Much has been made about a recent study of religion and mortality rates. According to this study, women who participate in religious worship services experience a 20% lower death rate. Apparently religious worship tends to prolong life far more than other types of community involvement and other activities known to promote physical and emotional well-being.
I find these findings intriguing but I’m also skeptical. A colleague pointed out that the risk of death is 100% for ALL human beings, with or without communal prayer. Along these lines, I believe Lawrence Kushner spoke of a T-shirt printed with the salient slogan, “Life: Nobody Gets Out Alive.”
Hopefully religious life helps people to better confront their inevitable mortality, to make meaning of it and to make the most out of each living day. I feel more confident about this positive result than about the possibility of a prolonged existence due to prayer services.
What do you think? Does communal prayer positively impact your well being? If so, how?
December 24, 2008 at 9:24 am |
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I’ve been thinking about this since you posted it!
I wonder if it’s the “communal” or the “prayer” part that makes the difference?
My suspicion is that it may be the “communal” aspect: if one is engaged with others, involved in activities that energize and rejuvenate, and has a purpose for getting up in the morning — I think those activities promote physical and emotional well-being and may lead to a better quality of life, if not a longer life.
Being involved in communal prayer might be one way to feel connected, but I don’t believe it’s the only way.
January 21, 2009 at 10:11 pm |
Mary–I would’ve said the same thing as you, that it’s the communal piece and not specifically the prayer piece that promotes health, long life, etc. However, the study apparently tried to measure religious service attendance vs. other communal involvements, and service attendance came out on top. Nonetheless, I’m still more interested in the capacity of religion to help us grapple with our mortality than to avoid it.
December 24, 2008 at 5:42 pm |
As far as communal prayer causing a decrease in death rates, I presume they mean that all other things being equal, those who attend services are less likely to die within a certain year (or something like that). I suppose we should get hold of the article and examine the methodology.
Personally, faith (whatever I mean by that) helps me to believe that I will prevail when times are moderately tough and life is scary. This sense of optimism helps with stress, which I suppose protects my life. Sometimes, it helps to act as though we know everything will be all right, even if we know that’s very far from a sure thing. A little bit of denial (and I do mean a little bit) can be a good thing.
December 30, 2008 at 9:30 am |
As I watch my mother and inlaws age and deal with pain, I see how important a sense of connection is as you age. I think faith is important to all ages. Teens certainly feel alone and disconnected as do people of all ages but for seniors, who attend funerals more than births, I think disconnection is most real.
For many, like my Mom, they counted on a spouse being there forever and now must deal with the reality of being alone after 50+ years of love and commitment. I think having a strong inner believe in God can keep the blackness from overwhelming you. Being part of a community brought together not just to have fun, but to make a difference in the world and spread faith offers something much deeper than a Bridge group or other social outlet.
So yes, it makes sense to me that people who not only attend a religious institution but believe in God live longer. God doesn’t die so you are never truly alone.
January 21, 2009 at 10:14 pm |
Melody–good point about how faith & purpose helps to promote health. This is true regardless of the actual length of our lives, which we likely can’t control to a very great extent.