Race, Religion and Longevity

In a nation obsessed with racial and cultural diversity the facts about minorities and religious faith have been strangely absent from the dialogue. There is one astounding statistic about African American longevity and church attendance that is rarely if ever mentioned in the debates about faith based organizations and health care.

An article by Hummer et al in Demography Journal, 36:273-285 in 1999, Blacks who attend church live much longer than those who do not.

Church Attendance

• 
  White life expectancy Black life expectancy
  Never Attend......77 Years== 67 A 10 year difference
  Less than weekly 80 Years== 75 A 5 year difference
  Weekly or more...83 Years== 80 A 3 year difference

• Whites who attend services more than weekly gain an average of six years in longevity. This is terrific advertisement for religious practice.
• African Americans who attend services weekly or more gain a whopping 13 years in life expectancy. The difference in longevity between Whites and Blacks is almost totally eclipsed by church attendance.
• Attending church more often than weekly raises Blacks life expectancy to that of whites who attend weekly or less. Despite all the criticism leveled at Christians and churches the data are clear. Even as bad as we are, Jesus still heals, delivers and gives peace.
  
  Is it not racist to fail to encourage religious commitment by Blacks? It is not wrong to discourage both Blacks and Whites to attend religious services? Is the left wing of American politics promoting sickness by attacking religion?