Religion-good for health
Most U.S. doctors agree that religion and spirituality have a significant effect on a person's health, according to a new survey on doctor's spiritual beliefs.
But doctors who themselves are religious or spiritual are more likely to see the impact of religion or spirituality on personal health as positive and believe it strongly influences health.
Researchers say the findings support recommendations that doctors recognize how their own beliefs influence how they provide care.
"Physicians' notions about the relationship between religion and spirituality and patients' health are strongly associated with physicians' own religious characteristics," write researcher Farr Curlin, MD, of the University of Chicago, and colleagues in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Consensus seems to begin and end with the idea that many [if not most] patients draw on prayer and other religious resources to navigate and overcome the spiritual challenges that arise in their experiences of illness," write the researchers. "Controversy remains regarding whether, to what extent and in what ways religion and spirituality helps or harms patients' health
Doctors' Spiritual Beliefs Affect Care
In the study, researchers mailed surveys to a random sample of 2,000 U.S. doctors from all specialties. Participants were asked to estimate how often patients raised religious or spiritual issues, how much religion and spirituality affect health, and how the influence of religion and spirituality is manifested.
Among the more than 1,100 doctors who returned the survey, the results showed that 56 percent believed religion and spirituality had much or very much influence on health.
But only 6 percent believed religion or spirituality had changed "hard" medical outcomes.
Instead, most doctors believed that religion and spirituality:
- Often helps patients cope with illness (76 percent)
- Gives patients a positive state of mind (74 percent)
- Provides emotional and practical support through the religious community (55 percent)
Compared with those who rated themselves as not very religious, those who were more religious were more likely to:
- Report that patients often mention religious or spiritual issues
- Believe religion and spirituality strongly influences health
- Interpret the influence of religion and spirituality in positive rather than negative ways
But doctors who themselves are religious or spiritual are more likely to see the impact of religion or spirituality on personal health as positive and believe it strongly influences health.
Researchers say the findings support recommendations that doctors recognize how their own beliefs influence how they provide care.
"Physicians' notions about the relationship between religion and spirituality and patients' health are strongly associated with physicians' own religious characteristics," write researcher Farr Curlin, MD, of the University of Chicago, and colleagues in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
"Consensus seems to begin and end with the idea that many [if not most] patients draw on prayer and other religious resources to navigate and overcome the spiritual challenges that arise in their experiences of illness," write the researchers. "Controversy remains regarding whether, to what extent and in what ways religion and spirituality helps or harms patients' health
Doctors' Spiritual Beliefs Affect Care
In the study, researchers mailed surveys to a random sample of 2,000 U.S. doctors from all specialties. Participants were asked to estimate how often patients raised religious or spiritual issues, how much religion and spirituality affect health, and how the influence of religion and spirituality is manifested.
Among the more than 1,100 doctors who returned the survey, the results showed that 56 percent believed religion and spirituality had much or very much influence on health.
But only 6 percent believed religion or spirituality had changed "hard" medical outcomes.
Instead, most doctors believed that religion and spirituality:
- Often helps patients cope with illness (76 percent)
- Gives patients a positive state of mind (74 percent)
- Provides emotional and practical support through the religious community (55 percent)
Compared with those who rated themselves as not very religious, those who were more religious were more likely to:
- Report that patients often mention religious or spiritual issues
- Believe religion and spirituality strongly influences health
- Interpret the influence of religion and spirituality in positive rather than negative ways
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Religion relieves stress in believers, so yes it does affect health. 0 -
Playing solitaire relieves stress also:[}:)] 0 -
MUST BE A CULT 0 -
tell that to the suicide bombers [:p] 0 -
Get a dictionary and research the word "cult". 0 -
there is a strong link between the mind and body. faith and positivity can have an enormous effect on your health. 0 -
Main Entry: cult
Pronunciation: 'k<
Function: noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate -- more at WHEEL
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual; also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious; also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cults>
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
All religions are cults.0 -
the problem with the word "cult" is that it has taken on a negative connetation. the problem with religion haters is that they are mean. 0 -
religion has absolutely NOTHING to do with health.
having a personal relationship with JESUS and GOD does.
im not talking A god, im talking THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
jesus said that he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly.
prayer is talking with GOD. prayer doesnt need a religion. its like saying the only place you can talk to your wife is in a bar on friday nights. then only then, will she listen to you. going to that bar to talk to her becomes the ritual and a religous act.
since GOD is OMNI PRESENT, religion is not needed to speak with him.
and we're taught that GOD is the great physician. afterall, he made us, its only wise to draw close to the person who made you for help keeping this earthly vessel floating.
so, the next time you get sick, make sure you blame the right person. the devil comes to steal and DESTROY. aging and illness is of the DEVIL, not GOD. blame the right one and ask the right GOD for help.[;)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
religion has absolutely NOTHING to do with health.
having a personal relationship with JESUS and GOD does.
im not talking A god, im talking THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
jesus said that he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly.
prayer is talking with GOD. prayer doesnt need a religion. its like saying the only place you can talk to your wife is in a bar on friday nights. then only then, will she listen to you. going to that bar to talk to her becomes the ritual and a religous act.
since GOD is OMNI PRESENT, religion is not needed to speak with him.
and we're taught that GOD is the great physician. afterall, he made us, its only wise to draw close to the person who made you for help keeping this earthly vessel floating.
so, the next time you get sick, make sure you blame the right person. the devil comes to steal and DESTROY. aging and illness is of the DEVIL, not GOD. blame the right one and ask the right GOD for help.[;)]
Well, it's a cinch it has nothing to do with mental health.0 -
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
quote:Originally posted by bobski
religion has absolutely NOTHING to do with health.
having a personal relationship with JESUS and GOD does.
im not talking A god, im talking THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
jesus said that he came that we may have life and have it more abundantly.
prayer is talking with GOD. prayer doesnt need a religion. its like saying the only place you can talk to your wife is in a bar on friday nights. then only then, will she listen to you. going to that bar to talk to her becomes the ritual and a religous act.
since GOD is OMNI PRESENT, religion is not needed to speak with him.
and we're taught that GOD is the great physician. afterall, he made us, its only wise to draw close to the person who made you for help keeping this earthly vessel floating.
so, the next time you get sick, make sure you blame the right person. the devil comes to steal and DESTROY. aging and illness is of the DEVIL, not GOD. blame the right one and ask the right GOD for help.[;)]
Well, it's a cinch it has nothing to do with mental health.
I agree with pee3?
Damn...0 -
quote:Originally posted by mateomasfeo I agree with pee3?
Damn...
Don't sweat it. Most everyone does, they just hate like hell to admit it.[8D]
Even the ones that don't are unable to refute, they just name call.[}:)][}:)]0 -
Gee if the Devil is doing it, my question is why doesnt this all Powerful God eliminate the devil?? Oh! I know cause he cant. If he could all the problems of the world would be solved .. NOT..[:0][}:)][}:)] Gee fellows, the Devil made me do it..[:D][:D][:D] 0
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