So said Freud, and there are plenty of people who agree that religion is something that a healthy society eventually will grow out of and move on to a more enlightened existence. But the latest scientific research on the effects of religiosity on health, might give us reason to pause. A vast amount of data emerging over the last eight years reveals positive correlations between commitment to religion and strength of immune systems, cardiovascular health and even longevity, as well as better outcomes for dealing with depression and anxiety.
It is the scientists who are telling us that religious involvement is associated with lower rates of a host of stress-related medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, immune and endocrine functioning, cancerâ€"especially gastrointestinal, breast and oralâ€"and better outcomes for cancer in general.
These studies claim nothing supernatural, but they do have something to contribute to the discussion about the impact of religion on the world. Could it be that a healthy society is one in which spiritual questions are given high priority in the search for the good life and human flourishing?
For my expanded article on this click here.
Source: Centre for public christianity