World News and Trends: It May not be Immortality, but it isn't Bad
If you want to live longer, go to church, synagogue or other religious services regularly. That's the conclusion of a report in a recent issue of Demography magazine.
People who attend such services once a week live an average of seven years longer than those who never go, researchers found. For 20-year-olds, those who never go to church services will die at an average age of 75, while those who attend regularly will live to an average age of 82. Blacks who attend services weekly live an average of 14 years longer than those who never go.
This research undergirds an increasing consensus that belief in the Scriptures and church attendance can be key indicators of better physical and emotional health as well as longer life.
Why the difference in longevity? Part can be explained by the fact that many churchgoers avoid unhealthy behaviors such as drunkenness, smoking, taking illegal drugs and engaging in sex with multiple partners.
But distinct differences remain even allowing for people with similar behavior and incomes are compared. Researchers credit the personal relationships and sense of belonging people gain from attending religious services regularly. "People who attend church have friends to count on, a sense of their importance in the scheme of things," explained University of Colorado sociology professor Rick Rogers, one of the study's researchers.
Regular churchgoers "have meaning in their lives, a better sense of control, can relate better to other people—which all have potential health benefits," added Bernard Spilka, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Denver.
The Bible itself says: "Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth" (Ephesians 6:2-3). Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 talk of the many blessings for living a life of obedience to God. Many of King Solomon's proverbs tell of the health and contentment that spring out of following God's way. Old and New Testaments alike speak of the importance of regular worship with others (Leviticus 23:1-3; Hebrews 10:24-25).
If you would like more information about the biblical way of life, please request our free booklets The Ten Commandments and The Church Jesus Built. (Sources: The New King James Bible; Demography, The Rocky Mountain News, The Washington Times.)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: September - October 1999
Course Content
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Scott Ashley
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
