What can religion do for your health?

Question

An interesting article. Long, but worth the read for all. That is, if you want. You can just answer the question if you want.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/190/story_19034_1.html?WT.mc_id=NL44

Peace and Love

Answer 1

A Positive Link -

“Most original research articles on the topic have found positive associations between increased spirituality and better health outcomes,” says Professor Hedley G. Peach of the University of Melbourne, Australia. Commenting on these findings, The Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) states: “Religiosity has also been associated with . . . lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol . . . and even lower risk for colon cancer.”

Similarly, in the United States, a 2002 study of 6,545 people conducted by University of California (UC), Berkeley, found that “people who attended religious services once a week had significantly lower risks of death compared with those who attended less frequently or never.” Doug Oman, lead author of the study and a lecturer at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health, said: “We found this difference even after adjusting for factors such as social connections and health behaviors, including smoking and exercising.”

Identifying other benefits for those who have a spiritual outlook on life, MJA says: “Australian studies have found greater marital stability, less alcohol and illicit drug use, lower rates of and more negative attitudes toward suicide, less anxiety and depression, and greater altruism among the religious.” In addition, BMJ (The British Medical Journal) reports: “People who profess stronger spiritual beliefs seem to resolve their grief more rapidly and completely after the death of a close person than do people with no spiritual beliefs.”

There are various thoughts about what genuine spirituality is. Yet, your spiritual condition does have an impact on your physical and mental health. This evidence is in harmony with a statement made by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago. He said: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.” (Matthew 5:3.)

Identifying the kind of food that will keep us spiritually healthy, Jesus said: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matthew 4:4) Jehovah’s utterances are recorded in his Word, the Bible, and they are “beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight.” (2 Timothy 3:16.) It is, therefore, up to us to put forth the effort to take in that spiritual nourishment. To the extent that we come to know the Bible and endeavor to apply its principles in our life, to that extent we will benefit spiritually and physically.—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

You too can gain a sense of purpose and meaning in life by studying the Bible. Jehovah’s Witnesses are happy to help you. You can gain the satisfaction that comes from learning about Jehovah and his purposes for mankind in general and for you as an individual. Not only will you have the joy of fulfilling your spiritual needs now but you will also gain the prospect of enjoying endless life in perfect physical health—a prospect open only to those “conscious of their spiritual need.”—Matthew 5:3.

If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 2

What can God do for your health?
Jesus said"my peace I leave with you My peace I give unto you it is not a peace belonging to this world .
The world cannot give it to you nor take it from you.
The mind is a powerful thing.
If it is filled with fear worry anxiety,envy, vindictivnes,implaccability it It procuces everything from hypertension,to rashes,migraine headaches,excema,warts,skin rashes,allergies,and asthma.
Medicine calls it physcosamatics.
Whatever the mental attitude sin happens to be when they can wipe this out then the problem clears up.
Suddenly the rash or whatever the illness clears up.
There is a relationship between the mental attitude and the physical activity and health of the body.
1 John 1:9

Answer 3

I didn't read the article, but I think to some extent hope (in whatever form in comes in) can help you heal and preserve your health. For some, hope comes in the form of religion. Same theory applies to why a placebo sometimes helps a person recover.

Answer 4

It can give you a false sense of hope that we are all more than just a piece of nature on earth for 70-80 years. By having that hope you could avoid depression.

Answer 5

I don't know about religion but a personal relationship with our Father God and Jesus Christ will heal your mind and heal your soul Christ is still healing people today like he did over 2000 years ago one must have Faith

Answer 6

For me it has increased my belief in GOD. I know that HE is with me in body, mind, and spirit everyday which enables me to go on each day. Achieving my goal of inner peace is easier at times.........peace and love.......

Answer 7

if health is in your religion, it helps