This article in Christianity Today is authored by the Director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University.
In 2011, Barna group found that 43% of Americans attended religious services weekly with a subsequent drop to 29% in February 2020. Due to the onset of the pandemic, many churches opted out of in-person services and some have been slow to fully reopen. The attendance habit became disrupted for many Americans.
Data from 70,000 professionals using the Nurses’ Health Study suggest that -regular attenders: Have 50% reduced risk of divorce
-Have 33% reduced risk of all causes of death at 16 years follow up
-Have 29% reduced risk of depression
-Have fivefold decreased suicide risk (research suggesting that declining attendance accounts for 40% of rise in suicide rate over the past 15 years)
Possible explanations are that faith communities create a social safety net that other organizations struggle to duplicate. Most religious teaching includes love for your fellow man and the importance of forgiveness as well as marital fidelity. These moral guidelines may assist in reducing resentment, anger and negativity that can contribute to depression. Attenders may also benefit from social support and accountability.
The medical profession may do well to inform patients who are current or past attenders that their religious services may provide significant medical and emotional health benefits. The pandemic has broken this habit for many and some are practicing spiritual solitude. Sharing a spiritual journey face-to-face with community connection may be an important part of “human flourishing”.
By Charles Hayden, MD
Psychiatrist Huntsville