Religious and spiritual determinants of health are well-established and necessary foundations for understanding health and relationships.

History

• The impact of Christianity on physical and mental health has been advocated for and
  described by faith leaders and medical experts since the first century.
• Research highlighting the association of faith and health has been published in elite,
  peer reviewed scholarly medical journals as far back as the 1800s.
• Published findings are primarily positive, consistent with psychosocial theories of
  health, include religiously and sociodemographically diverse study populations, and
  have been confirmed by comprehensive reviews and expert panels.
  from Levin. (2016) “For They Knew Not What It Was”: Rethinking the Tacit Narrative
  History of Religion and Health Research. Journal of Religion and Health, 56, 28-46.