Is there even any evidence for prescribing religion?

An article in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) casts doubt on the evidential underpinnings of the belief in some medical fields that 'prescribing religion' should form part of a treatment plan. I have written earlier of two concerns regarding this practice. The first is that by using religion or religious beliefs and practices for instrumental / utilitarian purposes is to lessen its efficacy, as it leaves out the meaning making that provides the deeper connection that can provide some health benefits. There is also an ethical element to this issue. The second issue is that t may not be religion itself that is providing health benefits, but rather the associated lifestyle and socialisation, and thus a treatment plan should include these non-religious elements.

However, both these points rest on an assumption that the evidence is strong enough to create the debate in the first place. Sloan (2000) raises three concerns over the methodology used to develop the argument that religious faith and practice is beneficial for ones health. The first is that the strongest evidence comes from church attendance, and that there is no link between other religious activities and health (Sloan 2000: 1913). Second, and following on from this, is that there is no distinction made between the various types of church services, and that given the wide variety of services across different religious groups, it is premature to endorse church attendance for reasons of health (Sloan 2000: 1913). Finally, there has been no trial that has sought to find evidence that supports the proposition that attending church on the recommendation of a physician can lead to improved health outcomes (Sloan 2000: 1913-14).

Thus, while studies may show that people in the United States would like their religious beliefs taken into account by their doctor, there is little evidential basis for physicians to encourage religious faith as part of a treatment plan.

Reference

Sloan, Richard P. 2000. 'Should Physicians Prescribe Religious Activities?'. The New England Journal of Medicine, 342(25): 1913-1916.