Spirituality & Health Metrics and Mystery

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up…” James 5:15 “Can I pray for you?” Dr. Caleb Liem

Moses “…when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.” Numbers 21:6-9 (NASB)

Jesus The blind receive sight, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, poor hear the gospel. Luke 7:22

World Without End “Take them to the cathedral!”

The Church & Health Middle Ages Church issued medical licenses Physicians were monks and priests Nuns were nurses Religious orders built & staffed first hospitals

Wagon Trains West Compassion & Beneficence

How We Got Started… “Pure air, Sunlight, Abstemiousness, Rest, Exercise, Proper Diet, The use of Water, Trust in Divine Power--- These are the true remedies.” Ellen White, Ministry of Healing

Western Health Reform Institute

The Perfect Example “The life of Christ proposed to set the perfect example for us. He spent most of his time, not in preaching alone, but in healing the sick and helping the unfortunate.” Donald Welch Founder, AHS March 6, 1963

84% of Americans believe that praying to God can cure someone 72% of Americans would welcome a conversation with their physician about faith Newsweek Poll

What is Spirituality? “belief in a greater power” “sense of interconnectedness” “inner peace” “touching ultimate worth” “eternal hills & unresting sea” “unique for each individual”

What is Religion? 1.A system of beliefs and practices of those within a community, with rituals designed to acknowledge, worship, communicate with, and come closer to the Sacred, Divine or ultimate Truth or Reality (i.e., God) 2.Usually has a set of scriptures or teachings that describe the meaning and purpose of the world, the individual’s place in it, and the responsibilities of individuals to one another 3.Usually has a moral code of conduct that is agreed upon by members of the community, who attempted to adhere to that code Religion is a unique construct or domain – separate from psychology that can be measured and quantified and examined in its relationship to health outcomes.

Religion Community Spirituality Objective Organized Observable Definitive Distinctive Individual Subjective Informal Interior Eclectic Unifying

Research On average Across a population All other things being equal

Religion and Mental Health Research Summary 1. Purpose and meaning in life (15/16) 2. Well-being, hope, and optimism (91/114) 3. Social support (19/20) 4. Marital satisfaction and stability (35/38) 5. Depression and its recovery (60/93) 6. Suicide (57/68) 7. Anxiety and fear (35/69) 8. Substance abuse (98/120) 9. Delinquency (28/36) 10. Summary: 478/724 quantitative studies (based on conducted in the year 2000 or before) Handbook of Religion and Health (Oxford University Press, 2001)

Mortality data from Alameda County, California, Lifestyle practices: smoking; exercise; 7-8 hours of sleep n=2290 all whiteAllAttend Attend Church Weekly Weekly+3 Practices SMR for all cancer mortality SMR = Standardized Mortality Ratio (compared to 100 in US population) Enstrom (1989). Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 81: Predicting Cancer Mortality

Seven Healthy Practices Adequate sleep Eating breakfast Not eating between meals Ideal weight Never smoking Avoiding alcohol Physical activity

Religion and Physical Health Research Summary Handbook of Religion and Health (Oxford University Press, 2001) Better immune/endocrine function (5 of 5) Lower mortality from cancer (5 of 7) Lower blood pressure (14 of 23) Less heart disease (7 of 11) Less stroke (1 of 1) Lower cholesterol (3 of 3) Less cigarette smoking (23 of 25) More likely to exercise (3 of 5) Lower mortality (11 of 14) ( ) Clergy mortality (12 of 13) (summary of research in year 2000 or before) Many new studies since 2000

Attention Received Over the Years Religion, Spirituality and Health 1.Growing interest – entire or partial journal issues on topic (J Personality, J Family Psychotherapy, American Behavioral Scientist, Public Policy and Aging Report, Psychiatric Annals, American J of Psychotherapy [partial], Psycho-Oncology, International Review of Psychiatry, Death Studies, Twin Studies, J of Managerial Psychology, J of Adult Development, J of Family Psychology, Advanced Development, Counseling & Values, J of Marital & Family Therapy, J of Individual Psychology, American Psychologist, Mind/Body Medicine, Journal of Social Issues, J of Health Psychology, Health Education & Behavior, J Contemporary Criminal Justice, Journal of Family Practice, Southern Med J ) 2.Growing amount of research-related articles on topic PsycInfo = 5187 articles (2757 spirituality, 3170 religion) [11198 psychotherapy] 46% PsycInfo = 3512 articles (1711 spirituality, 2204 religion) [10438 psychotherapy] 34% PsycInfo = 2236 articles ( 807 spirituality, 1564 religion) [9284 psychotherapy] 24% PsycInfo = 936 articles ( 71 spirituality, 880 religion) [5233 psychotherapy] 18% PsycInfo = 776 articles ( 9 spirituality, 770 religion) [3197 psychotherapy] 24%

Seven Principles Religious affiliation Religious fellowship Worship and Prayer Religious beliefs Faith Mystical experiences Prayer for others

Religion is associated with lower rates of disease and death. Does research support it?Yes Does it work for everyone?No Are there exceptions? Yes Is religion always healthful?No Controversial?Yes

Science and Faith “If there is a God that influences our health in ways that transcend all possible natural forces, no study can ever prove or disprove that fact. The best that we can do in relation to such works of grace is either to accept them on faith or reject their possibility.” Levin, Jeff PhD. God, Faith and Health: Exploring the Spirituality- Healing Connection. John Wiley & Sons, 2001, pg 184.

“If we ask anything according to his will, He hears us.” I John 5:14 “I have never seen laryngeal edema clear so rapidly.”Dr. John Hodgkin