As immigrants from around the world have joined Australia’s cultural mix, an inevitable rise in religious diversity has followed. But has this made for a healthier society? A recent VicHealth study showed that while religion can protect against illness, religious discrimination can harm health. This has led to a renewed call to embrace and respect religious diversity

Klocker, Natascha

Trenerry, Brigid

Webster, Kim

English

Research Online

University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities 2011 Does religious faith make people healthier and happier? Natascha Klocker University of Wollongong, natascha@uow.edu.au Brigid Trenerry University of Western Sydney Kim Webster Victorian Health Promotion Foundation Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/sspapers  Part of the Education Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Klocker, Natascha; Trenerry, Brigid; and Webster, Kim, "Does religious faith make people healthier and happier?" (2011). Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers. 1089. https://ro.uow.edu.au/sspapers/1089 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: research-pubs@uow.edu.au Does religious faith make people healthier and happier? Abstract As immigrants from around the world have joined Australia’s cultural mix, an inevitable rise in religious diversity has followed. But has this made for a healthier society? A recent VicHealth study showed that while religion can protect against illness, religious discrimination can harm health. This has led to a renewed call to embrace and respect religious diversity. Keywords people, does, healthier, happier, faith, religious, make Disciplines Education | Social and Behavioral Sciences Publication Details Klocker, N., Trenerry, B. & Webster, K. (2011). Does religious faith make people healthier and happier?. The Conversation, 28 December 1-3. This journal article is available at Research Online: https://ro.uow.edu.au/sspapers/1089 Natascha KlockerLecturer in Human Geography at University ofWollongongBrigid TrenerryPhD Candidate at University of Western SydneyKim WebsterVicHealth28 December 2011, 7.16am AESTAUT HO RSAs immigrants from around the world have joined Australia’s cultural mix, an inevitable rise inreligious diversity has followed. But has this made for a healthier society? A recent VicHealthstudy showed that while religion can protect against illness, religious discrimination can harmhealth. This has led to a renewed call to embrace and respect religious diversity.Most Australians still adhere to Christian beliefs, but people who follow the Buddhist, Islamicand Hindu faiths are increasingly making Australia their home, expanding the religiouslandscape.The Australian government has signed various international human rights agreementsprotecting religious freedoms, including the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Andreligious discrimination is unlawful in Australia under the Human Rights and Equal OpportunityCommission Act of 1986.Despite these legal protections, members of some religious groups living in Australia areunable to express their right to religious freedom in their daily lives. Muslim Australians, inThe findings of the study don’t suggest that religion should beadopted as a tool for promoting health. Gauri MaDoes religious faith make people healthier and happier? http://theconversation.com/does-religious-faith-make-people-healthier-...1 of 3 7/08/2014 2:32 PMparticular, have faced higher levels of religious discrimination in recent years. Discriminationagainst Jewish Australians also occurs with worrying frequency.A study exploring the linkbetween religion, religiousdiscrimination and health wasundertaken as part ofVicHealth’s broader programof research into preventingrace-based discrimination. Itinvolved comprehensivelyreviewing the scientificliterature – both from Australiaand internationally – on thelinks between religion andhealth, as well as religiousdiscrimination and health.The findings suggest thatreligious beliefs and practicescan protect the health ofpeople of faith, with the linkbeing most evident betweenreligion and mental health.Religious beliefs andpractices may protect againstdepression and reduce therisk of anxiety and of suicide.Religious people are also less likely to risk their health with alcohol, drugs and tobacco.The link between religion and physical health isn’t as clear, but there’s evidence that peoplewho regularly participate in religious activities may live longer.It’s important to be clear that the good health associated with religion only occurs when peopleare able to exercise control and choice over their beliefs and practices. When people practicereligion as a result of external pressures, and not internal beliefs, their health may actually benegatively affected.The reasons behind the religion and health link are not well understood, but there’s someevidence that religious practices (like praying) can help to reduce stress. Also, when peopleare part of an organised religion, they generally have a strong social network, which benefitsboth physical and mental health.Prayer beads Moe MJulie BlausteinDoes religious faith make people healthier and happier? http://theconversation.com/does-religious-faith-make-people-healthier-...2 of 3 7/08/2014 2:32 PMReligion can also be associated with positive emotions, including a sense of optimism andpurpose to life, and can provide a healthy way of coping with stress. Attendance at places ofworship seems to be particularly important for physical health, as it may keep people activeand reduce the risk of physical disability.At the opposite end of the spectrum, it’s quite clear that religious discrimination has thepotential to make people unwell. Such prejudice appears to be associated with anxiety,depression, distress, sub-clinical paranoia and decreased life satisfaction. Experiences ofreligious discrimination may also prompt people to take risks with their health – manifest assmoking and alcohol or drug abuse.There are a number ofreasons why discrimination isbad for health. It can producenegative emotions such asstress and fear, and it cancause people to adopt riskycoping strategies and canaffect individuals’ self-esteemand sense of belonging.Crucially, discrimination canrestrict people’s access toresources such as housing,employment and education –all of which are vitallyimportant for health andwellbeing. At its worst,discrimination takes the formof physical attacks orviolence, which clearly impacton the physical and mentalhealth of those who aretargeted.The findings of this studydon’t suggest that religion should be adopted as a tool for promoting health (as has been thecase with exercise and a nutritious diet). Rather, they highlight the importance of ensuring allAustralians have the opportunity to practice their faith, without discrimination, and that peoplearen’t excluded from society because of their religious beliefs. The findings also suggest thatreligious beliefs and practices may need to be better accommodated in schools andworkplaces.Perhaps most crucially, the findings highlight the importance of improving inter-faithunderstanding and dialogue in Australia – not only from a human rights perspective, but aspart of a broader health promotion agenda.Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.Does religious faith make people healthier and happier? http://theconversation.com/does-religious-faith-make-people-healthier-...3 of 3 7/08/2014 2:32 PM

Does religious faith make people healthier and happier?

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Does religious faith make people healthier and happier?

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