Attending Religious Services health Benefits

"" The number of Americans who attend religious services at least once a week jumped nearly three points, to 27.5%, during the two years ended in 2004, according to statistics from the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center.

This leap could be good news for the nation's health. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that Americans who attend religious services at least once a week enjoy better- than- average health and lower rates of illness, including depression. Perhaps most important, the studies show that weekly attendance confers a significant reduction in mortality risk over a given period of time.""

~~WSJ