David G. Bromley

"Evidence Shows Church-Going Increases Longevity"
by Christine Hall ("CNS," October 17, 2000)

(CNSNews.com) - A Gallup poll released late last week measured people's happiness in life. There were several correlations made, including religious habits. More than half the people surveyed, who read the Bible daily or weekly and attended church weekly or almost weekly, said that they were very happy. For those who read the Bible and attended church less often, less than half stated that they were as happy.

Happiness derived from regular churchgoing could also translate into longer life. That's the finding of research conducted over the last two decades regarding the correlation between religious activity and longevity.

The National Institute for Health Care Research compiled the 20 years of studies and reported the findings in a recent edition of Research News in Science and Theology.

People who actively participate in religious activities, like going to church regularly, tend to live longer, said Dr. David B. Larson, president of the NIHR. The odds are less for people who engage in private religious activity.

"When you look at the findings, they're solid," said Larson. Worship attendance makes a difference, he said. "It's interesting when you break it out, men versus women," he added. "It's about 30 percent [more longevity] for men and 60 percent for women," he said.

However, Larson cautions that the correlation is neither as strong or fully explained as other factors, like the affect of smoking on longevity, and should not yet be used to recommend churchgoing as a sure way to live longer.

Maybe the key to the link is community and meditation, suggests Ken Livingston , Professor of Psychology at Vassar College, who has lectured and written on this issue.

Livingston says scholars and scientists can only speculate about why churchgoers live longer, healthier lives. He suggests that there are health benefits to be had from the strong social and support network provided from church congregations. Relaxation from prayer, as a form of meditation, may also be a factor, according to Livingston.

Livingston says there's some evidence to indicate that it's the social aspect of church that counts. He points to the studies' findings that public (social) religious involvement trumps private faith when it comes to living longer.

"It also turns out not to matter what church you go to," said Livingston. "That's another indication that it's not the content of the beliefs that matter, [but] the fact of being socially, emotionally, intellectually involved with other people," he said.

Then, again, it could be how firmly you believe. Livingston says studies also have shown some connection between happiness, health, and degree of conviction in one's beliefs. "There is a relationship between psychological measures of...religious commitment and how convinced you are that you're right," said Livingston.

But, says Livingston, that also holds true for other types of beliefs. "For purposes of happiness and health, it doesn't seem to matter what it is that you're convinced about," he said. When the data is plotted out on a graph, "The happiest, healthiest people are the people who are most certain about what they believe," said Livingston.

So, what are scientists sure about?

Marc Shepanek, NASA's lead scientist for aerospace medicine, says the thing that scientists are most certain about when it comes to living longer than average is how many calories people eat.

"If you get all the vitamins and minerals you need, but reduce daily caloric intake to 30 percent below the average intake for people within your age group, height and weight, you'll get an increase in lifespan of roughly 30 percent," he explained.

"You not only extend your life, but you put off cancer, heart disease, stroke, today's top three killers," said Shepanek. "That's the only one with a tremendously consistent correlation," he said.

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	"Evidence Shows Church-Going Increases Longevity" by Christine Hall ("CNS," October 17, 2000) (CNSNews.com) - A Gallup poll released late last week measured people's happiness in life. There were several correlations made, including religious habits. More than half the people surveyed, who read the Bible daily or weekly and attended church weekly or almost weekly, said that they were very happy. For those who read the Bible and attended church less often, less than half stated that they were as happy. Happiness derived from regular churchgoing could also translate into longer life. That's the finding of research conducted over the last two decades regarding the correlation between religious activity and longevity. The National Institute for Health Care Research compiled the 20 years of studies and reported the findings in a recent edition of Research News in Science and Theology. People who actively participate in religious activities, like going to church regularly, tend to live longer, said Dr. David B. Larson, president of the NIHR. The odds are less for people who engage in private religious activity. "When you look at the findings, they're solid," said Larson. Worship attendance makes a difference, he said. "It's interesting when you break it out, men versus women," he added. "It's about 30 percent [more longevity] for men and 60 percent for women," he said. However, Larson cautions that the correlation is neither as strong or fully explained as other factors, like the affect of smoking on longevity, and should not yet be used to recommend churchgoing as a sure way to live longer. Maybe the key to the link is community and meditation, suggests Ken Livingston , Professor of Psychology at Vassar College, who has lectured and written on this issue. Livingston says scholars and scientists can only speculate about why churchgoers live longer, healthier lives. He suggests that there are health benefits to be had from the strong social and support network provided from church congregations. Relaxation from prayer, as a form of meditation, may also be a factor, according to Livingston. Livingston says there's some evidence to indicate that it's the social aspect of church that counts. He points to the studies' findings that public (social) religious involvement trumps private faith when it comes to living longer. "It also turns out not to matter what church you go to," said Livingston. "That's another indication that it's not the content of the beliefs that matter, [but] the fact of being socially, emotionally, intellectually involved with other people," he said. Then, again, it could be how firmly you believe. Livingston says studies also have shown some connection between happiness, health, and degree of conviction in one's beliefs. "There is a relationship between psychological measures of...religious commitment and how convinced you are that you're right," said Livingston. But, says Livingston, that also holds true for other types of beliefs. "For purposes of happiness and health, it doesn't seem to matter what it is that you're convinced about," he said. When the data is plotted out on a graph, "The happiest, healthiest people are the people who are most certain about what they believe," said Livingston. So, what are scientists sure about? Marc Shepanek, NASA's lead scientist for aerospace medicine, says the thing that scientists are most certain about when it comes to living longer than average is how many calories people eat. "If you get all the vitamins and minerals you need, but reduce daily caloric intake to 30 percent below the average intake for people within your age group, height and weight, you'll get an increase in lifespan of roughly 30 percent," he explained. "You not only extend your life, but you put off cancer, heart disease, stroke, today's top three killers," said Shepanek. "That's the only one with a tremendously consistent correlation," he said.