Are religious people mentally sick? Are they less or more healthy than those who have no time for God? Is their quality of life better or worse? You might be surprised when you hear the truth to these questions, because the prevailing wisdom among many is that religion makes neurotics out of poeple. Karl Marx called religion "the opiate of the people."

Lo and behold, recent studies indicate that the practice of religion significantly benefits the believers in quite a variety of ways. David Larson is a senior government researcher in Washington D.C. who worked for ten years with the National Institute of Mental Health. Larson's research reveals that marital satisfaction tends to increase with church attendance and that religious commitment offers tremendous protection against divorce. People who often attend church are more than twice as likely to remain married. His data also tells us that religious people are physically healthier, have fewer heart attacks and tend to live longer. Prison inmates who make a religious commitment are less likely than their counterparts to return to jail. And the religiously committed are less likely to abuse alcohol and far less likely to use drugs. Conversely, one study found that 89 % of alcoholics had lost interest in religion during their teenage years.

Other studies document the same results. The Heritage Foundation recently released a study titled "Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability." This report brims with references from major clinical studies on the role religion plays in building social order. Their research says that church attendance is statistically the most important predictor of marital happiness and stability. The practice of religion promotes mental health, including less depression and more self esteem and is an aid in recovering from emotional damage done through drug and alcohol abuse. A person's health is aided by religious practice which tends to increase longevity of life and prevent disease as well as enhance recovery from sickness. Economically, the data shows that religious practice tends to move the underprivileged out poverty and into the middle class. Suicide, drug abuse, and out-of-wedlock births are all definitely lessened throught the influence of religion.

Other impressive studies confirm the value of religious commitment. According to a study of the UCLA School of Medicine, alcohol abuse is 300 % higher among those who do not attend church. And data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth shows that regular church attendance helps young people escape the poverty of inner city life. Among those who attended church ... weekly average family income was consistently more than 50% higher than for those who practice no religious observance. Those who attend religious services in their youth have about $11,000 more in yearly income by their early 30's.

Congress and the White House are wracking their brains over how to solve all manner of seemingly intractable social ills such as crime, drug abuse, alcoholism, family breakdown, sexually transmitted diseases, poverty, out-of-wedlock births. Most of the time they spend their time and our money treating the symptons and not the disease. Whether you are a believer or not, there is one truth no one can ignore:

Religious belief and practice are demonstrably the strongest social forces against practically any social ill you can name. This is because the real source of all these social ills is simply the absence of God which is a sort of definition for the word sin. The real cure for all our social problems which are really sin problems is to introduce God into our lives and into our culture. Research proves that God is the answer to sin.

Of course, God has for centuries been advising us of the wisdom of doing things His way, if we have had ears to listen. Nearly three thousand years ago God through Solomon advised us to heed His Words of Wisdom: " Hold on to wisdom... It will give you life... It will beautify your life... Then you will go on your way in safety... And you will not get hurt... You won't need to be afraid when you lie down... You won't need to be afraid of trouble coming suddenly... You won't need to fear the ruin that comes to the wicked... The Lord will keep you safe..."

And to those who would refuse to listen and who would not accept God's advice He warns: "Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind. You will get what you deserve." Through His prophet Isaiah God says, "I am the Lord your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Thousands of years ago King David wrote this: "Whoever would love life and see good days must ... turn from evil and do good.

Watching the average Television sitcom or reading the average news journal you would never know there is any benefit to religion at all, especially the religion of Jesus Christ. But the facts are in. The studies empirically verify what God has been saying for centuries. Those who follow Biblical values live longer and enjoy life more. Faithful Christians receive all this and don't forget they are promised heaven too! Hey, do yourself a favor and do things God's way. You'll be glad you did.