Religion Can Be Good for Your Health!

A story on the Science Daily web site reports that a community's religious environment has an impact on mortality rates in the community.

Troy Blanchard, an associate professor of sociology at LSU, said that the type of church seems to make a difference and that people live longer in areas with a large number of Catholic and Mainline Protestant churches.

"First, these types of churches have what's known as a 'worldly perspective.' Instead of solely focusing on the afterlife, they place a significant emphasis on the current needs of their communities," he said. These religions commonly organize outreach efforts for the needy and homeless, invest in the health infrastructures of their town and participate in other forms of public charity.

"Secondly, these congregations tend to create bridging ties in communities that lead to greater social cohesion among citizens," said Blanchard. This enhanced sense of connection between people provides collective encouragement for healthy behavior.

"In contrast to Catholics and Mainline Protestant congregations, Conservative Protestant churches have a mixed effect on community health. The 'otherworldly' character of Conservative Protestantism leads congregations in this tradition to focus on the afterlife. Conservative Protestantism is also a more individualistic faith, one in which the believer's personal relationship with God is paramount. These types of churches are thought to downplay the importance of using collective action, including human institutions, to improve the world. Communities dominated by Conservative Protestant churches tend to have higher mortality rates."

As summed up by co-author John Bartkowski from the University of Texas at San Antonio, "The religious environment in communities throughout America really is a matter of life and death."

It really does matter where you go!