Newswise — Variety is the spice of life, or so the saying goes, but now a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher believes the true secret of living a long, healthy and satisfying life might be at a nearby monastery.
"Through a systematic review of the scientific literature, we found that individuals who regularly participate in organized religious activities live longer and healthier lives on average," said Daniel Longo, MU professor of family and community medicine. "This effect may be more significant among those who have made a life-long commitment to a religious lifestyle in an organized religious community. For example, a Dutch study found that Trappist and Benedictine monks between 1900 and 1994 experienced a 12 percent lower mortality rate than the general population of Dutch men."
Based on that information, it is likely that monks who live by The Rule of St. Benedict, which includes both Benedictines and Trappist monks, might provide the key to a lifestyle that has numerous benefits to the public, Longo said. Because so many lay people are following The Rule, it's likely the benefits could be far-reaching outside of the monastery. While in existence for more than 1,000 years, the religious movement of following the Rule of St. Benedict as an "oblate," or a layperson affiliated with a monastery, has grown tremendously during the past several decades. A recent study finds that lay oblates outnumber monks 3 to 1.
The Rule of St. Benedict encourages people to live a life of moderation, obedience, humility and respect for their fellow person. It is focused on a balanced life and provides individuals with guidelines for spirituality that also include behaviors and attitudes conducive to good health. Longo has analyzed The Rule and found more than 50 different references to health, health behaviors, hygiene and a balanced life. Longo presented his findings at the 50th Anniversary Symposium of the Monastic Institute in Rome.
"In many cases, researchers have shown that there is a link between religion and health," Longo said. "In some ways, these monks are living a very counter-cultural lifestyle, but it appears at least in the Netherlands to benefit their health a great deal. However, we need to determine if these findings apply outside the Netherlands, and if they apply equally to monks and laypersons following this religious Rule."
In his presentation, Longo documented several instances where people have sought spiritual fulfillment following a tragedy. Longo's survey also found a dramatic increase in the number of lay people involved with monastic orders following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"The 20th Century has been one of the worst centuries we have experienced in terms of devastation and human loss of life," Longo said. "Yet, at the end of the 20th Century, we saw a large growth of involvement with organized religion groups. When we find ourselves in desperate human conditions, we tend to go back to our spiritual roots. The Benedictine lifestyle and the Rule of St. Benedict show that certain lifestyles that are counter-cultural can have large, positive impacts on us."
Longo is beginning a larger systematic review of Benedictine monks and oblates in the United States based on the Dutch study and his systematic review.
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