[I'd say the worst is yet to come. The latest ill tidings appear in the following news item, which points to the synergistic potential of Americans' two favorite sources of fanaticism -- religiosity and physical fitness -- which apparently can indeed reinforce each other.]
Regular Churchgoing Linked to Healthy Habits
By Charnicia E. Huggins
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Frequent churchgoers may be less likely to drink heavily or smoke than those who attend church less frequently, according to the results of a 30-year study. And those who do smoke or drink may be more likely to quit once they start going to church regularly.
"Good health behaviors will help you live longer, and one of the ways to develop and maintain them is through religious organizations," lead study author Dr. William J. Strawbridge, of the Human Population Laboratory in Berkeley, California, told Reuters Health.
[Full text: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010215/hl/church_1.html]
Carl
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