Parshall Partners

Scientific Evidence: Religion is Good For You

         One of the popular slogans for the 21^st Century is “Follow the Science”. But what if the science landed you in the lap of religion? Would you still follow?

         A new book is suggesting that science is giving evidence to the relationship between rituals in religion that help to shape behaviors like compassion, trust and resilience and why these rituals are so beneficial.

         David DeSteno, a psychology professor at Northwestern University has written the book How God Works: The Science Behind The Benefits Of Religion. In his book. DeSteno takes a look at religious practices and how and why they impact us in a positive way. He wanted to answer questions like: What role does religion play in people’s lives? Does it make it better? How do we become virtuous? How do we find connection?

         For example, DeSteno looked at the Jewish custom of sitting shiva when someone dies. During the time of mourning, mirrors are covered, which reduces self-focus. Science says self-focus often aggravates and heightens emotions.

         He looked at Shinto practices around childbirth and saw how naming ceremonies facilitated bonding. He cited a study in which brains showed signs of distress when participants saw a vegetable with a human name pricked by a pin.

         The author studied Buddhism and found that the practice of meditation matches what science has observed: that weeks of mediation can cause people to be more compassionate and more forgiving.

         DeSteno writes:

“The surprise my colleagues and I felt when we saw evidence of religion’s benefits was a sign of our hubris, born of a common notion among scientists: All of religion is superstition and, therefore, could have little practical benefit. I’ll admit that we’re unlikely to learn much about the nature of the universe or the biology of disease from religion. But when it comes to finding ways to help people deal with issues surrounding birth and death, morality and meaning, grief and loss, it would be strange if thousands of years of religious thought didn’t have something to offer.”

         DeSteno calls himself “firming agnostic” and states he doesn’t know what he believes theologically but is open to the possibility that there is something. His book argues that religious practices carry with them multiple benefits, that prayers, mediation, communal gatherings, like grieving collectively, leads to increased generosity, kindness, gratitude and bonding. He doesn’t argue for the existence of God but notes it is inarguable that religious practices benefit us.

         I will take this one step further. What DeSteno fails to do is to recognize the person of Jesus. As His followers, we know that we bond through grieving because we ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and we ‘grieve with those who grieve.’ We know that when we ‘meditate’ on the Word of God, and do what is written in it, we will “prosper and be successful”. We bond with a living God because His word tells us He knows our name.

         As interesting as DeSteno’s book is, he has it backwards. Science didn’t discover the benefits of religion, rather it affirms what Christians already know - a personal relationship with the living God through His son Jesus Christ results in immeasurable benefits, always.

         Those are my thoughts. I’m Janet Parshall.