included 14,422 participants. Those who most frequently did Bible study, taught and shared the gospel had statistically better wellbeing than the rest. Further, the more participants adhered to these principles the higher their wellbeing scored compared to less adherent. IN SUMMARY, our research suggests that increasing adherence to the foundational principles of Christian faith enhances wellbeing....

Teleios conducted a wellbeing survey with 1186 responses. The majority of responses were: female (68%), <30 years (76%), and primarily from the United States (40%) and Europe (16%). The respondents identified themselves as: evangelical Christians (33%), social Christians (29%), Christian seekers (5%) and non-Christians (33%). Interestingly, personal wellbeing was better among evangelical Christians compared to social Christians, Christian seekers or non-Christians (P=0.001). The findings for wellbeing were also supported by further results that evangelicals were more content (P=0.001), at peace (P>0.001), and joyful (P=0.002) than the other groups. This is the first survey, to our knowledge, evaluating wellbeing in young...

Teleios evaluated the influence of religious beliefs on the general wellbeing of college students. Of the 227 participants, there were almost equal portions of self-professed evangelicals, social Christians, agnostic/atheist and other religious groups. Students reported high levels of wellbeing with no statistical difference between religious belief systems. Evangelical Christians more often perceived themselves as: spiritual (P<0.001), accepted by God (P<0.001) and having more purpose (P=0.01). Students who identified as both evangelicals and ‘saved by grace’ showed greater wellbeing (P=0.015). IN SUMMARY, university students have high levels of wellbeing across all religious belief systems, but evangelical Christians show higher levels of...

Teleios recently conducted a survey which received 1186 responses [female (68%), less than 30 years (76%), from USA (40%) and Europe (16%), evangelical Christians (33%), social Christians (29%), Christian seekers (5%) and non-Christians (33%)]. Personal wellbeing was better among evangelical Christians (4.6, on a scale of 0-6 with 6 being highest) compared to social Christians (4.1), Christian seekers (4.0) or non-Christians (4.3, P=0.001). The findings for wellbeing were also supported by further results that evangelicals were more content (P=0.001), at peace (P>0.001), and joyful (P=0.002) than the other groups. Additionally, evangelicals were more confident of their salvation and aware it...

Teleios evaluated whether those who most ardently adhere to several key foundational principles of Christianity (prayer, faith, praise, outreach, Bible study, belief in salvation by grace and security of salvation) have better wellbeing compared to those who practice these measures less frequently. Our database included 14,422 participants. Those who most frequently did Bible study, taught and shared the gospel had statistically better wellbeing than the rest. Further, the more participants adhered to these principles the higher their wellbeing scored compared to less adherent. IN SUMMARY, our research suggests that increasing adherence to the foundational principles of Christian faith enhances wellbeing....

Teleios evaluated societal measures that influenced wellbeing in the European states converting to Protestantism during the Reformation (29 European territories between 1323-1772), which involved a more serious study of scripture in each country's vernacular language, as well as salvation based purely on faith. Religious tolerance increased following conversion to a Protestant country or duchy. Further, the Bible became available in the vernacular language in each case where it previously was limited to the Latin vulgate. These compelling data indicate that countries and duchies in Europe that converted to Protestantism during the Reformation provided additional benefits to their society that may...

Teleios evaluated various publicly available social, political and economic measures of the 20 countries with the highest average GDP vs. the 20 with the lowest GDP. The freest nations were more often Christian, had the highest GDP and better: Human Freedom Index, Economic Freedom Index, World Press Freedom Index, World Happiness Report & Corruption Perceptions Index. This data shows countries with the highest mean GDP also ranked in the top 25% of free countries, demonstrated additional differences that might impact wellbeing. As an underlying moral and ethical base, freer countries were more often Christian in background. In summary, since biblical...

Christianity is the foundation of our Western Society. However, some deny its historical and current benefits. Teleios evaluated societal measures influencing wellbeing in religious groups immigrating for greater religious freedom from Europe to the 13 British colonies that would become the USA. Teleios tested the hypothesis if living in a freer society and being able to express the Christian religion improved potential measures for wellbeing. We found strong evidence that Christians who immigrated from Europe developed societies built upon biblically based principles that offer enhanced educational, governmental, religious and economic benefits. Such societies furnish their citizens the opportunity to live...

Teleios compared Native American tribes versus American colonial settlements to determine societal structure that would potentially affect wellbeing. We found that for government structure all tribes and colonial settlements had an identified leader in each case. However, colonial settlements more often possessed an associated bureaucracy to help administrate the region. In addition, colonial settlements typically developed identifiable cities with organizational signs like local government, farms, businesses, trade, centers of worship, public works (roads, bridges, port facilities) and education, which were not apparent in native tribes. Christian religion among the colonies in each case encouraged peace whereas the tribal religion was...

Protecting and providing opportunities to potentially vulnerable individuals marks a compassionate society. Teleios evaluated measures that could affect wellbeing of children specifically (ages 0-19) using the top 50 countries from the Human Freedom Index compared to the 50 top countries persecuting Christianity from the Open Doors World Watch List. We found that children in the freest countries, compared to countries that persecute Christians, demonstrate the highest wellbeing rating, and better scores in measures that potentially could affect wellbeing: life expectancy, infant mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, adolescent birth rate, years in school, immunization coverage, birth registration, child homicide, violence in...

Protecting and providing opportunities to potentially vulnerable individuals marks a compassionate society. Teleios evaluated economic and legal measures that could affect wellbeing of women specifically, who in some cultures are considered vulnerable due to repression and abuse. The study found that women in the freest countries, compared to countries that persecute Christians, demonstrated greater wellbeing and better scores in: literacy rate, life expectancy, school life expectancy, labor force participation, maternal mortality rate, lifetime experience of violence, sex trafficking, and life satisfaction (P≤ 0.006). In summary, populations in countries with greater freedom, which typically are Christian, demonstrate better overall wellbeing, and...

Teleios found that countries that are most free not only demonstrate better average wellbeing, but are associated with numerous economic, legal, security, health, and educational measures associated potentially with enhanced wellbeing for the entire population. Further, freer countries are much more likely to be Christian. In contrast, countries which persecute Christians are associated with poorer measures for freedom and wellbeing for the entire population. In summary freedom in Christianity is good for society in promoting a healthy population. Read more at https://teleiosresearch.com/effect-perecution-country-freedom/.

Teleios conducted a wellbeing survey and found personal wellbeing was better among evangelical Christians compared to social Christians, Christian seekers or non-Christians. Evangelicals were more content, at peace, and joyful than the other groups. This was the first survey, to our knowledge, evaluating wellbeing in young Christians versus non-Christians. These findings support our prior research showing Christians who adhere to their faith report better general wellbeing. In addition, peer-reviewed medical literature notes that those practicing the Christian faith report better wellbeing than those who do not, specifically in healthy individuals, patients with a variety of diseases and those with addiction...

Teleios evaluated societal measures that might have influenced wellbeing in religious groups who immigrated for greater religious freedom from Europe to the British colonies. We found that the colonists developed societies that offered enhanced educational, governmental, religious and economic freedom. These great freedoms may have been related to biblically based concepts of the importance of the individual as well as the government’s responsibility to God and to create an orderly environment. In summary, when Christian groups seeking freedom of worship immigrated from Europe to the American colonies, they gained greater religious, economic, governmental and educational freedom and provided a better...

Teleios conducted a survey in primarily millennials regarding the benefits of Christian society. There were 565 responses (67% < 35 years, 60% United States). Participants noted the advantages of living in a Christian society was that it provided a stronger moral (82%) and ethical base (71%) and a greater amount of love among people (75%). In contrast, the advantages of a Christian society to government were keeping societal order (60%), maintaining individual rights (56%) and reducing corruption (54%). Summary, living in a Christian society provides many advantages to the country’s population and government in keeping a strong moral and ethical...

Teleios evaluated measures that could affect wellbeing of children specifically using the top 50 countries from the Human Freedom Index compared to the 50 top countries persecuting Christianity from the Open Doors World Watch List. Children in free countries, which are historically Christian, demonstrate better wellbeing and associated with numerous legal, security, health and educational measures potentially associated with enhanced wellbeing for children. Christianity is beneficial for our children and society as a whole! Read more at https://teleiosresearch.com/effect-christian-persecution-childrens-wellbeing/

Teleios evaluated various publicly available social, political and economic measures of the 20 countries with the highest average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) who were listed in the top 25% of the Economic Freedom Index versus the 20 with the GDP in the bottom 75%. Our analysis showed countries with the highest mean GDP also ranked in the top 25% of free countries, and demonstrated additional differences that might impact general wellbeing, including greater: human, economic and press freedom, more happiness and less corruption. As an underlying moral and ethical base, freer countries were more often Christian in background. Read more...

Teleios conducted a wellbeing survey and found personal wellbeing was better among evangelical Christians compared to social Christians, Christian seekers or non-Christians. Evangelicals were more content, at peace, and joyful than the other groups. This was the first survey, to our knowledge, evaluating wellbeing in young Christians versus non-Christians. These findings support our prior research showing Christians who adhere to their faith report better general wellbeing. In addition, peer-reviewed medical literature notes that those practicing the Christian faith report better wellbeing than those who do not, specifically in healthy individuals, patients with a variety of diseases and those with addiction...