The Faith Factor
Religious faith and trust in God is conducive to good physical health. Patients who had open-heart surgery and who received solace and comfort from their religious belief were 3 times more likely to survive than those who did not have a religious faith. In more than 20 studies, attendance at religious services was correlated with better health. According to Dr Benson, worship services are full of potentially therapeutic elements such as music, prayer and contemplation, familiar rituals, distraction from everyday tensions, fellowship, and education.Compared with non-religious people, those people with a religious commitment consistently report better health and well-being, reduced anxiety and depression, reduced blood pressure, improved quality of life in cancer and heart disease patients, reduced drug use, greater marital satisfaction, and greater self esteem.
Religion is more closely related to health than many think (CH 566). Religion tends directly to promote health, to lengthen life, ... and to heighten our enjoyment of all of its blessings (ML 158).
Author: Winston Craig, MPH, PhD, RD.
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