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The Benefits of Attending a Place of Worship
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Live longer |
In a 1972 study of 91,909 people in Maryland, researchers found that those who attended religious services weekly were less likely to die of any of a number of causes during the study period than those who didn’t.
Another study, which used data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine death rates, found that people who attended religious services weekly increased their life expectancy by seven years compared to those who never attended services. |
Live stronger |
In a more recent study of patients with colorectal cancer published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, Australian researchers found that those who considered themselves religious survived an average of 10 months longer past diagnosis than those who did not.
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Lean on me |
Although researchers don’t know exactly why attending religious services would improve heath or lower death risk, they suspect the social ties a place of worship provides play an important part.
A place of worship can be a source of both emotional and practical support. Attending a place of worship allows you to develop friendships with others who share your values and can provide help when you need it. Many places of worship have prayer lines you can call when you need prayer or want to pray for others. Church staff and pastors are often available to provide counseling and emotional support of just a peaceful presence when you are going through a difficult time. |
A friend in need |
If high medical bills or loss of work due to illness make it difficult to pay the bills, many places of worship have special funds or resources to help, including assistance with household expenses, volunteers who make home or automobile repairs, and food pantries to keep families fed. Some services may be available only to members, while others may be open to the community.
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