Religion seems to exert a sway not only over our mental health, but over our health in general. Multiple analyses of obituaries in major cities across the United States have found that people who are members of religious groups live on average five years longer than those who are not religious, even when controlling for other factors that influence life span, such as gender and marital status. One study that recently looked at Des Moines, Iowa, found the difference in life span between believers and nonbelievers was ten years. If that number is to be believed, not going to church in Des Moines
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