From the Handbook of Religion and Health

To quote: ‘In the majority of studies, religious involvement is correlated with:

[1] Well-being, happiness and life satisfaction

[1] Hope and optimism

[1] Purpose and meaning in life

[1] Higher self-esteem

[1] Adaptation to bereavement

[1] Greater social support and less loneliness

[1] Lower rates of depression and faster

recovery from depression

[1] Lower rates of suicide and fewer positive

attitudes towards suicide

[1] Less anxiety

[1] Less psychosis and fewer psychotic

tendencies

[1] Lower rates of alcohol and drug use and

abuse

[1] Less delinquency and criminal activity

[1] Greater marital stability and satisfaction…

We concluded that, for the vast majority of

people, the apparent benefit of devout

religious belief and practice probably outweigh the risks’.