Religion and Health: Does Religion Improve Health - Research Paper Example

Religion and Health: Does Religion Improve Health? Introduction The word “Religion” refers to a body of belief and value systems, practices, affiliations and moral values, unique to a particular group of people, which define their understanding of life, relations and humanity. There are many world religions, but the common ones include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Jainism, Shinto, and Confucianism. These are associated with unique symbols, such as the Bible and Koran among Christians and Muslims respectively, the church and Mosque (places of worship) for Christians and Muslims respectively, and so forth. Interestingly, almost all of the world’s major religions seem to consent to the fact that there is a supreme being, whom the respective believers worship and offer prayers. They believe that the Supreme Being to be the giver of life and health. Perhaps, the reason why there are different religions is the fact that they differ in their teachings on the origin of life or universe, death and who the Supreme Being is (Carson and Koenig 35). Health, on the other hand, refers to the state of well-being of a person. Health could be physical, mental, psychological or emotional. Thus, a healthy person is one who has all these qualities of health (Peter Roche De Coppens 29). Discussion The relationship between religion and health is based on the fact that most religions believe in a supreme being, who is the giver of life and health. The believers have faith in Him and pray to Him for healing. They believe he can heal both disease and disability. This kind of healing is now known as Faith Based Healing by scientists (FBH). FBH has gained popularity in the current American society, especially among the Christian community. This has been fueled by television networks such as the California based TBN, Missions and ministries, which pray for the sick, etc. Therefore, scientists, who until recently ignored the relationship between health and religion, have embarked on studies to prove whether religion improves health. It is, therefore, not surprising that the United States government, through its Health and Human Services Department, is making initiatives to support faith based organizations. These faith based organizations are thought to support health and well-being in communities (O'Mathuna 52). To answer the question of whether religion can improve health, I will analyze the various scientific findings that support this claim. To begin with, as in the earlier example, which tells of the steps the U.S government is taking in supporting faith based organizations, it is true to say that there is a wide belief that these organizations lead to health improvement in communities. Also, a poll that was conducted and published by Newsweek, in 2003, reported that some 84% of Americans believe that praying for the sick improves their chances of recovery, is another finding that supports these claims. (Kalb 17). Although the poll covered the Christian community, this can be said to be true for the other religions, since all share a common fact- they have faith in their Supreme Being and in their religion. Also, the fact that the poll rate was at 84%, we can conclude that prayers works for most of these believers. In my opinion also, prayer gives one confidence that there is someone carrying your burden of sickness and pain (God), and it reduces stress and depression, by reducing worry and anxiety. Another reason that supports this claim is the verses present in the Christian Bible that reveal the value of prayer. One good example is Malachi 4:2 which states that, "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness with healing in its rays, will rise... ” Furthermore, Christians refer to Jesus Christ, whom they believe to be the Son of their God, as the “great physician,” and believe that praying to him for healing works. Bible stories, also cement this belief of healing from God (FBH). For example, it is written that: Jesus restored sight to a blind man, cured a man suffering from leprosy, and so forth (Carson and Koenig 66). Secondly, the claim that scientific evidence showed that Americans who, at least once-a-week, attended religious services, enjoyed lower rates of illness, and better than average health including depression, as reported by Kevin Helliker in the Health Journal, is another point worth debating (Helliker 12-13). In my opinion, this is a true fact, bearing in mind, that these weekly services (church services) teach various ethical values and discourage certain bad habits that are harmful to one’s health. For example, most weekly services discourage drug abuse, and some members of a church gradually quit bad habits, such as use of alcohol. If an alcoholic completely quit drinking, it is obvious that his health and life span would increase significantly. In the same article, it is noted that the number of Americans going for weekly church services is gradually increasing, and this can be seen from the number and growth of churches and television channels that provide these services. It is possible also, that going for weekly services improves health, since these churches not only teach values, but also engage members in activities that scientists believe are good to mental health. For instance, some organize fun camps, retreats and group discussions, aimed at helping members relieve stress while having fun. One would argue that, if these people had opted for other activities like partying and drinking, they would be harming their health (Peter Roche De Coppens 84). Therefore, I can confidently say, on this note, that these weekly services, improve the participants health in a significant way. Consequently, one could also argue that, a person who substituted a weekly service for a hobby such as bicycle riding or hiking would still get similar health benefits; or that being a member of a social group would serve a similar purpose. This is true, but what seems to give credit and attention to the fact that weekly services improve health, is the fact that statistical findings prove it to be true and that those who received more health benefits, as per the findings, were women. It is true, from observations and research, such as this particular report, that more women attend church services than men (Peter Roche De Coppens). Another piece of evidence, on how religion improves study, is a study by Ironson, in which he found that HIV/Aids victims, survived longer, in a religious community setting, than those in a non-religious setting. Further, the research showed that the religious community was characterized by a sense of care, support, encouragement, comfort and love. The HIV/Aids victims received such support and accepted their condition. Those in non-religious setting were either neglected or discriminated against (Oman 365-680). Therefore, we can see the critical role played religion in improving health and prolonging life. Most religions teach such values as love and care, which are important in healthcare. Surely, it is true that encouragement, coupled with good care and treatment, improves a sick person’s condition significantly. Even though these victims were not healed, their health improved, and they lived longer, and much credit should be given to religion. Perhaps this is another reason to support the action of the U.S government in supporting faith based organizations. Again, the fact that religion encourages the sick and provides moral support, can be said to lower stress levels and despair in such victims, who would otherwise have been depressed due to discrimination, worsening their conditions, as in these scientific research findings. Most Americans, according to a 2005 poll by Newsweek, responded that they would agree to discuss with the doctor about faith and healing (Helliker 13). It is even more interesting to notice that many religions support studies in the field of medicine, aimed at coming up with drugs to cure diseases. At the same time, there many large hospitals and medical institutions are either run by religious organizations or supported by the same. For example, the Catholic Church and the Aga Khan Foundation, run many health centers in various parts of the world. These observations prove to us the impact that religion has in the medical field, without which the health sector in many countries, including the U.S, would be at a big loss. The fact that most Americans would agree to talk to their doctor about religion and healing does not mean that they do not trust or believe in the capability of the doctors to diagnose their problems effectively. In my opinion, these people realize that, as humans, we cannot always be right, and that they need another source of power and confidence- their supreme being. Probably, doctors agree to this, because of the proposition that, what one believes and has faith in can influence how he responds to challenges, including medication, and this is important when related to health (Carson and Koenig). On the note that many religions have promoted healthcare, by building hospitals, and rehabilitation centers, I can confidently say that religion greatly improves health. It is important to note that, not only do these hospitals and care centers, provide medical services, but also offer encouraging messages that are sometimes quoted from their religious books. For instance, some hospitals run by Muslims, display such messages as “We treat and Allah, heals.” (Oman) In my view, religion improves health in a major way. As discussed above, we can see that the main reason that supports this claim, are the teachings within religions that generally aim at encouraging positive human relationships. Many religions discourage vices such as pornography, adultery and drug abuse, while they encourage productivity, good inter-personal relationships, love, care and other ethical values in our communities. The fact that the a larger part of the American society, including the government, through its support of Faith Based Organizations, recommends a blend of religion and health, is enough proof to support the important role of religion in health. However, we should at this point distinguish Faith Based Healing, from other beliefs and practices, such as those that discourage followers from seeking medical interventions when they fall sick. As discussed earlier, the religions in question support the role of medicine in promoting health; while at the same time encourage members to have faith in the power of healing from their respective supreme being-God. At the same time, the evidence, as discussed cannot be substituted for any other comparison. For instance, we cannot say that, weekly services can be substituted for a hobby, or a social club. There are many factors unique to these religions that cannot be found in these other settings and activities. For example, one can choose to ride a bicycle, in place of a weekly religious service, but this will not necessarily stop him from smoking, taking alcohol, or watching pornography later. The important role played by religion, in improving health, is probably why much more scientific study needs to be done, so as to effectively integrate the two, to further improve health. Works Cited Carson, Viena and Harold Koenig. Handbook of Religion and Health. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print. Helliker, Kevin. "Religion and Health." Health Journal (2005): 15-16. Print. Kalb, Claudia. "Health & Religion." Newsweek (2003): 17.Print. Oman, Daniel. "Does religion cause health? Differing interpretations and diverse meanings." Journal of Health Psychology (2002): 365-680. Print. O'Mathuna, Donal. Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook, Updated and Expanded. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. Print. Peter Roche De Coppens, Ph.d. Religion, Spirituality and Healthcare: How to Understand Them and Live Them Today. Bloomington: Xlibris Corporation, 2007. Print. Read More