Fundamentalists have higher rates of mortality than Catholics and Mainline Protestants, according to a recent study by LSU Associate Professor Troy C. Blanchard and his colleagues.

The study, published in Social Forces and reported on ScienceDaily.com, showed that religious environment (the type of religious community a person lives within) can affect health and mortality (life/death) rates.

According to Blanchard, churches that focus on the present needs of communities on earth invest in the health of their followers – as with Catholics who organize programs for the sick and needy. On the other hand, religious groups that only focus on the afterlife do not put as much emphasis on helping each other. The focus is more individual – what do I need to do to have a good afterlife?

Blanchard, perhaps not meaning to do so, separated the two types of congregations neatly into evangelicals and fundamentalists (where evangelicals are those focused on both this life and the next; fundamentalists focus on the next life only). This begs for definitions.

When we say Evangelicals, what do we mean?

Typically, in Christianity, evangelicals place an emphasis on conversion (or on helping others or yourself to become a part of that religion and achieve an appropriate afterlife). In addition, they tend to believe in the following:

• The Bible has no errors.
• Morals come from the Bible.
• The Christian faith can help handle issues in the community.

When we say Fundamentalists, what do we mean?

Fundamentalists in every religion believe their religion is the true religion, the only correct religion, the only religion that can achieve the goal of life. In addition, fundamentalists

• Are certain of an Absolute Truth (God, Absolute Power, etc.);
• Believe there is an authority outside of themselves and place the utmost importance on that outside authority/power;
• Place importance on the traditional family;
• Believe there is punishment for sins;
• Reject modernism (or modern interpretations of beliefs and laws); and
• Believe in dualism (good/evil, heaven/hell, body/spirit, etc.).

Of course, there is always a middle ground. But for the sake of this study, these LSU professors believe they’ve found those who fit in this evangelical group will have lower risks of

health issues than those that would fit into the fundamentalist group.

What do you think? Do their findings hold up in the real world?

For more on fundamentalism, check out Fundamentalism, Sectarianism, and Revolution by S.N. Einstadt.

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