We have started a series about the exciting research findings from
Teleios! Our first evidence, presented over the last several weeks, was that
peer-reviewed and Teleios sponsored scientific studies support improved
wellbeing with Christianity in both healthy individuals and those suffering
with disease! A list of potential benefits are found on our home page of our
website (www.TeleiosResearch.com).
Today let us explore meditation versus church attendance. Why do
that? The
world constantly tries to replace God with something they consider just as good
that is consistent with their goals. Their biggest desire is to replace God
with the state where everyone is individually tethered to the government for
their life’s sustenance.
On a more personal level, the world often
encourages the practice of meditation as a help to wellbeing. We see this in
advertisements, particularly from drug companies, who wish to depict people in some
pastoral setting maintaining some impossible postural stance, supposedly taking
the company’s new medicine, and enjoying good wellbeing! Of course, God or
prayer would never be considered in such ads.
Further, meditation is
frequently used in the medical literature as a secular method to increase
wellbeing for patients and at the same time avoid suggesting or endorsing religion.1
However, surveys show individuals who attend church, at least
occasionally, and the vast majority believe God exists. Our culture generally does
not live in fields doing slow motion exercises as depicted on drug advertising.
Accordingly, we reviewed the medical literature to compare the effect of
meditation to church attendance on wellbeing in physically healthy subjects.
Our review included 37 articles and showed
that several types of meditation practices, and church attendance of a variety
of denominations, provided improved general wellbeing among physically healthy
populations (http://stage.teleiosresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2016-06-25-Meditation-V1.pdf).
However, such a simple
solution as replacing religion with meditation has several potential problems:
·
Meditation
is a religiously based practice derived from Hinduism.2 Therefore,
the practice of meditation does not completely avoid religion.
·
The
long-term effect of meditation over a person’s lifetime has not been well
studied. In contrast, historically, people that attended church their whole
lives have done so without known general detrimental clinical effects.
·
Meditation
only is practiced by approximately 9% of individuals in the United States;
whereas church attendance is a foundational institution in American culture, attended
by 70% (at least once monthly to yearly).3,4
·
Christian
church attendance is associated with other specific findings, not associated with
meditation, which might positively contribute to general wellbeing such as:
o
Community
service
o
Prayer
o
Socialization
o
Praise
o
Confidence
in a positive relationship with God based in a biblical definition of eternal
life as a free gift through faith in Christ’s sacrifice.5-8
· Further, improved wellbeing
is associated with adherence to the Christian walk.
o
The
articles we reviewed did not differentiate the quality of Christian practice of
participants, as church attendance is only one activity. Teleios has shown those
who adhere more closely to their Christian faith have improved wellbeing.
Accordingly, such practices might
lead to improved wellbeing over what meditation would allow. A well-designed
prospective study would be needed to show this.
o
In
contrast, the several medical studies that have showed religion had no positive
impact on wellbeing, the practice of the patients’ religion was internal (self-focused)
much like meditation is by nature. Christianity at its heart is a service and
love for others.
Our review of the medical literature suggests
meditation and church attendance may offer a benefit to wellbeing. However, the
complete practice of Christianity, which may include church attendance,
generally provides better wellbeing than church attendance alone.
Please join me again next week as we continue
to explore exciting results of Teleios’ research and what it means to our lives.
WC Stewart
5.
MacIlvaine
WR, et al. Association of strength of religious adherence to quality of life
measures. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2013;19:251-5.
6.
van
Olphen J, et al. Religious involvement, social support, and health among
African-American women on the east side of Detroit. J Gen Intern Med
2003;18:549-57.
7.
Ryrie
CC. Basic theology. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1999.
8.
MacIlvaine
WR, et al. Association of strength of community service to personal wellbeing.
Community Ment Health J 2014;50:577-82.
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