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Slowing Down Time: An Exploration of Personal Life Extension Desirability as it Relates to Religiosity and Specific Religious Beliefs

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Abstract

As medical technology continues increasing the possibility of living a longer life, the public’s valuing of these developments must be considered. This study examines attitudes toward extending the human life span within a student population at a Christian university. Religious factors were hypothesized to affect life extension desirability. Scores on measures of willingness to defer to God’s will, meaning derived from religion, positive afterlife beliefs, and intrinsic religiosity were significantly and inversely related to life extension desirability. Implications of these findings are discussed, including encouraging medical practitioners to respect decision-making processes of religious persons who may find life extension interventions undesirable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Graduate Psychology, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA

    Scott Ballinger, Theresa Clement Tisdale & Loren A. Martin

  2. Department of Health Sciences Education, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA

    David L. Sellen

Authors
  1. Scott Ballinger
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  2. Theresa Clement Tisdale
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  3. David L. Sellen
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  4. Loren A. Martin
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Correspondence to Scott Ballinger.

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Ballinger, S., Tisdale, T.C., Sellen, D.L. et al. Slowing Down Time: An Exploration of Personal Life Extension Desirability as it Relates to Religiosity and Specific Religious Beliefs. J Relig Health 56, 171–187 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0218-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0218-7

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