Huge New BYU Study Shows Religion Overwhelmingly Improves Mental Health - Loren Marks | 144

Dr. Loren Marks is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and a co-director of the American Families of Faith project. He is a prominent researcher at the Wheatley Institute, focusing on the intersection of faith, marriage, and family relationships across various world religions. He has co-authored numerous articles and reports analyzing the profound impact of religious involvement on human flourishing. In this episode, Loren joins me to unpack a landmark new meta-analysis evaluating the profound relationship between faith and mental health. Our conversation dives into a decade's worth of elite medical and data-driven social science, revealing why a vibrant community and hands-on religious practices move the needle on psychological health far more than solitary belief alone.Some highlights from this episode include:A Landmark 10-to-1 Ratio: Loren breaks down the striking data compiled by research teams at Harvard and Duke, showing that out of roughly 1,000 of the most rigorous studies on religion and mental health, 961 found significant positive connections compared to just 101 negative ones.Belief vs. Living the Religion: A deep dive into why mere religious belief isn't enough to boost psychological well-being. Loren explains how a faith tradition requires active practices and a communal "three-legged stool" to truly animate mental and physical benefits.Addressing "Toxic Faith" and Hurt: A candid and empathetic discussion on the dark side of religion, how faith can be hijacked or misconstrued into unrighteous dominion, and what Loren would personally say to individuals who have been deeply wounded by a religious community.The Power of Faith in the Home: Loren highlights insights from a global 11-nation study on how practicing faith within the walls of the home—through family prayer, scripture study, and shared meals—provides a significant added benefit to individual and family resilience.A Personal Story of Exemplary Faith: A touching personal memory from Loren’s teenage years during the 1980s recession, sharing how witnessing his mother's private, late-night devotion while his father worked abroad permanently taught him that faith is tangible, real, and a relationship with a living Father.You can find more of the Wheatley Institute's research and the reports discussed at the following links:American Families of Faith Project https://americanfamiliesoffaith.byu.edu/0000019e-6a64-d21e-a7bf-6bf69b4e0000/religion-and-mental-healthBYU Wheatley Institutehttps://wheatley.Wheatley Institutebyu.edu/Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via [email protected] or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.