Psychology of Religion - Religion and Health

Religion and Health

Main article: Impacts of religion on health See also: Religion and happiness and Religiosity and intelligence

There is considerable literature on the relationship between religion and health. Psychologists consider that there are various ways in which religion may benefit both physical and mental health, including encouraging healthy lifestyles, providing social support networks and encouraging an optimistic outlook on life; prayer and meditation may also help to benefit physiological functioning. The journal "American Psychologist" published important papers on this topic in 2003. Haber, Jacob and Spangler have considered how different dimensions of religiosity may relate to health benefits in different ways.

Read more about this topic:  Psychology Of Religion

Famous quotes containing the words religion and, religion and/or health:

    They live together without king, without government, and each is his own master.... Beyond the fact that they have no church, no religion and are not idolaters, what more can I say? They live according to nature, and may be called Epicureans rather than Stoics.
    Amerigo Vespucci (1454–1512)

    Religion is an attempt to get an irrefragably safe investment, and this cannot be got, no matter how low the interest, which in the case of religion is about as low as it can be.
    Samuel Butler (1835–1902)

    I still need more healthy rest in order to work at my best. My health is the main capital I have and I want to administer it intelligently.
    Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)