In another thread Peds Nurse said:
"There is also evidence that having faith in God is beneficial to our overall health. "
Questions for debate:
Is faith in God beneficial to our overall health? How so?
Is it really God or does it come down to living a healthy lifestyle and the confidence due to the belief that you have something superhuman backing you?
Could the same benefits be obtained by faith in other gods or even leaders of Christian cults? Or maybe even the power of positive thinking?
Is faith in God beneficial to our overall health?
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OnceConvinced
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Is faith in God beneficial to our overall health?
Post #1Society and its morals evolve and will continue to evolve. The bible however remains the same and just requires more and more apologetics and claims of "metaphors" and "symbolism" to justify it.
Prayer is like rubbing an old bottle and hoping that a genie will pop out and grant you three wishes.
There is much about this world that is mind boggling and impressive, but I see no need whatsoever to put it down to magical super powered beings.
Check out my website: Recker's World
Re: Is faith in God beneficial to our overall health?
Post #2[Replying to OnceConvinced]
I guess that would depend on whether or not the Holy Spirit is really a part of God, like objectively, and if really leads people to living healthy lives...
But let me testify to you, the Holy Spirit has led me to live WAY healthier then in my past... I quit drugs, cigarettes, excessive drinking, and even soda, and added sugar... This was directly as a result of the impact God had on my life. I eat healthy, and now i exercise all the time... I even fast now, i have mroe self control, and have a desire to live well.
Got 6th place in my last 5K race... 23 minutes... Im determined to knock that down to 21 minutes... It will happen...
I guess that would depend on whether or not the Holy Spirit is really a part of God, like objectively, and if really leads people to living healthy lives...
But let me testify to you, the Holy Spirit has led me to live WAY healthier then in my past... I quit drugs, cigarettes, excessive drinking, and even soda, and added sugar... This was directly as a result of the impact God had on my life. I eat healthy, and now i exercise all the time... I even fast now, i have mroe self control, and have a desire to live well.
Got 6th place in my last 5K race... 23 minutes... Im determined to knock that down to 21 minutes... It will happen...
Post #3
The reality of the situation is this. God leads people to better lives... The scripture dictates prophecy, and a prophecy in the scripture is that God will prepare a path for those who believe...
I mean, i always had a desire to live healthy, i just couldnt carry it out... I would end up with friends who were on the broad road, leading to destruction... I would find myself in places that wouldbnt be beneficial for health, but would actually be destructive in health.. Even though i had the desire to do good, this has never changed, i couldnt carry it out... And in fact my lack of knowledge, in retaining the truth, also led me to confusion. I didnt really believe in truth at all, just what i experience... God changes that... God turns people around, changes their minds, talks of "born again", and prepares a path for us... Absolutely God is beneficial for health, mental and physical... Even though we may have a desire to do good, we are not all powerful, we can not control a path before us... God does that (Ephesians 2:10)
I mean, i always had a desire to live healthy, i just couldnt carry it out... I would end up with friends who were on the broad road, leading to destruction... I would find myself in places that wouldbnt be beneficial for health, but would actually be destructive in health.. Even though i had the desire to do good, this has never changed, i couldnt carry it out... And in fact my lack of knowledge, in retaining the truth, also led me to confusion. I didnt really believe in truth at all, just what i experience... God changes that... God turns people around, changes their minds, talks of "born again", and prepares a path for us... Absolutely God is beneficial for health, mental and physical... Even though we may have a desire to do good, we are not all powerful, we can not control a path before us... God does that (Ephesians 2:10)
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brunumb
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Re: Is faith in God beneficial to our overall health?
Post #4[Replying to post 2 by Tart]
You always had a desire to live well and you achieved that. It's sad that you have to attribute that outcome to someone else when it was surely the product of your own inner strength finally manifesting. People everywhere achieve similar outcomes without any calls to supernatural assistance. Your belief in God may have given you the impetus, but that does not mean that God actually did anything. You should be proud of your achievement and not be afraid to take full credit for it.But let me testify to you, the Holy Spirit has led me to live WAY healthier then in my past... I quit drugs, cigarettes, excessive drinking, and even soda, and added sugar... This was directly as a result of the impact God had on my life. I eat healthy, and now i exercise all the time... I even fast now, i have mroe self control, and have a desire to live well.
Post #5
There are literally hundreds of studies on this topic. The predominant, though not universal, finding is that when compared to non-religious people of similar social conditions religious people live longer and are healthier both physically and mentally. Correlation between faith in God and good health has been well established, though causation probably can never been fully established.
It is worth noting that Christianity, for instance, has an ethical code that opposes many self-destructive habits, like smoking, excessive drinking, drug use and promiscuous sex. This likely accounts for at least part of the health gains of religious faith.
Here are just a few studies on the topic:
The amassed research indicates that higher levels of religious belief and practice (known in social science as "religiosity") is associated with better mental health. In particular, the research suggests that higher levels of religiosity are associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and suicidal behavior. Religiosity is also associated with better physical health and subjective well-being.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog ... s-the-link
This paper reviews evidence for a relationship between religion and health. Hundreds of epidemiologic studies have reported statistically significant, salutary effects of religious indicators on morbidity and mortality. However, this does not necessarily imply that religion influences health; three questions must first be answered: Is there an association?, Is it valid?, and, Is it causal? Evidence presented in this paper suggests that the answers to these respective questions are yes, probably, and maybe.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 3694901090
One of the socially constructed ways to cope with adversity is through religious beliefs. Several studies have empirically evaluated the impact of faith, and of religious observance, on health outcomes
The study by Kark and others, for example, compared two groups of kibbutzim in Israel. Eleven kibbutzim were established on religious grounds, and these were matched to another 11 that were secular (1, 2). Apart from religious differences and a contrast in the divorce rates between the two groups, the two groups were well matched for conventional risk factors and the study was large enough (with more than 41,000 person-years of observation) to provide stable estimates. The age-adjusted mortality rates were almost twice as high in the secular kibbutzim as in the religious ones, with a greater advantage among women than men. After discussing alternative hypotheses concerning social support and conventional risk factors, the authors suggested that religious observance appears to have mitigated stress and enhances host resistance.
https://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Rel ... alth_e.htm
It is worth noting that Christianity, for instance, has an ethical code that opposes many self-destructive habits, like smoking, excessive drinking, drug use and promiscuous sex. This likely accounts for at least part of the health gains of religious faith.
Here are just a few studies on the topic:
The amassed research indicates that higher levels of religious belief and practice (known in social science as "religiosity") is associated with better mental health. In particular, the research suggests that higher levels of religiosity are associated with lower rates of depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, and suicidal behavior. Religiosity is also associated with better physical health and subjective well-being.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog ... s-the-link
This paper reviews evidence for a relationship between religion and health. Hundreds of epidemiologic studies have reported statistically significant, salutary effects of religious indicators on morbidity and mortality. However, this does not necessarily imply that religion influences health; three questions must first be answered: Is there an association?, Is it valid?, and, Is it causal? Evidence presented in this paper suggests that the answers to these respective questions are yes, probably, and maybe.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 3694901090
One of the socially constructed ways to cope with adversity is through religious beliefs. Several studies have empirically evaluated the impact of faith, and of religious observance, on health outcomes
The study by Kark and others, for example, compared two groups of kibbutzim in Israel. Eleven kibbutzim were established on religious grounds, and these were matched to another 11 that were secular (1, 2). Apart from religious differences and a contrast in the divorce rates between the two groups, the two groups were well matched for conventional risk factors and the study was large enough (with more than 41,000 person-years of observation) to provide stable estimates. The age-adjusted mortality rates were almost twice as high in the secular kibbutzim as in the religious ones, with a greater advantage among women than men. After discussing alternative hypotheses concerning social support and conventional risk factors, the authors suggested that religious observance appears to have mitigated stress and enhances host resistance.
https://www.med.uottawa.ca/sim/data/Rel ... alth_e.htm
Understand that you might believe. Believe that you might understand. –Augustine of Hippo
Post #6
bjs wrote:
Correlation between faith in God and good health has been well established, though causation probably can never been fully established.
If someone believes in something powerfully then the belief can affect the person physically - for good or bad. Very ill people seem to respond to music; in a way it may cure them. People who believe in a placebo surprisingly get cured so it is no surprise that those who think God's holding their hand somehow obtain strength. A child can obtain actual comfort from a piece of cloth. Presumably it makes no difference which of the many deities we put our trust in, provided we believe with our whole heart and mind.
Christ may not have destroyed death but belief in him may well allow folk to live a few years longer. What a wonderful organ the brain is!
Post #7
bjs wrote:
Correlation between faith in God and good health has been well established, though causation probably can never been fully established.
If someone believes in something powerfully then the belief can affect the person physically - for good or bad. Very ill people seem to respond to music; in a way it may cure them. People who believe in a placebo surprisingly get cured so it is no surprise that those who think God's holding their hand somehow obtain strength. A child can obtain actual comfort from a piece of cloth. Presumably it makes no difference which of the many deities we put our trust in, provided we believe with our whole heart and mind.
Christ may not have destroyed death but belief in him may well allow folk to live a few years longer. What a wonderful organ the brain is!
Post #8
[Replying to marco]
You suggest this as factual, but surely you have no evidence that no God is behind it, and that it is just the brain at work... Or do you?
I bet you it does matter what you believe in... Directly... If you believe drugs are good, that will have an impact... A satanist probably will live a less healthy life... (though this is an assumption i make, i bet it stands true)...
You suggest this as factual, but surely you have no evidence that no God is behind it, and that it is just the brain at work... Or do you?
I bet you it does matter what you believe in... Directly... If you believe drugs are good, that will have an impact... A satanist probably will live a less healthy life... (though this is an assumption i make, i bet it stands true)...
Post #9
Tart wrote: [Replying to marco]
You suggest this as factual, but surely you have no evidence that no God is behind it, and that it is just the brain at work... Or do you?
I bet you it does matter what you believe in... Directly... If you believe drugs are good, that will have an impact... A satanist probably will live a less healthy life... (though this is an assumption i make, i bet it stands true)...
I am not superstitious. A Glasgow man was cured of cancer by what was taken as divine intervention, since doctors had declared the case incurable. Obviously God did it! In fact the body occasionally produces interferon which might stop the cancer. Of course staunch believers might say God introduce this substance magically but a natural explanation is preferable.
In crisis situations humans sometimes do superhuman things; we have not yet discovered the full extent of our brain's capabilities, so before we reach heavenward, we should examine the less miraculous.
If somebody says God made a hurricane or lit a forest fire I have absolutely no way of refuting this. I wouldn't want to.
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Tcg
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