Article December 16, 1996 Issue

Religion is the "forgotten factor" in...

Bob Harvey with contributions from Charles Tart

From The Ottawa Citizen, July 27, 1996

Religion is the "forgotten factor" in medicine, says Dr. Dale Matthews, a professor of medicine at George-town University in Washington. Among the research he reviewed were these studies:

· A survey of 4,725 people in Alameda County, Calif., showed that both male and female church members had lower death rates, independent of the effects of socio-economic

status, and health-related be-haviors like smoking, drinking and physical inactivity.

· A study of 232 people over 60 at a New Hampshire medical centre who underwent open heart surgery showed that while nine per cent died, only five percent of the regular church-goers died and none of the "deeply religious" persons died in the six months after surgery.

Reprinted with permission from The Ottawa Citizen and author Bob Harvey.

"I think the question of are we spiritual beings or just physical beings has enormous consequences for life. I mean, how do live your life if you're a spiritual being versus if you're nothing but sort of a biochemical accident."

Charles Tart, Psychologist Interviewed on Newshour

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From material to spiritual medicine—a mental journey
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