Why Religion and Spirituality Matter for Public Health

Doug Oman received his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, where he is Associate Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health. His more than 60 professional publications focus especially on health and longevity implications of spiritual and religious factors, as well as related psychosocial factors such as compassion and altruism. Oman has been principal investigator for two randomized trials of nonsectarian and explicitly spiritual forms of meditation, and was elected President (2016-2017) of the Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality (Division 36 of the American Psychological Association). His 1998 paper, “Religion and Mortality Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly” was awarded the Templeton prize for Exemplary Paper in Religion and the Medical Sciences.

“The main theme in this engaging volume, which is both easy to read and understand, is how R/S relates to population health outcomes. … The focus on how religion and spirituality influence health outcomes, and on related learning and research, make this volume recommended reading across disciplines. … It is recommended for graduate and undergraduate students for understanding R/S as a dimension of health that interconnects with other sciences and health-related outcomes.” (Saneta Maiko, Reading Religion, readingreligion.org, January 11, 2019)

• 1. Elephant in the Room: Why Spirituality and Religion Matter for Public Health (Doug Oman).- 2. Reviewing Religion/Spirituality Evidence from a Public Health Perspective: Introduction (Doug Oman).- 3. Model of Individual Health Effects from Religion/Spirituality: Supporting Evidence (Doug Oman).- 4. Religious/Spiritual Effects on Physical Morbidity and Mortality  (Doug Oman).- 5. Social and Community-Level Factors in Health Effects from Religion/Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 6. Social Identity and Discrimination in Religious/Spiritual Influences on Health (Doug Oman).- 7. Environmental Health Sciences, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 8. Infectious Diseases, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 9. Public Health Nutrition, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 10. Maternal/Child Health, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 11. Health Policy and Management, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 12. Health Education, Promotion, and Intervention: Relevance of Religion and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 13. Mental Health, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 14. Clinical Practice, Religion, and Spirituality (Doug Oman).- 15. Weighing the Evidence: What is Revealed by 100+ Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Religion/Spirituality and Health? (Doug Oman).- 16. Questions on Assessing the Evidence Linking Religion/Spirituality to Health (Doug Oman).- 17. Implications for Community Health Practitioners: Framing Religion and Spirituality within a Social Ecological Framework (Rabbi Nancy E. Epstein).- 18. Implications for Public Health Systems and Clinical Practitioners: Strengths of Congregations, Religious Health Assets and Leading Causes of Life (Teresa F. Cutts).- 19. Introduction: What Should Public Health Students Be Taught About Religion and Spirituality? (Doug Oman).- 20. Religion and Public Health at Emory University (Ellen Idler).- 21. The Initiative on Health, Religion and Spirituality at Harvard: From Research to Education (Tyler J. VanderWeele).- 22. An Evidence-Based Course at U.C. Berkeley on Religious and Spiritual Factors in Public Health (Doug Oman).- 23. The Boston University Experience: Religion, Ethics, and Public Health (Christina M.A. Gebel).- 24. Faith Matters: “HBHE 710: Religion, Spirituality and Health” at the University of Michigan (Linda M. Chatters).- 25. Incorporating Religion and Spirituality into Teaching and Practice: The Drexel School of Public Health Experience (Rabbi Nancy E. Epstein).- 26. Online Teaching of Public Health and Spirituality at University of Illinios: Chaplains for the Twenty-First Century (Kathryn Lyndes).- 27. International and Global Perspectives on Spirituality, Religion, and Public Health (Liz Grant).- 28. What’s Next?: Public Health and Spirituality (Doug Oman).