Faith strengthens commitment to life

An article published last fall reported that people with religious beliefs tend to be less willing to turn to euthanasia or to doctor-assisted suicide. In addition, several studies show that religious belief affects the views of medical professionals as well.

Doctors, nurses, and social workers in New York City who held religious beliefs reported greater reluctance to offering assisted suicide as an option than did those with no faith. A nationwide study of physicians revealed that doctors without religious affiliations were more likely to provide assistance with patient-requested suicide.

The article concluded: "For both patients and physicians, these studies suggest that religious belief may have a significant effect on ethical decision making at the end of life."

Reported by Timothy P. Daaleman, D.O.
and Larry VandeCreek, D.Min.
"Placing Religion and Spirituality in End-of-Life Care"
JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)
November 15, 2000

Investing in marriage

A new book, The Case for Marriage, is shedding a different light on the belief that marriage can be bad for women. "I would definitely say that the evidence shows that marriage is good for women on lots of dimensions," says Linda Waite, who coauthored the book with Maggie Gallagher.

Gallagher adds, "Marriage is not just a label on a piece of paper, marriage is a creative act. . . . When people invest in a marriage, it changes the way they look at the world and act—they're more willing to invest in their future together . . . ."
Reported by Jennifer Frey
"Singles unite! Marriage on upswing"
The Washington Post
October 26, 2000

A PLACE TO FIND SUPPORT AND COMFORT

"Religion is part of a greater force in the universe," says Kenneth Pargament, Ph.D., a psychologist and researcher at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, who has conducted over 30 studies on the subject. "Repeatedly we've found that people who look to God for support and comfort in times of stress do much better mentally and physically. So do those who see illness as an opportunity for spiritual growth. We can't measure God directly, but we can measure the impact of belief."

Jan Goodwin
"Amazing Grace: The Healing Power of Prayer"
Family Circle
November 14, 2000

Where the buck stops

Stephen Bertman's words might remind you of President Harry S. Truman's famous line. "Democracy is one of the most precarious forms of government," writes Bertman, an educational consultant and professor of languages, literatures, and cultures at Canada's University of Windsor. "It depends upon the wisdom and courage of ordinary people to do the right thing in situations where they are free to act selfishly or to do nothing at all. In such situations their conscience must be guided by their spiritual beliefs and directed by the principles of justice enunciated in their laws and constitution. . . .

"Merely enjoying the freedoms we possess does not guarantee their perpetuation," he warns.
"Cultural Amnesia: A Threat to Our Future"
The Futurist
January–February 2001

'People power' in the media

"I think human beings are basically good. For every violent act we see on television, or every violent act we see in film, there are a million nonviolent, compassionate acts we never see," says Michael Toms, executive producer and principle host of New Dimensions, an internationally syndicated radio series.

Toms is using his radio program to awaken listeners to the fact that they can change media attitudes. "We're encouraging people to take responsibility for the media, starting in their own communities.

You can contact your local newspaper, your local television station. Praise them when they do something good, and tell them you want more of those kinds of stories. . . . We're not powerless here."
Gail Bernice Holland
"Who Wants to Change the Media?"
Institute of Noetic Sciences Review
September–November 2000