|
True faith really does save lives, say doctors
PATIENTS who have an unswerving belief that God will see them through
a serious illness really do have a better chance of survival, doctors have
discovered.
Older people who felt they were being 'punished by God', or who had been
'abandoned by God' during their affliction, were almost a third more likely to
die than those who kept their trust in higher authority.
The amazing power of faith was revealed by a study of nearly 600 hospital
patients, 95 percent of whom held Christian beliefs.
Researchers from Duke University Medical Centre and Bowling Green State
University in Durham, North Carolina, examined how struggling with religious
beliefs affected survival rates.
Their findings, published in the Archives of Internal Medicene identified
feelings of being abandoned by God and the Church or that the Devil caused
their illness, as key factors in an increased risk of death among elderly
patients.
The study sample consisted of 595 patients aged 55 or older who were
hospitalised between 1996 and 1997 and then monitored for two years.
Patients who reported feeling alienated from God or who attributed their
illness to the Devil were more likely to die.
Gender, race or overall mood and quaility of life made no difference to the
outcome suggesting that losing religious faith was a key factor in mortality
risk.
The researchers concluded that those who lacked faith were up to 28 per cent
more likely to die than those whose beliefs held firm.
Dr. Harold Koenig, study author and associate professor of psychiatry at Duke
University Medical Centre, said: 'Whenever anyone becomes suddenly ill with a
disease that threatens life, or a way of life, they ask, "Why me?"'.
'It is not so much a question as a release of frustation'.
'Some people experience anger at God for not protecting them or not answering
their prayers for healing'.
'Some people feel as though God is punishing them and they question God's love,
and sometimes they feel others have deserted them as well'.
Dr Koenig said patients who failed to work through this stage of anger and
grief appeared to be at most risk.
'Most people are able to reconnect with God and their spiritual community and
utilise those resources for support and growth,' he said.
'Others, however, remain in that state and block themselves off. Those people
are in trouble and doctors need to know about it'.
'This study is important because it identifies specific religous conflicts that
may lead to poorer health and greater risk of death'.
Dr Koenig said doctors should consider taking a patients spiritual history, as
well as medical history, to enable patients who are at most risk and refer them
to the clergy if necessary.
He said 'it's important that doctors or chaplains address these issues so that
people can work through them'.
'Doctors need to be assessing their patients for these kind of feelings and
beliefs'.
The above was written by Beezy
Marsh and is © of The Daily Mail
|
|
Holding Cross
Just prior to her operation, Marlene Gaunt was given a Holding Cross
by the Anglican Curate in Swaffham, Norfolk.
'Up to then, I had never heard, nor seen such an object, but it became very
precious to me during the weeks ahead'.
A Holding Cross is about three and a half inches (approx 9cm) high and has a
deliberately uneven wooden cross beam in order to fit between the finger
comfortably. It is not decorated or ornamental in any way, thus it is a true
reminder of the harsh wood of the Cross of Jesus
The crafstmen says 'A Holding Cross is designed not so much to look right but
to feel right'.
'It gave me an enormous comfort and strength during my stay in hospital and
even today, it's never far from my side'.
Marlene's Hodling Cross is called a Cross of St Julian as it bears a small
hazlenutat its centre. The medieval mystic, Julian, believed it symbolised
God's love and protection of the humblest and most significant of his
creations.
Details of St. Julian can be found at
home.clara.net/frmartinsmith/julian or by writing to
The Julian Centre
Rouen Road
Norwich NR1 1QT
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 01603 767380
Further information on the Holding Cross is available from:
St. Michael's Cottage Crafts
Bowthorpe
Norwich NR5 9AA
United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 01603 746106
email bowthorpecommtrust@lineone.net
|
