RELIGION AND HEALTH - IS THERE AN ASSOCIATION, IS IT VALID, AND IS ITCAUSAL

This paper reviews evidence for a relationship between religion and he alth. Hundreds of epidemiologic studies have reported statistically si gnificant. salutary effects of religious indicators on morbidity and m ortality. However, this does not necessarily imply that religion influ ences health; three questions must first be answered: ''Is there an as sociation?'', ''is it valid?'', and, ''Is it causal?'' Evidence presen ted in this paper suggests that the answers to these respective questi ons are ''yes,'' ''probably,'' and ''maybe.'' In answering these quest ions, several issues are addressed. First, key reviews and studies are discussed. Second, the problems of chance, bias, and confounding are examined. Third, alternative explanations for observed associations be tween religion and health are described. Fourth, these issues are care fully explored in the context of Hill's well-known features of a causa l relationship. Despite the inconclusiveness of empirical evidence and the controversial and epistemologically complex nature of religion as an epidemiologic construct, this area is worthy of additional investi gation. Further research can help to clarify these provocative finding s.