JISCMail - PHYSIO Archives

Thank you for the info on the study. I have no doubt that religion & church membership can be physically, psychologically & spiritually therapeutic for many. However, I am a firm believer that it should be a private choice. There are real dangers to giving power to churches & church organizations.

In my town, 2 university professors, compassionate, involved people, were denied in-state adoption by the local adoption agency. This is a church-affiliated agency who has the power to make such a decision. The couple was denied because they are not of the same religion; they were told their "mixed marriage" would stress the child too much. They are now the loving parents of a child adopted from a foreign country, who is being raised bilingual in English & his native language, even though he was adopted as an infant.

----- Original Message -----

From: [log in to unmask]>alistair grant

Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 3:49 AM

Subject: Re: Validity of Therapies & Politics?

For those interested in a slightly more scientific approach to the ‘politics of religion’ Maltby J et al. Religious orientation and psychological well-being: The role of the frequency of personal prayer. Br J Health Psychol 1999;4,363-378. is a somewhat non-mainstream but entertaining research paper.

The conclusion of this research which investigated measures of religious orientation, depressive symptoms, anxiety and self-esteem traits in 474 UK students was that frequency of prayer and psychological well-being may be related, measures of ‘religoisity’ and psychological well-being may be related and frequency of prayer may be an important coping strategy.

The paper used multiple regression analysis and unfortunately gives only limited statistical data to uphold the validity of treatment effect however it is still work a look- regardless of political and religious persuasion!

Perhaps the ’W’ has something after all …..

Alistair Grant

Institute of Public Health

University of Cambridge