Topic : Christianity and Quality of Life

Term Paper
Christianity is the suitable religion ideology for a healthy well-being. In positive
psychology, it discuss about how to have a better quality of life. Here will argue that
Christianity is the best contribution to our quality of life. All the factors of quality of
life can found on the Christianity. Therefore, here will list three factors, which are
forgiveness, meaning in life and hope and optimistic, then will show that it can be
found in Christianity.
First, forgiveness is one of the main factors of quality of life. The definition of
forgiveness is a response that less negative and more positive to the people that hurt
you. Therefore, it can also be a pro-social response as it can recover the feeling of the
people that they want to be forgiven (McCullough, Pargament, & Thoresen, 2000).
But, forgiveness is not a natural human response, we tend to hurt other people when
we be hurt, and praise other people when we be praised, it is just a simple social
exchange theory explain about (McCullough et al., 2000). Even thought, it still
improve our quality of life, it can decrease our level of aggression, violence behavior,
and increase our empathy(Shechtman, Wade, & Khoury, 2009). When increasing our
empathy, we can live happier as we can understand other people point of view from
their angel, so we wont force other people to do anything. And in Christianity, there
is a saying that Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13).
Christian need to forgive other people as if Jesus Christ forgive other people. Also,
Christian need to forgive other because everyone has sin. So everyone need God to
forgive. And the criteria for getting forgiveness from God is to forgive other people.
So forgiveness can be found is Christianity.
Second, meaning in life is another main factor of quality of life. Therefore are
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several definition of meaning in life, they are difference in the focus, some focus on
the process, some are the end state(Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006). However,
the common element of that different definition is the meaning. They all talk about the
meaning. No matter is the goal you want to achieve, or the significant of the life, it is
all about meaning(Steger et al., 2006). Therefore, here will use the definition of
meaning of life, it means why we live, to illustrate the following part. Meaning of life
is important to positive well-being as it provide a goal to our life(Auhagen, 2000) and
a motivation to push us(Hermans, 1989). When people lack of meaning of life, they
can still live normally, but dont have a positive well-being as they just follow other
rule, guideline, instruction or so on. They are lack of internal motivation; they are
easy to get bored and easy to get nothing to do. Therefore it is important to our mental
health. So Christianity can provide a best answer for the meaning of life. Christian is a
disciple of God; they have an ultimate goal that is to go to the heaven. They know that
even though they are dead, they can still have an ever-lasting life in heaven, therefore
they have the meaning of life. Also they have a goal that Jesus Christ ask his disciple
to do is Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end
of the world. Amen. (Mathew 28:19-20). God need his disciple to spread the gospel,
to tell other people that Jesus Christ love them. So meaning of life can be found in
Christianity.
Last, hope or optimism is also the main factor of quality of life. Hope can be
defined as a perceived ability that people can fulfill their goal. Hope is not unreality; it
is based on the past experience. If people in the past had fulfilled their goal, it will
increase their hope(Snyder, Lehman, Kluck, & Monsson, 2006). They hope that they
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will have the ability to fulfill their future goal. Therefore, hope is a subjective
motivational state that motivates people. It is similar to the concept of self-efficacy
that people believe that they have the ability to achieve the goal, but it is not focus on
the future and only the issue that they need to do. But hope is a wider and narrow
concept. It just focus on the future, not only on the issue that they need to do, but also
on the issue related to their goal, they have a tendency to think that the good thing will
happen basing on the past experience. Therefore, people have hope will become an
optimistic people, they can use a positive perspective to perceive the future event,
therefore, they have a more positive emotion, reaction , response, perception to lead to
a better quality of life. Also, Christianity also includes the hope and optimism. Hope
and optimism is based on the past experience with God guiding. They experience God
with guide their life, so in the future, when face uncertainty, they will believe that God
will guide their life. Also, Christian will pray for something that they want, after
praying, they hope that they will get what they want, even cannot get what they want
immediately, they still believe that they can get it in the future or get it in another
form. Also, hope and optimism is the extend of the meaning of life as people have an
ever-lasting life in heaven, so even they face a huge difficulty, they can still have hope
as dead is not a big trouble as dead is not the end of their life. So Christianity have the
hope and optimism.
In conclusion, Christianity includes three factors of quality of life, which is
forgiveness, meaning of life and hope and optimism. However, some Christian may
have mental health as they may have the extrinsic religious orientation, but not
intrinsic religious orientation(Feist, 2009). Also, here is just provide some evidence to
prove Christianity may be a suitable ideology or religion to improve quality of life, no
any attack on other religions or no compare different religion on the effect of quality
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of life. In short, intrinsic Christianity orientation may cause a better quality of life.

Reference
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