Originally Posted by
Colonel Frank Grimes
It has nothing to do with a lack of religion and everything to do with a genetic predisposition.
You're confusing a sense of community with the effects of religion on a person. The Amish score high on happiness. They have a sense of community. But they also suck big balls. If we were all like the Amish we would be conquered by a less happier people who are motivated to improve their lives by inventing more efficient ways of doing things, which leads to kicking the ass of people who are less efficient in doing things.
If you truly want to be happy (and not the cheap happiness that comes from the comfort and security of belonging to a community) then you'd choose an environment where surviving each day feels like a great accomplishment (in other words you don't die) or work on something difficult that you will complete (learn a new language, be able to do 1000 sit ups in a day, etc.)
Accomplishing something difficult that you put a great deal of effort and work makes you happy.