The authors of <i>Handbook of Religion and Health</i> acknowledge that what data does exist does not point exclusively towards positive benefits for religion — sometimes, studies show a very negative effect on health from religion. This is an important inclusion because, in the current atmosphere, we hear very little about such negative relationships. Usually we read about claims about how prayer and religion help make people healthier. What we don’t hear so much about are the difficulties that come from the belief that disease is a punishment for sin and the problems that develop when people rely upon miracles and prayer to the exclusion of medicine.
Throughout the book, whenever a specific study or the state of research in a given area is summarized, the authors almost invariably acknowledge that “further research is needed.” One of the most common points, for example, is that little or nothing has been done to compare people with different religious beliefs and backgrounds. We also don’t see discussion about why people seek out religion in the first place — after all, the average church member doesn’t attend worship services for the same reason they go one a new diet or take up jogging. If improved health does accompany religious devotion, then how and why?
Another issue that isn’t discussed, but should have been, is whether belief systems which do not qualify as traditional religions, but which nevertheless serve similar social and psychological functions, also provide the same apparent health benefits. Such a study might be rather difficult, there is no question about it; but it would be critical in determining just what, if anything, about religion is really helping people.
A certain amount of skepticism is warranted because Harold Koenig is by no means a disinterested scholar. Director of the Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health at Duke University, Koenig has written extensively about the healing power of religion and has claimed to have clear evidence that people with religious faith live longer, healthier, happier lives. In making his case, however, he has neglected contrary evidence, failed to report about studies which show correlations between religion and child abuse, and so on (see Victor J. Stenger, “Has Science Found God?”) This collection is perhaps more even-handed that what he has published in the past, but readers must still remain careful.
With over 700 double-columned pages of text, nearly 100 pages of ranked studies, and almost 100 pages of references, this is a very dense book. It’s unlikely to be appropriate for the average reader with just a casual interest in the relationship between medicine and religion. Instead, the book is aimed at researchers, libraries, doctors, and those with a need for much more detailed data than can be found in any of the popular literature currently available.
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