Go To Church. Get .77 More Of A Happy Thought.

Gallup finds that churchgoers are cheerier, especially on Sundays and the rest of the week as well:

People who go to church, synagogue or other services at least once a week report 3.36 positive emotions a day versus 3.08 among people who never attend, Gallup found. Weekly attendees report an average of only 0.85 negative emotions a day compared with 1.04 for people who never attend services.

Leather Idols And Orange Slice Sacraments

So the Southern Baptists are fretting about yoga? As Orange County's own Joanna Brooks notes, if God's being crowded off the field, it's not by hordes doing the paripurna navasana:

If there is a sport that is a religion right now, no question, hands down, it’s youth soccer. Soccer is like Saturday morning church in the suburbs. It’s pretty much compulsory. Dutifully we worship the small people wearing the brightly-colored silken vestments. Faithfully we line up to form “spirit tunnels,” touching fingertips with parents from opposing teams. Lovingly we serve juice box and orange slice sacraments. We hand-sew lavish new banners each season, banners we know will expire within a few weeks. Yes, soccer has become as ritualized as High Church Episcopalianism. Except it’s far better attended.

As for the leagues that schedule games and practices on Sunday mornings, I understand pool and field slots are at a premium these days. "Judge not" and all that. Besides, St. John's offers a convenient community Holy Eucharist service Saturdays at 5 p.m.!

Mass Exodus

A third of U.S. Catholics have left the church.