The Gospel is not to be preached to people with the promise that it will bring health, wealth and happiness. The cross of Christ is something we carry. We are called to give our lives sacrificially in obedience to Jesus, blessing others and overcoming evil with good. That can be painful.
However, it does seem that as a side-effect that we are blessed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit which include joy, love and peace.
Recent research has backed up the fact that faith can add to your well-being.
I say this and give a list of references, because in the future the Christian faith may be attacked in terms of it being "harmful". This is a move on behalf of the Political Correctness spirit, and is untrue.
• (New) 2020 Harvard study: God really can save you: Study finds people who attended religious services at least once a week are significantly less likely to die from suicide or overdose:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8292987/People-attend-church-likely-die-despair.html
• Study by the London School of Economics and Political Science, in 2015 a study of 9000 adults found that attending a religious service was better for your mental health than sports, charity work, political activity and even furthering your education. Full report here:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2015/08/Church&MentalHealth.aspx
• Very interesting article in a British national newspaper about mental and physical wellness being connected to a belief in God:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1358421/The-tantalising-proof-belief-God-makes-happier-healthier.html
• Godliness is the key to healthiness? Does religion boost mental health?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2192357/Godliness-key-healthiness-Religion-boosts-mental-health-research-says.html
More references:
• In 2006, the American Society of Hypertension established that church-goers have lower blood pressure than the non-faithful.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/20070201/spirituality-may-help-blood-pressure
• Likewise, in 2004, scholars at the University of California, Los Angeles, suggested that college students involved in religious activities are more likely to have better mental and emotional health than those who do not.
http://badgerherald.com/news/2004/11/04/study_shows_link_bet.php
• Meanwhile, in 2006, population researchers at the University of Texas discovered that the more often you go to church, the longer you live.
• The American Journal of Public Health, which studied nearly 2,000 older Californians for five years. Those who attended religious services were 36 per cent less likely to die during this half-decade than those who didn’t.
• In 1990, the American Journal of Psychiatry discovered believers with broken hips were less depressed, had shorter hospital stays and could even walk further when they were discharged compared to their similarly broken-hipped and hospitalised, but comparatively heathen peers.
A site that has many more examples and links:
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/religionhealth.html
However, it does seem that as a side-effect that we are blessed with the fruits of the Holy Spirit which include joy, love and peace.
Recent research has backed up the fact that faith can add to your well-being.
I say this and give a list of references, because in the future the Christian faith may be attacked in terms of it being "harmful". This is a move on behalf of the Political Correctness spirit, and is untrue.
• (New) 2020 Harvard study: God really can save you: Study finds people who attended religious services at least once a week are significantly less likely to die from suicide or overdose:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8292987/People-attend-church-likely-die-despair.html
• Study by the London School of Economics and Political Science, in 2015 a study of 9000 adults found that attending a religious service was better for your mental health than sports, charity work, political activity and even furthering your education. Full report here:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/newsAndMedia/news/archives/2015/08/Church&MentalHealth.aspx
• Very interesting article in a British national newspaper about mental and physical wellness being connected to a belief in God:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1358421/The-tantalising-proof-belief-God-makes-happier-healthier.html
• Godliness is the key to healthiness? Does religion boost mental health?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2192357/Godliness-key-healthiness-Religion-boosts-mental-health-research-says.html
More references:
• In 2006, the American Society of Hypertension established that church-goers have lower blood pressure than the non-faithful.
http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/20070201/spirituality-may-help-blood-pressure
• Likewise, in 2004, scholars at the University of California, Los Angeles, suggested that college students involved in religious activities are more likely to have better mental and emotional health than those who do not.
http://badgerherald.com/news/2004/11/04/study_shows_link_bet.php
• Meanwhile, in 2006, population researchers at the University of Texas discovered that the more often you go to church, the longer you live.
• The American Journal of Public Health, which studied nearly 2,000 older Californians for five years. Those who attended religious services were 36 per cent less likely to die during this half-decade than those who didn’t.
• In 1990, the American Journal of Psychiatry discovered believers with broken hips were less depressed, had shorter hospital stays and could even walk further when they were discharged compared to their similarly broken-hipped and hospitalised, but comparatively heathen peers.
• In 1998, the American Journal of Public Health found that depressed patients with a strong ‘intrinsic faith’ (a deep personal belief, not just a social inclination to go to a place of worship) recovered 70 per cent faster than those who did not have strong faith.
• In 2008, Professor Andrew Clark of the Paris School of Economics and Doctor Orsolya Lelkes of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research conducted a vast survey of Europeans. They found that religious believers, compared to non-believers, record less stress, are better able to cope with losing jobs and divorce, are less prone to suicide, report higher levels of self-esteem, enjoy greater ‘life purpose’ and report being more happy overall.
• 'People who attend church regularly seem to be happier than people who are not religious,' Prof Headey said. Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318909/The-secret-happiness-dont-date-neurotic-worry-career-church-stay-thin.html
• 'People who attend church regularly seem to be happier than people who are not religious,' Prof Headey said. Read More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318909/The-secret-happiness-dont-date-neurotic-worry-career-church-stay-thin.html
A site that has many more examples and links:
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/religionhealth.html
