Should Physicians Prescribe Religious Activities?

Abstract

There is increasing interest among the general public and the medical community in the role of religion in medicine. Polls indicate that the U.S. population is highly religious; most people believe in heaven and hell,¹ the healing power of prayer,² and the capacity of faith to aid in the recovery from disease.³ The popular press has published many articles in which religious faith and practice have been said to promote comfort, healing, or both. A report that 77 percent of hospitalized patients wanted physicians to consider their spiritual needs is consistent with this trend.⁴ Interest in the connection between religion . . .