Religion is good for you!! Really!!

Soledad

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/package.jsp?name=religious_people/religious_people

Do Religious People Really Live Longer? The answer seems to be a resounding YES, if you believe 42 scientific studies that examined the link between religious involvement and mortality that were reviewed by the National Institute for Healthcare Research in Rockville, Maryland. The statistic: The people who were most involved in their religions were 29 percent more likely to be alive when the various studies were completed than were their nonreligious counterparts, reports WebMD.

Why?

The short answer is that religious people tend to drink and smoke less and are less obese than nonbelievers. The also tend to have healthier lifestyles and exercise more. They have a positive support network that helps them better handle life's stress, and their beliefs help them make sense of their personal suffering.

The long answer is more complicated mostly because the researchers can't really figure out how religious involvement boosts health. But they do know that prayer, church attendance, abiding faith, and even singing in the church choir all seem to positively affect blood pressure, heart, and coping skills, according to Dale Matthews, a medical doctor and author of "God for the 21st Century," an excerpt of which has been published on BeliefNet. He says, "The medical effects of faith are a matter not just of faith but also of science." He insists scientific studies demonstrate there is medical value in religious commitment. Prayer, worship attendance, and being part of a community of faith can help prevent and treat mental disorders, heart disease, cancer, and addictions. They can also prolong survival and enhance recovery.

The short answer is that religious people tend to drink and smoke less and are less obese than nonbelievers. The also tend to have healthier lifestyles and exercise more. They have a positive support network that helps them better handle life's stress, and their beliefs help them make sense of their personal suffering.

Matthews says that the bond between religion and medicine is actually an ancient one. "Since the dawn of recorded history, these twin traditions of healing have been partners in the care of the sick, plowing together the holy ground of healing," he says. "In my office, I encourage everyone to exercise regularly, eat properly, stop smoking and excessive alcohol use, take medicines correctly, and even wear seatbelts. Should I tell them to pray, read Scripture, attend worship, or work at a soup kitchen? My answer is yes!"

Of course, being religious does not guarantee good health. Most of us will get sick during our lifetimes. And it's a sure thing that we will all die no matter what our religious beliefs or practices. Matthews he is quick to point out that physicians and clergy each have their own unique role in caring for the sick. One should not supplant the other. "We need prayer and Prozac, clergy and clinicians, faith and medicine."

--Cathryn Conroy

expatbrit

Maybe religious people tend to live longer because

they kill non-religious people
they get their positive feedback trying to make life stressful for non-religious people

Expatbrit

clash_city_rockers

Well let me break it down to you simply as this. Outside of bible believing gospel preaching Christ centered reformed christianity, No! religion is not good for you for religion outside the Gosple of christ is bad for you and makes you morally worse.

Biblical Christ centered gospel preaching reformed christianity is the ONLY place where you will have the gospel preached which it alone has the power to save someones soul, heal there soul, and trully make an inward change in thier heart. The gospel is the power unto Justification and also sanctification.

Romans 1:16-17

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Religion outside of Christ and the gospel of free grace is a result of active rebellion against God.

Romans 1:21-23

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Man made religon is made up of law/works salvation. It only cleans up the outside of a person for a short time and is superficial and leaves the inside still roten, dirty and evil. Man made religion outside of the biblical Gospel is full of leagalism and moralism and mad made law that cheepens God's Holiness. Law outside of any presentation of the Gospel makes man more and more corrupt and evil.

Romans 7:7-11

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.

Man should and must obey God's laws but this can only be done in the power of the Gospel of free grace alone.

So you say is religion a good thing and I say out side of the biblical gospel of a Christ centered reformed christianity, NO, stay awey.

Stay aweay from Jahovah's Witnesses, Mormanism, Moonies, Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddism, Evolutionism, and verious tribal cults ans trust Jesus Christ and Join his church.

cheers,

jr

BTW: I tend to drink alcoholic beverages like wine, beer or scotch in moderation because these things enjoyed in moderation, (not drunkeness) is defenatly not sin but are common gifts from the Lord and we Christians are encoradged to partake in them.

Duet. 14:26

26 and thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.

Edited by - clash_city_rockers on 16 December 2002 3:29:6

clash_city_rockers

I forgot to mention that religion out side of the biblical Gospel of Christ is a really fast track to the gates of Hell. False man made religion like Jehovahs Witnesses or Roman Catholicism or Islam will send you to Hell hard and quick.

meadow77

Ithink God is good for you, I don't know about religion

clash_city_rockers

I don't know about religion

meadow77,

have you ever read the claims of Christ? not the WT but Christ alone. I encorage you do read John's gospel.

and remember not all things are equel. Moral and religious relitivism is not very good epistomology, thats is how do we know what is truth, certanty of knowlege, how do we know what we know. I could say "I think cancer is good for you" but is that really so?

cheers,

jr

Edited by - clash_city_rockers on 16 December 2002 4:0:26

SYN

I forgot to mention that religion out side of the biblical Gospel of Christ is a really fast track to the gates of Hell. False man made religion like Jehovahs Witnesses or Roman Catholicism or Islam will send you to Hell hard and quick.

"False Man Made Religion". Ah. Have you MET Jesus? If not, then you shouldn't go putting labels on other religions (no matter how horrid they are) which apply equally to your own. By the way, the Muslims say the same thing about other religions. In every religion, every other religion is FALSE religion. Bit of a dead giveaway, isn't it?

clash_city_rockers

SYN,

How can you give an account for Jesus' words when he says in John 14:6

I am the only way truth and life, there are no other ways to the Father but by Me.

If Jesus' words is so then Buddist, Mormons, JWs. Hindus, Islam and every ism schism and spazam outside the biblical Gospel of God's Grace in Jesus Christ is going to hell.

These are not my words Read John 14:6

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

Sangdigger

Outside of Christ, God is a consuming fire. That pretty well sums it up for me.

As far as man made religion (anything outside the Gospel of Sovereign Grace) it seems good to those who are engulfed in it, because 99% of it is works religion. And when you are working hard at something, there is a sense of fulfillment, thinking you are EARNING your reward. But alas, in the long run, the eternal punishment far outweighs any temporal satisfaction. "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the ways thereafter are death"

funkyderek

I forgot to mention that religion out side of the biblical Gospel of Christ is a really fast track to the gates of Hell. False man made religion like Jehovahs Witnesses or Roman Catholicism or Islam will send you to Hell hard and quick.

Yeah, every religion is false except clash's own peculiar brand of second reformation calvinism or whatever the hell he calls it.

If Jesus' words is so then Buddist, Mormons, JWs. Hindus, Islam and every ism schism and spazam outside the biblical Gospel of God's Grace in Jesus Christ is going to hell.

These are not my words Read John 14:6

It doesn't say anything about going to hell. Nothing about "God's Grace". So I guess the above words are your words after all.

Here are some scriptures you might like, clash. You may become a better Christian because of them. Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 18:9-14

Religion is good for you!! Really!!

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