The connection between faith and happiness is central to Harvard professor Arthur Brooks’ framework for building a meaningful and fulfilling life.

By Susie Pinto, NewsNation | Updated August 10, 2026

Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor who teaches a popular course on happiness, explores the science behind what makes life fulfilling. Photo by Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Faith and Happiness in the Four-Pillar Framework

(NewsNation) — Faith is a key aspect of finding happiness, according to Harvard professor and social scientist Arthur Brooks. In fact, Brooks places faith at the center of a framework for a fulfilling life, one of what he calls the “four pillars of happiness”: faith, family, friendship and work that serves others.

That formula is not rocket science, you may be thinking to yourself. But as obvious as it may seem, Brooks says we Americans are in a “happiness crisis” and have clearly not realized that the secret to finding happiness lies largely within our own power.

In his book, “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” co-written with Oprah Winfrey, Brooks says the “happiness slump” is real. He cites some very grim statistics: In the past decade, Brooks says the percentage of Americans who say they are “not too happy” rose from 10% to 24%.

But the good news is that there’s a way to turn that around. Brooks has identified specific things we can do to improve our happiness and build a rich, fulfilling life, all backed by science — and that includes cultivating faith.

He says a religious, spiritual or even philosophical outlook allows us to transcend the self and see the bigger picture, admitting our smallness in the grand scheme of things and reminding ourselves that life is more than our own personal struggles.

Brooks argues we are not just physical creatures but also metaphysical ones too — that we have the divine in us, and to tap into that, we have to overcome worldly urges and override our natural animalistic tendencies to become who we are meant to be.

“The key to transcendence starts with a practice, not your feelings,” Brooks says.

He defines faith as any belief system that provides meaning, purpose and moral structure, noting that research shows it correlates strongly with life satisfaction.

Related UMI coverage: spiritual reflection on what gives life meaning.

“You need to do something that makes you small and the universe big,” Brooks says.

How Faith Shapes Arthur Brooks’ Own Life

Brooks says faith is a central pillar of his life and, therefore, his happiness. It all started in his teens and a conversion.

“I had a mystical experience when I was 15 years old at the shrine of Guadalupe in Mexico … where I discovered I was Catholic. Some say it’s adolescent rebellion. My parents said, ‘Well, I guess it beats drugs. One way or the other, I became Catholic. And I’m really glad that I did,” he said on his podcast “Office Hours.”

Finding Meaning Through Love and Service

Brooks says that in the midst of suffering, faith is a path forward.

“When you don’t know what to do, and you are suffering—which you will on earth—then the thing to do is for you to love. Love of the divine, love of our Lord, love of your family, love of your friends and love toward everybody through the way that you sanctify your ordinary work,” Brooks told Outreach Magazine.

Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans’ daily lives. “One Nation Under God” is committed to reflecting America’s voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope.

The relationship between faith and happiness, Brooks argues, is strengthened through practice, love, purpose and service.

Source: NewsNation.