Benefits of Prayer

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

This is an old study (12 years ago) - but I thought it interesting.

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress

I am sure there are opposing views but what is the impetus for opposing this study?

metis · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
This is an old study (12 years ago) - but I thought it interesting.

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress

I am sure there are opposing views but what is the impetus for opposing this study?

My experience is that this is true-- at least for me.

And to add, you, better than anyone else here at RF, well know why this is very much what I experienced that changed my life.

F1fan · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
This is an old study (12 years ago) - but I thought it interesting.

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress

I am sure there are opposing views but what is the impetus for opposing this study?

If the data supports the conclusion then it is valid.

But it's notable that many activities that humans do help reduce stress, not just prayer. So stress is reduced through types of activities, and prayer is just one category.

Certainly the study doesn't suggest there is magic involved, correct?

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

F1fan said:
If the data supports the conclusion then it is valid.

But it's notable that many activities that humans do help reduce stress, not just prayer. So stress is reduced through types of activities, and prayer is just one category.

Certainly the study doesn't suggest there is magic involved, correct?

Certainly there are more ways than one to "skin the cat" so to speak.

Personally, I don't believe in magic.

But enjoying the benefits of prayer (or any other method) is great.

sun rise · Sep 27, 2022

The OP statement is certainly true for me. "Don't worry. Be Happy" in its full meaning is "First, do your best. Then don't worry because worry is not productive. Instead try to be happy and to leave the results to God". The better I remember this, the less stress I feel and lowering stress has an impact on the body.

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

metis said:
My experience is that this is true-- at least for me.

And to add, you, better than anyone else here at RF, well know why this is very much what I experienced that changed my life.

Yes!

Certainly I would be included too

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

sun rise said:
The OP statement is certainly true for me. "Don't worry. Be Happy" in its full meaning is "First, do your best. Then don't worry because worry is not productive. Instead try to be happy and to leave the results to God". The better I remember this, the less stress I feel and lowering stress has an impact on the body.

We do know that worry produces chemicals that are detrimental to our health. Maybe that is why in my scriptures it says "Cast your cares upon the Lord because He cares for you?"

Maybe other religions have a similar approach.

Left Coast · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
This is an old study (12 years ago) - but I thought it interesting.

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress

I am sure there are opposing views but what is the impetus for opposing this study?

This summary from the article is helpful:

"Why all the benefits of prayer and religion? First, religion and faith provide social support, a consistent element of happiness and good health. Regular churchgoers not only get support from their community, but they also GIVE support to others, and the altruistic activity promotes better health. Second, religion reinforces a belief system. People bond when they hold common opinions and beliefs, even if it's a form of gossiping. Third, religion and spirituality do what a parent or supervisor at work does: give you 10 laws to abide by. And, although you may not like the regulations set upon you and try to break a few, you are glad they exist, because, for the most part, your life runs more smoothly when you follow them. Finally, faith attaches meaning to events. It gives folks hope, the ultimate stress reducer. Hope, doctors say, is about the best thing you can do for your body. It's better than a placebo."

Given these reasons, it makes sense that the benefits are enjoyed broadly by religious folks of all kinds rather than by any one religious group (as we might expect if this were some sort of sign from above of what The True Religion is).

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

I was impacted by these figures:

Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay of three times longer than people who attend regularly.

Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not practice a religion.

Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had a stroke rate double that of people who attended regularly.

People who are more religious tend to become depressed less often. When they do become depressed, they recover more quickly.

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

Left Coast said:
This summary from the article is helpful:

"Why all the benefits of prayer and religion? First, religion and faith provide social support, a consistent element of happiness and good health. Regular churchgoers not only get support from their community, but they also GIVE support to others, and the altruistic activity promotes better health. Second, religion reinforces a belief system. People bond when they hold common opinions and beliefs, even if it's a form of gossiping. Third, religion and spirituality do what a parent or supervisor at work does: give you 10 laws to abide by. And, although you may not like the regulations set upon you and try to break a few, you are glad they exist, because, for the most part, your life runs more smoothly when you follow them. Finally, faith attaches meaning to events. It gives folks hope, the ultimate stress reducer. Hope, doctors say, is about the best thing you can do for your body. It's better than a placebo."

Given these reasons, it makes sense that the benefits are enjoyed broadly by religious folks of all kinds rather than by any one religious group (as we might expect if this were some sort of sign from above of what The True Religion is).

Yes! As a side note, this wasn't a post about "my religion is better than yours" post. I'm not sure if they listed what religion one belonged to.

The Sum of Awe · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
I was impacted by these figures:

Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay of three times longer than people who attend regularly.

Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not practice a religion.

Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had a stroke rate double that of people who attended regularly.

People who are more religious tend to become depressed less often. When they do become depressed, they recover more quickly.

Hmm I wonder if this applies to individual spirituality as well or just people who attend community-based religions.

Left Coast · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
Yes! As a side note, this wasn't a post about "my religion is better than yours" post. I'm not sure if they listed what religion one belonged to.

Sounds like they didn't from the article summary. The survey questions in the studies were probably generic ("Do you attend religious services at least once a week?").

MikeF · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
I was impacted by these figures:

Hospitalized people who never attended church have an average stay of three times longer than people who attend regularly.

Heart patients were 14 times more likely to die following surgery if they did not practice a religion.

Elderly people who never or rarely attended church had a stroke rate double that of people who attended regularly.

People who are more religious tend to become depressed less often. When they do become depressed, they recover more quickly.

How might those who exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke and have low alcohol intake, and never attend church, compare in each category?

Are those who attend church regularly creating a psychological phenomena that positively impacts overall health, and can other non-religious activities create similar psychological phenomena that positively impact overall health in the same way? In other words, is it specifically being religious that provides the benefit, or is religiosity one of different ways to produce the same effect/outcome?

It's great that there is this positive correlation with church-going, I would just go further in exploring what it is about church-going that produces the positive effect and if there would be other ways to accomplish it.

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

The Sum of Awe said:
Hmm I wonder if this applies to individual spirituality as well or just people who attend community-based religions.

That's a good question. Personally I would view it as "both" are necessary. There are things that can happen in individual spirituality that cannot happen in community and visa versa.

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

MikeF said:
How might those who exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, don't smoke and have low alcohol intake, and never attend church, compare in each category?

Are those who attend church regularly creating a psychological phenomena that positively impacts overall health, and can other non-religious activities create similar psychological phenomena that positively impact overall health in the same way? In other words, is it specifically being religious that provides the benefit, or is religiosity one of different ways to produce the same effect/outcome?

It's great that there is this positive correlation with church-going, I would just go further in exploring what it is about church-going that produces the positive effect and if there would be other ways to accomplish it.

I suppose we can assume that the 167,000 test did include those? But I would have to investigate the particulars... good questions.

The Sum of Awe · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
That's a good question. Personally I would view it as "both" are necessary. There are things that can happen in individual spirituality that cannot happen in community and visa versa.

The reason I ask is because there is significant evidence that a lack of community can be very negative health-wise as well as studies that show that people who own pets live longer. I think a lot of this study in your OP could relate to the fact that humans are a social species and having a religious community in your life will benefit your health. I suppose even believing in a God that watches over you could account for it.

I suppose there's also some benefit in the optimism that religion brings. I think stress in general is what impacts the health and these tiny things that alleviate stress are the reason these people are healthier and live longer.

Kenny · Sep 27, 2022

The Sum of Awe said:
The reason I ask is because there is significant evidence that a lack of community can be very negative health-wise as well as studies that show that people who own pets live longer. I think a lot of this study in your OP could relate to the fact that humans are a social species and having a religious community in your life will benefit your health. I suppose even believing in a God that watches over you could account for it.

I suppose there's also some benefit in the optimism that religion brings. I think stress in general is what impacts the health and these tiny things that alleviate stress are the reason these people are healthier and live longer.

Absolutely. As I said in answer to another poster, there certainly are more than one way to execute the proverbial "skin the cat". Counseling, pets (not skin them of course

), even exercise. Like a holistic natural way to combat a health issue versus medicine.

The one doesn't detract from another.

Yerda · Sep 27, 2022

When I last prayed I was a child but it was generally hoping that things would improve in the world and gratitude for what I had. That's a potent focus session.

I think meditation gives a lot of similar results for some people and plain old positive thinking seems to have a small impact on health and well being.

Interesting study.

Father Heathen · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
This is an old study (12 years ago) - but I thought it interesting.

Spirituality and Prayer Relieve Stress

I am sure there are opposing views but what is the impetus for opposing this study?

I imagine it benefits in a way similar to meditation. What are your thoughts on the fact that this works for prayers conducted within other faiths as well?

Father Heathen · Sep 27, 2022

KenS said:
Certainly there are more ways than one to "skin the cat" so to speak.

Personally, I don't believe in magic.

But enjoying the benefits of prayer (or any other method) is great.

I would consider prayer a form of magic, since it invokes a supernatural force to make a change in the earthly realm. If you pray and it produces a tangible result, you just casted a spell.

Benefits of Prayer

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