Can Religion Help Prolong Life?
3 April, 2020
Religion and medicine might not seem like natural partners but what does the science say about faith helping people live longer?
Medicine and faith are not mutually exclusive but some people consider faith to be alternative treatment and others think it's complementary to medicine.
Faith and healthcare are not contradictions; they are cause and effect. Health and healing are divinely ordained--they just arrive in vessels marked EMT, MD, RN, etc.
While religion and science have seemed to be opposing forces for centuries, many religions can embrace science - especially with regards to medicine.
Talking to your doctor about faith can be difficult and uncomfortable but it can produce better outcomes and there are good ways to go about it.
When hospitals offer pastoral care, it means that they have a chaplain or religious figure to provide religious guidance to patients who need it.
There are some religious fundamentalists who refuse medical care but do they have the right to refuse care from medical professionals?
Talking to a loved one who is approaching death can be a daunting task but it's important to provide comfort and access to guidance if possible
There is some evidence that religious people can live longer and healthier lives, potentially because religion provides comfort, support, and peace.
Meditation and prayer are different in intent but both provide benefits like increased awareness, calming the mind, and letting go of negative thoughts.
There has been plenty of research into the relationship between religion/spirituality and mental health. While the majority of studies have shown significantly less anxiety among religious people, there are also some mixed results.
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