Wired Word Lesson of the Week
Topic for Sunday, July 26, 2026:
Religious People Live Longer and Better, Says Report: A set of studies reveals that people who regularly participate in religious communities tend to enjoy longer and healthier lives. A recent report on these studies inspires us to focus this week on how the practice of our faith can improve our diet, physical fitness and overall health.
In the News
Individuals are encouraged to read the news below related to this topic before the July 26th bible study to be prepared for an engaging conversation:
Eating vegetables and exercising regularly have long been associated with healthy living. But now, research is revealing that joining a church or religious community can also help you to enjoy a longer and healthier life. Religion is associated with lower rates of smoking and lower rates of substance abuse, according to recent studies. People who regularly participate in religious communities are less likely to die prematurely, and they have lower rates of cardiovascular disease -- heart attacks and strokes.
"Researchers at the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University did a deep dive into 1,069 of the most rigorous studies that showed statistically significant associations between religion and physical health," reports Religion Unplugged. "The studies showed that religion was associated with better physical health more than seven times as often as worse health.”
A report on these studies was released in June by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University and Duke University. According to Deseret News, the studies reveal that the benefits of religious involvement outweigh their harms across 15 measures of physical health, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, addiction and longevity, among others. Positive findings outnumbered negative ones by a ratio of seven to one in physical health and 10 to one in mental health. "That kind of ratio is almost never seen in the social sciences," said Loren Marks, a professor of family life at Brigham Young University and one of the report's authors.
The positive results may be linked to the fact that faith traditions have health codes, strong social connections and beliefs that encourage the view that the human body is sacred and worthy of care. For example, nearly all of the studies on smoking found that religious individuals were less likely to smoke.
The term "religious involvement" was defined as people who "are highly committed" to a faith tradition and attend a house of worship at least weekly. Those who attend only occasionally do not typically experience the same positive effects. "High involvement in a faith community is connected with distinct benefits above and beyond other social involvements including political party or social clubs," said Marks. "What makes religion powerful is that it has elements of beliefs, practices and community -- you get all three if you're actively involved." A nationwide study found that frequent attenders live, on average, seven years longer than non-attenders.
Marks cautioned, however, that religion can negatively impact health in some cases -- for example, when a small religious community experiences a measles outbreak due to lack of vaccinations. (See The Wired Word for March 9, 2025, "Texas Outbreak Provides Live Field Test of Measles Vaccine.") "Religion should not preclude competent medical and mental health professionals," Marks said. "It should be a partnership, not an exclusive commitment."
Wheatley's report comes at a time when suicide rates in the United States have climbed over the past 20 years. Millions of Americans report that they lack close friendships and meaningful social connections. Physical inactivity has increased, a trend which contributes to obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
"After four decades of research and thousands of studies, the pattern is remarkably clear: religious involvement is associated with better physical health across virtually every domain we've examined," said author Harold Koenig of Duke University. "These are not isolated findings -- they represent one of the most consistent relationships in all of health science."
Some highlights of the report:
1. Mental health. The positive effects of religion are seen in lower risk of suicide; healthier ways of dealing with stress; less substance abuse and addiction; and greater feelings of hope, purpose and satisfaction with life. "We need other people like we need air," Marks said. "Social involvement is very important in any context."
2. Disease prevention and detection. Religious people are more likely to take action to prevent disease, get recommended screenings and follow treatment plans as suggested by doctors.
3. Diet, weight and exercise. Many religions prescribe health codes: Jews follow kosher laws; Muslims follow halal laws and some Christian groups prohibit harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Many Buddhists and Hindus also favor vegetarian diets.
4. Heart disease. Religious people who are agreeable and conscientious are less likely to develop heart disease. A commitment to marriage can help as well, since married people tend to have better heart health. And for unmarried men, in particular, religion can reduce loneliness and offer protection against heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.
More on this story can be found at these links: