Does Religion Have Any Effect On Your Well Being (Physical Or Psychological)?

[idiosyncrasy]

It has been suggested in a previous thread that religion leads to psychological problems.

[craft1948]

I find that my religion gives me great comfort...................

[birdie1971]

Idiosyncrasy-

I can also cite a study. Here it is:
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.pdf

It's called “Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies” and it's been published in the Journal of Religion & Society in 2005.

Abstract - “Large-scale surveys show dramatic declines in religiosity in favor of secularization in the developed democracies. Popular acceptance of evolutionary science correlates negatively with levels of religiosity, and the United States is the only prosperous nation where the majority absolutely believes in a creator and evolutionary science is unpopular. Abundant data is available on rates of societal dysfunction and health in the first world. Cross-national comparisons of highly differing rates of religiosity and societal conditions form a mass epidemiological experiment that can be used to test whether high rates of belief in and worship of a creator are necessary for high levels of social health. Data correlations show that in almost all regards the highly secular democracies consistently enjoy low rates of societal dysfunction, while pro-religious and antievolution America performs poorly.”

[scorpiojo]

Well Joan of Arc didn't .

[scorpiojo]

.... Live a longer healthier life.

[birdie1971]

I've recently read a book about religion, faith and all things spiritual in which the author suggests that the words “faith” and “religion” can often be replaced in a sentence with the phrase “pretending to know things you don't know” or variations on it. It works in almost all cases I can think of.

For instance, Craft (above) has said, “I find that my religion gives me great comfort”. I'm sure that Craft is correct in that assertion. However, the statement could be re-rendered to say, “I find that pretending to know things I don't know gives me great comfort” and it would mean precisely the same thing as before.

[idiosyncrasy]

Birdie@ More links. But we can go on and on exchanging links because as with every question and debate there are always those for and those against.

https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2003/178/2/religion-spirituality-and-health-how-should-australias-medical-professionals

http://www.is-there-a-god.info/life/faithandwellbeing.shtml

http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/file/Working-Well/freedom_of_religion_report.pdf

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi@ It will have no effect on me personally as it is not a topic that is of interest to me. I have read the book reviews and as previously mentioned, if it is of interest I will read but if it is not, I will not read. It's as simple as that. Are you not selective in your reading material? But for young impressive minds it can have negative results.

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy, yes, I am selective in my reading material - but not because I think demons and devils are real - and surely little has a more negative effect on the young than teaching them they are! That really is hocus pocus!

[Khandro]

birdie; //I've recently read a book about religion, faith and all things spiritual// God knows what sort of book that was, It sounds like an anti-religious book - right up your street I imagine. Did you feel the need for confirmation of your prejudices?

[naomi24]

Khandro, that's an interesting word to use - prejudices. Why prejudices?

[birdie1971]

Khandro - “... God knows what sort of book that was, It sounds like an anti-religious book - right up your street I imagine. Did you feel the need for confirmation of your prejudices?...”

I would comment further on my current reading material but I fear it would bore you since it deals with reason, logic and honesty. Nice attempt though at trying to divert attention away from the fact that you've made an unsubstantiated assertion regarding religious belief and well being. Bravo.

However, any chance of you providing us with evidence for your earlier claim? Just in case you've forgotten, you said, “... there are statistics to show that the religious live longer, healthier lives...”.

[birdie1971]

Idiosyncrasy - “... But we can go on and on exchanging links because as with every question and debate there are always those for and those against...”

That's precisely the point I made earlier. Why are you telling me what I've already demonstrated?

[Khandro]

birdie; Here is something to start on, there's lots more; http://www.wpic.pitt.edu/education/CPSP/Reading/2%20VIC3%20Sess%20II%20-%20Corrigan%20et%20al.pdf

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi@ It all depends on how you teach them. Children are not as susceptible as we assume. To them, black is black and white is white, there is no grey area. It is us adults, who look to the inbetween.

I was in the queue for coffee the other day and behind me was a woman with a little boy. She was threatening the child that Santa would not come to him because he was not standing still whilst waiting in the queue. The child said, "Why? He can't see me". His mother/grandmother said that Santa was watching him. To my amusement, the child looked around, walked a few feet into the café and looked again, turned and said, "Well. where is this santa, I can't see him". The woman had no reply to that, looked at me and said, "What can you say?"

My grandchildren have no fear of death or dying. To them, having been taught the Bible, they know that if anyone dies, they have gone to sleep for a very long time and that they will wake up in the resurrection.

[idiosyncrasy]

cont. (pressed submit button before finishing).
Which would you prefer? Telling the child a truth and explaining it to them in a language they understand, or telling them a lie and as they get older explain to them why you told them a lie in the first place!

How many children have been disillusioned and how many relationships have been spoiled because of lies?

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy //How many children have been disillusioned and how many relationships have been spoiled because of lies?//

Too many- and Jehovah's Witnesses are among the worst offenders. Transpose Santa for God.

[birdie1971]

Khandro - “... birdie; Here is something to start on...”

The link you've posted doesn't support your claim in any way, shape or form.

[locusts]

naomi24 / Idiosyncrasy //How many children have been disillusioned and how many relationships have been spoiled because of lies?// 

Too many- and Jehovah Witnesses are among the worst offenders. Transpose Santa for God. 

Locusts / I think you need to change /recurred//your answer Naomi 24

Jehovah witnesses do not believe in
/ birthday/ the trinity/ teaching of Hell-fire /Christmas.
Easter and the customs associated with it
they are pagan celebration.

the catholic encyclopedia tell us a great many pagan customs celebrating 1913.vol p 227

[naomi24]

Locusts, you misunderstand. Jehovah's Witnesses was appropriate to my response, but try this. For Jehovah's Witnesses transpose Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims…… or any of the myriad of Abrahamic sects you can think of. To put it simply, belief in the God of Abraham is no more valid than belief in Santa.

[jomifl]

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Idio Have you spotted the flaw yet?

Journal of Religion and Health
September 2013, Volume 52, Issue 3, pp 915-929
Linking Religion and Spirituality with Psychological Well-being: Examining Self-actualisation, Meaning in Life, and Personal Growth Initiative

If a tobacco company had sponsored a paper that claimed that smoking had no deleterious effect on health.......?