The fact that religious people regularly express grater happiness and satisfaction than their unbelieving neighbors doesn’t necessarily prove that God exists or that the Bible represents an accurate expression of his will. It does, however, indicate three clear benefits of church or synagogue involvement for both the individual and his society.

Recently on my radio show I discussed a recent column in the Wall Street Journal by my friend Arthur Brooks, professor at Syracuse University. He pointed out that the 30% of Americans who attend religious services once a week or more (“the religious” in his terminology) are nearly than three times as likely to describe themselves as “very happy” than the 20% who never go to church (“the secular”).

Though Arthur doesn’t attempt any explanation for the “happiness dividend” stemming from church attendance, three important factors suggest themselves.

1. RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE, AND “COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS” CONTRIBUTES POWERFULLY TO HAPPINESS. For Christians, Jews and adherents of nearly all mainstream religions, giving thanks to the Almighty represents an essential element of prayer. In Judaism, the daily introductory service (known as Pesukai de Zimrah) consists of about fifteen minutes of “songs and hymns of praise.” Songwriter Irving (“God Bless America”) Berlin wrote the wonderful lyric: “When at night I cannot sleep/I count my blessings instead of sheep.” It’s, of course, a major contributing factor to happiness to focus on a glass-half-full attitude and to try to concentrate on your good fortune rather than your frustrations. Religious people are far more likely to develop thankful personalities not only because gratitude and praise for the Creator plays a role in nearly every literature but because people of faith know whom to thank.

2. PEOPLE OF FAITH BENEFIT FROM EMBRACING TIME-TESTED, CLEARLY ARTICULATED STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR.  One of the dilemmas of modern man involves tormenting confusion and ceaseless uncertainty about determining the appropriate path through life. Traditional religions lay down useful, supportive standards – along with mechanisms for winning forgiveness when (not if) you fall short. In place of muddled expectations on contradictory messages about right-and-wrong, people of faith benefit from centuries of teaching on the appropriate choices for conscientious individuals. In Judaism, the term for religious law is “HaLakha” – or, literally translated, the path.

3. RELIGIOUS PEOPLE GET THE OCCASION AND THE CONTEXT FOR CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY. Regardless of how boring religious services can sometimes seem, they provide one incontestable blessing: they provide a framework every week (or sometimes even more often than that) for people to establish the neighborly ties that constitute community. Most Americans remain lonely and isolated, getting to know the characters on TV better than the family that actually lives next door. Religious people, by contrast, regularly encounter the same folks at worship services or Bible class and so manage to build friendships and connection that last a lifetime. Countless studies show that reliable intimacy with others makes people healthier, more productive and notably happier.

To recognize the importance of each of these three factors doesn’t require a confession of faith; an honest agnostic or atheist should readily recognize that religion has proven mankind’s most durable institution because it predictably delivers certain rewards. If happiness counts as one of those rewards —based on the gratitude, behavioral standards, and neighborly connection that religion promotes – maybe even cynical unbelievers ought to reconsider the advantages provided by participation in faith-based communities.