Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

October 2016 – Marripedia, an online social science encyclopedia of research, found that nearly 100 studies show that 81% of the time there is a “positive association between religious involvement and greater happiness, life satisfaction, morale, positive affect, or some other measure of wellbeing.” People who highly value their religious faith and frequently participate in it have reduced incidence of depression or suicide.

In addition, those who attend services at least weekly have lower mortality rates, and a reduced risk of infectious disease, diabetes, and cancer. They live an average of seven years longer than those who are not active in religion.

Regular church attendance also correlates with higher levels of happiness and sexual satisfaction in marriage. Those who attend weekly are seven times less likely to have a sexual partner outside marriage. And teens who are in church at least once per week are more likely to abstain from sex; only 51% of those 17-year-olds had had sex, compared to 70% of those who never attend.

marripedia.org, 6/15/16