In the wake of this week's massive study refuting prayer's ability to impact healing comes a little study that gives hope back to the faithful. Led by Daniel Hall, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center doctor and ordained Episcopal priest, the report found that those who attend regular religious services (regular = weekly) have life expectancies that are comparable to those who exercise regularly and/or take statin medications.

"This is not to say that religious attendance should replace primary prevention such as exercise, or a proven drug therapy, such as statin therapy, but it does suggest that regular religious attendance is associated with a substantially longer life expectancy, and this warrants further research," said Dr. Hall.

Using life expectancy tables Hall compared the effects of exercise, statin therapy, and religious attendance and found that each one can add between two to five years of life.

Do you attend religious services regularly? Do you think it will help you live longer?

[via EurekAlert]

Image: faithforthefamily.com