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Unbelievable?! Theistic/Epistemological Viewpoint Affects Religion–Health Relationship

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Abstract

Research suggests that Religion/Spirituality promotes a variety of positive health outcomes. However, despite reporting lower levels of Religion/Spirituality, non-believers report comparable levels of health to believers. The current study tested the hypothesis that Religion/Spirituality does not have a uniform effect on health for all persons, and tested theological/epistemological categories as moderators. Using the 2012 and 2014 General Social Survey (N = 2670), the relationship between Religion/Spirituality and happiness and self-rated health was investigated. Results indicated that Gnostic Theists experienced Religion/Spirituality more positively than their peers did; Agnostic Theists experienced Religion/Spirituality less positively than their peers did; and Negative Atheists experienced Religion/Spirituality less positively than their peers did. These findings suggested that Religion/Spirituality is not associated with salutary effects for all persons, and that whether a person believes in god(s) and how confident he/she was in god(s)’ existence, influenced his/her experience with Religion/Spirituality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Applied Health Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 300-95 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s, NL, A1B 2X5, Canada

    David Speed

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  1. David Speed
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Correspondence to David Speed.

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This author has no conflict of interests to report. All data analysis was done using a pre-existing data source. These data were collected in a manner consistent with the ethical requirements of the American Psychological Association.

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Speed, D. Unbelievable?! Theistic/Epistemological Viewpoint Affects Religion–Health Relationship. J Relig Health 56, 238–257 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0271-2

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