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| − | [[File:African open air Christian meeting.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|[[Africa]]n Christians clapping at an open-air meeting.
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| − | In 2005, there were four times as many non-[[Western World]] Christians as there were Western World Christians.<ref name="wnd.com">[http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=30077 Is Christianity taking over the planet?]</ref>
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| − | The traditional [[Africa]]n diet is healthier than many Western World invividuals' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.<ref name="World's fattest countries">[http://www.forbes.com/2007/02/07/worlds-fattest-countries-forbeslife-cx_ls_0208worldfat.html World's fattest countries]</ref><ref name="todaysdietitian.com">[http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/030612p26.shtml Traditional African diets are healthier than Western diets], Today's Nutrition</ref> In recent years, Christianity has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref name="gratefultothedead.wordpress.com">[http://gratefultothedead.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/the-african-apostles-how-christianity-exploded-in-20th-century-africa/ The African apostles: How Christianity exploded in 20th-century Africa]</ref> See: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] ]]
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| − | The [[atheist population]] has a significant problem with [[obesity]] (see: [[Atheism and obesity]]).
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| − | When one compares pictures the attendees of the [[Reason Rally 2012|2012 Reason Rally]] with attendees of the 2014 Cfan Christ For All Nations gospel crusade held in Barundi, [[Africa]], there was a significant higher proportion of attendees of the Reason Rally who were overweight/[[obese]].<ref>
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| − | *[http://www.digitaljournal.com/image/109842 Rain soaked crowd at the Reason Rally], Digital Journal, photographer: Sean Fraser, date: 3/24/2012
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| − | *[https://pmaurer7.wordpress.com/2014/09/ CfaN Burundi, Africa gospel crusade… part 2]</ref> According to [[medical science]], excess weight/obesity poses [[Health risks linked to obesity|serious health risks]].
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| − | The traditional African diet is healthier than many [[Western World]] invividuals' diets and Africa has some of the lowest obesity rates in the world.<ref name="World's fattest countries"/><ref name="todaysdietitian.com"/> In recent years, [[Christianity]] has seen a rapid growth in Africa.<ref name="gratefultothedead.wordpress.com"/> In 2005, there were four times as many non-[[Western World]] Christians as there were Western World Christians.<ref name="wnd.com"/>
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| − | In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on [[self-control]]/self-regulation.<ref>[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref><ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>
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| − | *[http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract ''Religion Replenishes Self-Control'', ''Psychological Science'', June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University]
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| − | *[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php Study finds religion helps us gain self-control]</ref> Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.]</ref><ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ ''The role of spirituality in health care'', roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.]</ref>
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| − | According to the [[Gallup poll|Gallup Inc.]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx</ref> For more information, please see: [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and health]]
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| − | There is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that [[theism]] is more conducive to mental and physical health than [[atheism]] <ref>
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| − | *[http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/76/12/1225.full.pdf Religious Involvement, Spirituality, and Medicine: Implications for Clinical Practice - Mayo Clinic]
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| − | *[http://www.dukespiritualityandhealth.org/publications/latest.html Research on Spirituality, Theology and Health - Duke University]
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| − | [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf McCullogh ME, Larson DB, Hoyt WT. et al. (2000). Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. Health Psychology. 19, 3. 211-222]
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| − | *[http://www.religiouspractice.ie/Religious_practice-2.pdf The psycho-social benefits of religious practice by Ona Institute]
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| − | *[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]
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| − | *[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm Research Shows Religion Plays A Major Role In Health, Longevity - Science Daily, 1999]
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| − | *[http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/12/2303 Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt - The American Journal of Psychiatry]
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| − | *[http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html Psychology researcher says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism - Scienceblog and University of Warwick]
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| − | </ref> See also: [[Atheism and health]]
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| − | ==References==
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| − | <references/>
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| − | [[Category: Essays]]
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| − | [[Category:Atheism]]
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