Irish Ads Promote Religion as "Good for You"
Institute Backs Claim With Scientific Study
DUBLIN, MARCH 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Religion often gets a bad name in the media, but science shows that it can actually be good for you, says The Iona Institute.
The Dublin-based institute is taking this message to the streets with an advertising campaign that states: "Here's a little science. The practice of religion is good for you."
The ads were posted on 110 bus shelters throughout Dublin on Monday, where they will remain for two weeks, planned to coincide with the Easter season.
The initiative refers to a paper, commissioned by the institute and released last year, which was written by Psychiatrist Patricia Casey on "The Psycho-Social Benefits of Religious Practice."
On the whole, religious practice is beneficial both for individuals and for society.
The paper examines the various scientific studies done in this area and these show that religious practice is associated, on average, with:
- Lower levels of depression
- Lower levels of marital breakdown
- Lower levels of alcohol and drug abuse
- Lower levels of pregnancy among teenagers
- Faster recovery from bereavement
- Faster recovery from illness
- Longer life expectancy, etc.
The campaign will invite people to examine the evidence for themselves and will direct them to a dedicated website called http://www.religiouspractice.ie/
DUBLIN, MARCH 30, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Religion often gets a bad name in the media, but science shows that it can actually be good for you, says The Iona Institute.
The Dublin-based institute is taking this message to the streets with an advertising campaign that states: "Here's a little science. The practice of religion is good for you."
The ads were posted on 110 bus shelters throughout Dublin on Monday, where they will remain for two weeks, planned to coincide with the Easter season.
The initiative refers to a paper, commissioned by the institute and released last year, which was written by Psychiatrist Patricia Casey on "The Psycho-Social Benefits of Religious Practice."
On the whole, religious practice is beneficial both for individuals and for society.
The paper examines the various scientific studies done in this area and these show that religious practice is associated, on average, with:
- Lower levels of depression
- Lower levels of marital breakdown
- Lower levels of alcohol and drug abuse
- Lower levels of pregnancy among teenagers
- Faster recovery from bereavement
- Faster recovery from illness
- Longer life expectancy, etc.
The campaign will invite people to examine the evidence for themselves and will direct them to a dedicated website called http://www.religiouspractice.ie/