GALLUP: MORE RELIGIOUS MEANS MORE HEALTHY

STUDY: SPIRITUALITY MAY HELP
TO BOOST FEELINGS OF HAPPINESS

www.chron.com - The most religious Americans also have the highest rates of well-being, according to a new Gallup survey. The finding is based on a survey of more than 550,000 people about their physical and emotional health and their work environment. Overall, very religious Americans scored 66.3 on a “healthy behavior index,” compared to 60.6 among the moderately religious and 58.3 among the nonreligious.
Researchers did not determine why the very religious had higher levels of health and happiness. “It is possible that Americans who have higher well-being may be more likely to choose to be religious than those with lower well-being,” the organization said in a report announcing the findings. But it is also possible that being religious can contribute to higher levels of personal well-being.

The “very religious” were defined as those who said religion is an important part of their daily lives and they attend worship services at least every week or almost every week. Researchers found that the nonreligious were 85 percent more likely to be smokers than the very religious.
Gallup said a variety of factors could contribute to the link between religion and healthy living, including Americans following religious doctrine about shunning - among other things - smoking, alcohol or gluttony.


Americans who are “very religious” are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are less religious, a Gallup survey shows. On a survey of more than 550,000 people were asked about their decisions related to healthful eating, smoking and exercise. Overall, the “very” religious received a higher score on Gallup’s “healthy behavior index,” than both the moderately religious and the nonreligious. The prescribed regulations for the four orders of social life and the four occupational divisions of human society, as they are set forth by the institution of varnāśrama-dharma, allow man not only accomplish the general welfare, but also achieve the ultimate goal of this human life.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

SB-5.4.14 - “Being an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Rishabhadeva ... eternally had nothing to do with the four principles of material misery [birth, death, old age and disease]. Nor was He materially attached. ... Therefore He strictly followed the principles of varnāśrama-dharma and acted accordingly. In due course of time, the principles of varnāśrama-dharma had become neglected; therefore through His personal characteristics and behavior, He taught the ignorant public how to perform duties within the varnāśrama-dharma. In this way He regulated the general populace in householder life, enabling them to develop religion and economic well-being and to attain reputations, sons and daughters, material pleasure and finally eternal life. By His instructions, He showed how people could remain householders and at the same time become perfect by following the principles of varnāśrama-dharma.”

Śrīla A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda :
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam - Canto 5: “The Creative Impetus”
Chapter 4: “Rishabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead” - Verse 14
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase