Following the Science: Religion’s Effect on Human Flourishing

In his popular book, The Righteous Mind—Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt characterizes current culture’s view of science and religion: “…doctrine or orthodoxy is synonymous with religion which is based on faith which is the rejection of science.” One might conclude that this is a function of the ever-elucidating nature of science and the lack of reason in faith. What if we were to ask science to look at religion? What would we find?

Let us examine the science one can reliably refer to regarding religion. How does religion affect people’s lives? Is religion related to happiness? Does religion contribute to human flourishing? This seminar references some of the most respected peer-reviewed medical journals as well as acclaimed books on the relationship between religion and well-being. Because it is the most widely studied religion regarding human flourishing, this review of the literature is focused on Christianity. Science’s conclusions are then viewed through the lens of Christianity’s oldest denomination, the Catholic Church. This class was previously offered in Spring 2024.

Robert Justus, M.D., is a semi-retired physician and associate professor emeritus of family medicine. He practiced for many years in rural North Central Washington state in a rich cultural environment including Native American and Hispanic communities. During the practice of medicine, Robert became aware that certain beliefs and forms of social support influenced medical outcomes. He follows the medical literature in the fields known as Positive Psychiatry/Psychology and its promotion of human flourishing. This enlightening area of study includes revealing data on the positive role of religion.