The Faith Factor
Many LifeNuts are religious and attend worship services on a regular basis. He or she does this out of conviction, not merely as an attempt to extend life. Religious faith is based on trust and belief and may mean something different to each of us. I do not attempt to infer that one religion is better than another. Rather, I offer information gleaned from surveys, books, and university research that shows that belonging to a religion and practicing it enhances one’s health and longevity. In 1996 Princeton University Research Center determined that 96% of Americans believe that a God exists. This belief alone is not the same as having a personal relationship with God – as viewed in a loving image – or belonging to a faith and attending services.
Over the past 40 years, more university-based researchers have become interested in the link between religion and health. Since 1995, Harvard Medical School has attracted thousands to their annual conference on health and spirituality. Duke University established a spirituality and health center and other universities have followed in the same path: University of Florida, University of Minnesota, George Washington University, New York University, to name a few. Many of their studies show that people who practice a faith and attend services regularly are much healthier than those who don’t. This is based on such findings in churchgoers as lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, less depression, and a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
In his book, Timeless Healing, Dr. Herbert Benson, the Harvard cardiologist who taught his hypertensive patients to lower their blood pressure through meditation, cites an example of a lady with throat cancer. Barbara would rather die than have her jaw and teeth removed and opted for radiation instead, going against the recommendation of surgery. She explained that God hadn’t failed her and, trusting Him, she took the radiation. Despite enduring many terrible side-effects of the radiation to her throat, she survived and beat the cancer, acknowledging God’s power in healing her. She had a personal relationship with God and spent 20 minutes once or twice a day in meditation and prayer.
Is religion’s positive effect on health due to social support found inside the congregation? Maybe. Is it derived from volunteering – as many churchgoers do? Possibly. Regardless of whatever mechanism imparts such health benefits, LifeNuts don’t concern themselves with these questions since they are already positive thinkers, religious, and like to help others. Can a non-religious person be a LifeNut? Yes, it’s possible but, as you can see from the many books and studies mentioned in this chapter, being religious is healthy. LifeNuts live life and maintain a warm relationship with God.
Over the past 40 years, more university-based researchers have become interested in the link between religion and health. Since 1995, Harvard Medical School has attracted thousands to their annual conference on health and spirituality. Duke University established a spirituality and health center and other universities have followed in the same path: University of Florida, University of Minnesota, George Washington University, New York University, to name a few. Many of their studies show that people who practice a faith and attend services regularly are much healthier than those who don’t. This is based on such findings in churchgoers as lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, less depression, and a lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
In his book, Timeless Healing, Dr. Herbert Benson, the Harvard cardiologist who taught his hypertensive patients to lower their blood pressure through meditation, cites an example of a lady with throat cancer. Barbara would rather die than have her jaw and teeth removed and opted for radiation instead, going against the recommendation of surgery. She explained that God hadn’t failed her and, trusting Him, she took the radiation. Despite enduring many terrible side-effects of the radiation to her throat, she survived and beat the cancer, acknowledging God’s power in healing her. She had a personal relationship with God and spent 20 minutes once or twice a day in meditation and prayer.
Is religion’s positive effect on health due to social support found inside the congregation? Maybe. Is it derived from volunteering – as many churchgoers do? Possibly. Regardless of whatever mechanism imparts such health benefits, LifeNuts don’t concern themselves with these questions since they are already positive thinkers, religious, and like to help others. Can a non-religious person be a LifeNut? Yes, it’s possible but, as you can see from the many books and studies mentioned in this chapter, being religious is healthy. LifeNuts live life and maintain a warm relationship with God.