Not going to church may undermine people’s health, and attending services helps, a new government report reveals. In a statement that is stunning for both its content and source, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy commented on the epidemic of loneliness and isolation across America, calling that an “urgent public health issue.” “Research shows that loneliness and isolation are associated with a greater risk of heart disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death,” he explained, and is as bad for people as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. He warned that Americans have become disconnected from one of the sources of deep and significant social connections: church attendance. “Religious or faith-based groups can be a source for regular social contact, serve as a community of support, provide meaning and purpose, create a sense of belonging around shared values and beliefs, and are associated with reduced risk-taking behaviors,” Murthy said. “As a consequence of this decline in participation, individuals’ health may be undermined in different ways… (READ MORE)

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