Anglican Mainstream

By Ruth Gledhill,Timesonline

The primary cause of unhappiness in Britain is not lack of material wealth but a loss of faith in God and religion, a group of MPs says today. In a new report on wellbeing, a crossparty group of Christian MPs echoes concerns raised by the Conservative leader, David Cameron, who has emphasised repeatedly the importance of action to improve society’s sense of “wellbeing”. They say that the Christian voice is not being respected properly because it comes across too often as “negative”.

Steve Webb, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: “Over the years, many of us who are MPs rooted in the Christian community have been concerned that our voice in the public square can come across as being too negative.

“We are easily identified by what we are against, but less clear what we are for.” He said that, despite material wealth, society lacked a sense of wellbeing. He argued that this had been caused by the erosion of religious values.

The report claims that despite the recent emphasis on “happiness” studies in some schools, and the debates on British identity and wellbeing, Britain is becoming increasingly miserable.

It says: “One impetus behind this project was our sense that there is a strong feeling of disaffection among the inhabitants of these islands. It seemed to us that our national sense of wellbeing is at a low ebb; people are wanting something more out of life.”

Mr Webb said: “The problem is, our ideas tend to be limited: throwing money at the problems doesn’t work. Casting off our traditionally repressed, stiff-upper-lip attitude and talking about them doesn’t achieve anything unless coupled with action.”

Gary Streeter, a Conservative MP and a member of the working party, said: “I think many policymakers sense these things, but don’t know what to do about it.

“The faith communities have a great opportunity to lead here, but only if they stop carping and being against everything and start to be more positive. It is as much a message to the faith communities as other opinion formers.”

The MPs say that all legislators, charities and companies should subject decisions to a fivefold test, such as whether the action will encourage people to develop positive relationships in their families and communities and whether the action is socially and globally responsible.

The authors, who besides Mr Webb and Mr Streeter include the MPs Andy Reed, Alistair Burt and Caroline Spelman, say in the foreword: “Given all the advances of recent years, we seek to understand why a sense of human wellbeing – happiness if you like – is not more widespread.”

They conclude that it is the absence of certain key values, rather than material things, that is the primary cause of so much discontent. The report says: “Our solutions, therefore, do not involve yet more law or increased taxes, but rather a call to reexamine the decisions taken in every sector of society in the light of crucial life-changing principles.”

The authors argue that if values related to relationships, responsibility, trust, self-esteem and potential – all with their roots in the Judeo-Christian beliefs that once underpinned Western legislative philosophy – were to have greater emphasis in society, everyone’s wellbeing would improve.

Listing the large numbers of books on paths to happiness on sale in bookshops today, they argue that, for all its material and social progress, our society is still radically dissatisfied. In the pursuit of economic growth, people had sacrificed commitment to relationships, care for the environment and respect for each other.

Citing recent research that suggested that, despite material advances, people today were no happier than 50 years ago, they call for a radical change in the nature of public rhetoric. “We must not weigh happiness in pounds sterling, nor measure success in university degrees,” they say. Although one of the authors admitted to The Times that the values outlined in the report were ones that flowed from the Christian faith, in the report they argue that their principles are applicable to people of all faiths and none.
 

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