I believe that believers, particularly Christians, live longer than unbelievers. My belief is based on testimonies and anecdotal accounts, so I searched the internet for researches that support my view. And I found several researches and studies showing that believers live longer than unbelievers.
In an article titled “Science Says; Religion Is Good for Your Health” Forbes quotes Mayo Clinic researchers’ conclusion that “Most studies have shown that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity…”
Another article by the Mayo Clinic says, “During the past 3 decades, at least 18 prospective studies have shown that religiously involved persons live longer.”
In addition, Pew Research shared that “more than 80% of Americans older than 75 are Christian.”
Researchers from Ohio State University conducted two surveys studying more than 1,500 newspaper obituaries first from Ohio, then from across the United States. In both samples, the study showed that those with documented religious affiliations lived an average of 9.45 and 5.64 years longer respectively than those who did not.
In an article on this phenomenon, the LA Times gave these reasons for the long life of those in a particular Southern California suburb: “…the five keys are regular exercise, healthful eating, devotion to family and especially elders, a sense of purpose built around community and giving, and a spiritual life.”
Here are some overlooked reasons as why unbelievers are more likely to die younger than believers.
Christians believe that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so they are careful as to what they put into their bodies. They are free to drink alcohol if they wish, but most don’t because they know it’s destructive to the human body. Unbelievers, meanwhile, drink alcohol with little restraint, and that causes the deaths of more than 140,000 people each year in the United States.
Neither do Christians use illegal drugs, which kill more than 106,000 people in the US each year. Christians don’t smoke tobacco, which takes the lives of more than 480,000 annually in America. Neither do they engage in promiscuous or homosexual activities, which have taken the lives of more than 700,000 through AIDS in the United States alone. And AIDS continues to kill thousands each year.
Baldwin Way, an associate professor of psychology at Ohio State University, says that religious believers may refrain from unhealthful practices such as drug and alcohol use.
“Churchgoers tend to engage in positive behaviors including high social interaction and lower rates of alcohol and drug abuse,” said Bill Fiala, Ph.D., licensed psychologist and professor in APU’s Department of Higher Education. “In addition, religious support and coping are both related to positive outcomes in mental health.”
Because Christians honor God, they obey civil law. So, they don’t live life in the fast lane and run red lights or drink and drive, putting their lives at risk. Christians are filled will gratitude to God for the gift of life. They believe that no matter what comes their way, He will work it out for their good, according to His promise:
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
That means when the storms come, believers don’t consider suicide as a viable option, as, tragically, many unbelievers do. In the last ten years, around 400,000 in the US have taken their own lives. Trusting God also helps believers to avoid stress, one of today’s biggest killers. According to Men's Health, “Stress has been linked to heart disease and early death.”
Unbelievers live in darkness—walking through a mine field of potentially self-destructive activities. Christians, however, are able to better avoid these dangers because they have the Word of God as a lamp to their feet and a light to their path (Psalm 119:105). Reliance on God's Word is the only way to successfully live as a Christian.
Here, now, is the number one reason Christians live longer than unbelievers. It is the result of their worldview. Christians believe that they have been made in the image of God.
Not only do those who love God have purpose to exist, but they also have hope in their death. And so, they are not careless about life. Rather, they live in the fear of the Lord, something the Bible says is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). That means that everything to which a Christian puts his hand is only done with respect to God’s smile or frown. He knows that the greatest way to live long is to take note of what Scripture says about how to get it:
“The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.” (Proverbs 10:27)
Studies show that, “many religions promote stress-reducing practices that may improve health, such as gratitude, prayer, or meditation.”
Rev. Kevin W. Mannoia, Ph.D., graduate and faculty chaplain at APU said that studies show that prayer has been shown to be powerful, in at least one way. It triggers the relaxation response, a state of mind-body rest that has been shown to decrease stress, heart rate and blood pressure; alleviate chronic disease symptoms; and even change gene expression. This state is typically linked to activities like meditation and yoga, and research suggests it can also be found through praying.
“Getting at the issue, I think it’s not merely activities that cause longevity of life. Activities are the outcome of healthy spirituality in relationship to God,” Mannoia said. “So, what causes those outcomes? It is the deep peace, or the shalom, of God. Those practices—prayer, volunteer work, meditation, church attendance—are evidence of a healthy, integrated, and balanced life. That's the way God intended for us to live.”
I can’t find researches or studies in the Philippines to show that Christians live longer than unbelievers, but as a Christian and a member of Christian lay organizations, I saw many instances of answered prayers and testimonies of fellow believers who were miraculously healed of grave illnesses; of believers who were able to live from a chaotic to an orderly life; of believers who were able overcome vices like drugs, smoking and drinking; of believers whose faith in God have experienced peace and hope rather than desperation; of believers who shared their treasure, talent and time for the benefit of fellow believers and the community. These things can lead to a longer life.
