From the Chaplain: Does Religion Poison Everything? (Part 2)
In response to The New Atheists’ assertion that religion poisons everything I asked that we consider four questions:
- should we treat all faiths and people of faith the same?
- has Christianity spawned violence?
- has Christianity done any good?
- is religious faith good or bad for you?
Last week we considered the first two of these questions, Part 1. This week I will briefly discuss questions three and four.
3. Has Christianity done any good? Christianity has clearly been one of the world’s greatest forces for good. Imagine our city without City Mission, Anglicare, the Salvos, St Vinnie’s; and without St. Johns, St Helens and Calvary hospitals; and without The Hutchins, The Friends, St Marys, Guilford Young, numerous Catholic primary schools and St Michael’s Collegiate School. When I was in the Solomon Islands last year I visited the only Crises Centre for women and children escaping domestic violence – a centre started by and run by the Sisters of the Church. I could go on to to talk about the work of World Vision, The Leprosy Mission, the establishment of Universities, the abolition of slavery, the end of cannibalism, etc. etc.
4. Is religious faith good or bad for you? The evidence that religion is actually good for you is becoming increasingly overwhelming. Professor Andrew Sims, former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has written, “The advantageous effect of religious belief and spirituality on mental and physical health is one of the best-kept secrets in psychiatry and medicine generally.” Amongst other things Sims writes that religious involvement is consistently correlated in scientific studies with well-being, happiness and life satisfaction; hope and optimism; purpose and meaning in life; higher self-esteem; lower rates of depression and faster recovery from depression; lower rates of suicide; less anxiety, lower rates of alcohol and drug use and abuse; less delinquency and criminal activity; greater marital stability and satisfaction, etc. etc.
Religion clearly doesn’t poison everything.
Shalom (Peace), Scott Sargent, School Chaplain, St Michael’s Collegiate School Hobart
