Religion 'can add 14 years to lifespan'

LET us pray for good health. Literally.

As billions of Christians across the world mark Easter Sunday today, researchers claim religion can help adherents live up to 14 years longer. A scientific review shows that 81 per cent of the 1,200 studies and 400 papers examining the outcome of faith on health show that it has a positive effect.

The work, carried out by doctors Alex Bunn and David Randall from the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), is aimed at challenging the conventional analysis from Sigmund Freud and other psychologists that religion is "for the weak" and has a negative impact on health.

It quotes one study of more than 21,000 Americans which suggests that faith has a greater benefit than education and wealth. on how long people live. The study says that black American men who believe in God lived 14 years longer on average than ones who did not.

But the paper does not argue that this is because believers have divine protection, Instead, it says those with faith tend to live healthier lifestyles, are less likely to drink or smoke too much, take drugs or be sexually promiscuous.

The Rev Ewan Aitken from the Church of Scotland's Church and Society said the paper's conclusions underlined that religious experience is positive.

He said: "If it is seen in terms of attitudes to life in general and how we deal with difficulties then I think there is a clear connection between faith and good health."