“It may add as much as two to three years to your life. The reason for this is not entirely clear.”
I feel that the author does a pretty good job of showing exactly why this is the case. Talking to others can reduce stress and promote healthy living habits, so, having a support group could help.
I really don’t understand the point of these studies. First, let’s be clear, any correlation is not causation. Second, a plethora of studies can end up correlating certain activities to health promotion, but it doesn’t mean they cause healthier lives. So many things can help reduce stress, so let’s also point out those? I just think we should be studying more serious matters if we’re going to be spending money on these types of studies.
This study seems hard to measure, but sure, I don’t think relieving stress hurts your health and may very well improve it. Same with the church link. However, as Sam mentions, many other activities can also improve your health by relieving stress, if that does end up being a causation for improved health by doing x y and z. So I agree that we should first invest more on learning how our body works before reaching external causations to health.
From the comments below the NYT article, I couldn’t help but notice the way that some people took this particular editorial. It’s interesting to see how bitter and “angry” some people are regarding the fact that some people use and benefit from religion and from going to church by living happier and longer lives. It just occurred to me that it’s probably those same people making those type of negative statements about church and religion that are not very happy and/or healthy…they get an ulcer just from writing those unnecessary comments in online editorials. The bottom line is that church is what you make of it. To some people, they can go to church every week, several times a week, and they get nothing out of it. They just can’t get that connection with the people at church and the institution itself, and most importantly, God…and that doesn’t make them any less than those who do.
Being in community with other people, who may or may not have the same beliefs as you, is a great way to connect with other people that have every day struggles like everyone else, and in a way this does help find new ways to deal with certain situations we may not be very comfortable with. Being part of a church allows you to open up to other people who are willing to listen to you and advise you as they can, so that you can move forward with anything you may be going through and reach a good level of happiness. At the end of the day, everyone has every day struggles they need to learn how to deal with, some more than others, but everyone does, and I’m a firm believer that religious institutions offer great and viable ways for everyone to get the help and support they need.
I meditate every day. Its effects are undeniable. Try it for 2 weeks Ryan, just once a day, 5 minutes in the morning or night, and tell you me you don’t notice improvement…
I am for meditation, although, I do struggle with practicing it on a daily basis. There has been solid amount of neuroscience research demonstrating the benefits of meditating for focus and mental refreshment.
Before we all try to become tree-hugging buddha, let’s not forget what the doctor said, “meditation can be useful for symptom management, not to cure or treat disease.”
A few years ago several studies found regular church attendance was correlated with lower mortality. That is, people who went to church had lower mortality that those who did not attend weekly church meetings.
This sounds like correlation; but not causation. People who are physically healthy enough to attend church are in better health than those who cannot attend church due to health reasons.
“Certainly many churchgoers struggle with behaviors they would like to change, but on average, regular church attendees drink less, smoke less, use fewer recreational drugs and are less sexually promiscuous than others.”
These reasons seem to be pretty solid explanations for why someone who attends church regularly may live longer.
First link: So being screened at 40 wasn’t predictive of anything, but before 50… so what’s the appropriate age?
Church probably just provides a larger risk averse support structure. Otherwise, the author admits it’s just a placebo effect.
-Is going to church good for your health?
“It may add as much as two to three years to your life. The reason for this is not entirely clear.”
I feel that the author does a pretty good job of showing exactly why this is the case. Talking to others can reduce stress and promote healthy living habits, so, having a support group could help.
“Is going to church good for your health?”
I really don’t understand the point of these studies. First, let’s be clear, any correlation is not causation. Second, a plethora of studies can end up correlating certain activities to health promotion, but it doesn’t mean they cause healthier lives. So many things can help reduce stress, so let’s also point out those? I just think we should be studying more serious matters if we’re going to be spending money on these types of studies.
“Is meditation good for your health?”
This study seems hard to measure, but sure, I don’t think relieving stress hurts your health and may very well improve it. Same with the church link. However, as Sam mentions, many other activities can also improve your health by relieving stress, if that does end up being a causation for improved health by doing x y and z. So I agree that we should first invest more on learning how our body works before reaching external causations to health.
“A PSA test given before age 50 can predict half of all deaths from prostate cancer.”
Makes sense to me since most men show signs of prostate cancer before reaching 50.
Is going to church good for your health?
From the comments below the NYT article, I couldn’t help but notice the way that some people took this particular editorial. It’s interesting to see how bitter and “angry” some people are regarding the fact that some people use and benefit from religion and from going to church by living happier and longer lives. It just occurred to me that it’s probably those same people making those type of negative statements about church and religion that are not very happy and/or healthy…they get an ulcer just from writing those unnecessary comments in online editorials. The bottom line is that church is what you make of it. To some people, they can go to church every week, several times a week, and they get nothing out of it. They just can’t get that connection with the people at church and the institution itself, and most importantly, God…and that doesn’t make them any less than those who do.
Being in community with other people, who may or may not have the same beliefs as you, is a great way to connect with other people that have every day struggles like everyone else, and in a way this does help find new ways to deal with certain situations we may not be very comfortable with. Being part of a church allows you to open up to other people who are willing to listen to you and advise you as they can, so that you can move forward with anything you may be going through and reach a good level of happiness. At the end of the day, everyone has every day struggles they need to learn how to deal with, some more than others, but everyone does, and I’m a firm believer that religious institutions offer great and viable ways for everyone to get the help and support they need.
Is meditation good for your health?
I meditate every day. Its effects are undeniable. Try it for 2 weeks Ryan, just once a day, 5 minutes in the morning or night, and tell you me you don’t notice improvement…
@ Meditation
I am for meditation, although, I do struggle with practicing it on a daily basis. There has been solid amount of neuroscience research demonstrating the benefits of meditating for focus and mental refreshment.
@ Meditation
Before we all try to become tree-hugging buddha, let’s not forget what the doctor said, “meditation can be useful for symptom management, not to cure or treat disease.”
Is going to church good for your health?
A few years ago several studies found regular church attendance was correlated with lower mortality. That is, people who went to church had lower mortality that those who did not attend weekly church meetings.
This sounds like correlation; but not causation. People who are physically healthy enough to attend church are in better health than those who cannot attend church due to health reasons.
“Certainly many churchgoers struggle with behaviors they would like to change, but on average, regular church attendees drink less, smoke less, use fewer recreational drugs and are less sexually promiscuous than others.”
These reasons seem to be pretty solid explanations for why someone who attends church regularly may live longer.