Here's the issue: where religiosity is high, it's often unified with the government. Either religion becomes an instrument of the state, or you end up effectively living in a theocracy - either de facto or de jure.
Conversely, while China has no religion beyond Chinese Socialism, aspects of personal life are strictly governed; those failing to meet societal expectations are subject to harsh punishments.
So religiosity per se may not lead to unhappiness – rather, it tends to lead to a deficit in personal freedoms, i.e. "controlling people's lives" via the rule of law, which does.
That's just my take, though. And it's getting a little off-topic!
Here's the issue: where religiosity is high, it's often unified with the government. Either religion becomes an instrument of the state, or you end up effectively living in a theocracy - either de facto or de jure.
My impression is that while many people may be religious in Brazil, that religion is increasingly less unified, hence less able to exert power over people's lives.
Conversely, while China has no religion beyond Chinese Socialism, aspects of personal life are strictly governed; those failing to meet societal expectations are subject to harsh punishments.
So religiosity per se may not lead to unhappiness – rather, it tends to lead to a deficit in personal freedoms, i.e. "controlling people's lives" via the rule of law, which does.
That's just my take, though. And it's getting a little off-topic!