Hello and welcome to
"Health for a Lifetime"
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I'm Don Mackintosh, your
host, and today I am delighted
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with the topic we're
going to be talking about.
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We're going to be talking about
IMMUNITY, FAITH AND PRAYER!
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To talk about this
subject with us today,
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we have Dr. Glen Wiltse...
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He's a physician
from North Dakota,
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but does some work with
Black Hills in South Dakota,
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that Community
Health Education Center
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And also, you
still do some practice,
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and you are seeing patients,
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and has a wealth of
experience for many years.
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We're talking today about
immunity, faith and prayer.
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What, first of all, is
immunity? What does that mean?
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Immunity is the resistance
to adverse circumstances,
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and we think of it
particularly with regard to
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infections,
bacteria and viruses.
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So if we're immune to something,
we're less likely to get it.
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Now, we do give
vaccinations to children and to
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people who are going
overseas for various diseases...
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So it increases their immunity;
it fortifies their immune system
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But what we're interested
in today, particularly,
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is the built-in immune system
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that God designed our
bodies with originally.
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So talk to us a
little bit about that...
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What is that built-in system?
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Would that be like
the skin? What is that?
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Yes, we do have the skin which
helps to protect our bodies
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from germs getting in.
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Our digestive system
helps to kill bacteria
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that we may have swallowed
as we're eating our food.
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We know that our immune system
can be fortified by exercise,
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and by eating a
proper type of diet,
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and it also is affected by many
other aspects of our lifestyle
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...so that the
built-in mechanism is there,
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is working well, but we can
help to make it work better.
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You know since the AIDS crisis
that developed a few years ago
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in this country, the "autoimmune
deficiency syndrome,"
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I think that's
what they call it,
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a lot of focus has come
on immunity and whatnot.
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There's a lot of
things even in our bloodstream
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that help fight
disease, aren't there?
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Yes, there are; we have
a number of cells of the
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lymphoid system
called T- cells and also some
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others called B-cells
which are technical terms
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but there are different ones
that have different functions.
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We have, for instance, a
helper T-cell that recognizes
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a problem; a foreign
substance that enters the body,
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and we have the killer
T-cells that are activated then
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by this helper T-cell.
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He kills the
viruses. He kills the germs...
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And then when
things get under control,
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then the
suppressor T-cell comes along
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and tells the killer
T-cell... "Gotta cool it now,
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we're winning the battle;
everything is going okay"
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Then following this,
we have the memory T-cell
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that remembers the
specific virus or germ
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that caused this infection,
so that the next time it comes,
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the forces can be more readily
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rallied to fight
that specific infection.
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It's a MARVELOUS system!
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How long do those
memory cells stay there?
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Let's say I'm 70
years old, do I still have
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memory cells from when I'm 5?
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That's right, you certainly do.
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That's something that
says with a person for life.
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A marvelous mechanism...
So they're like gray-haired
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white blood cells that are
floating around. I guess so
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Apparently, it's passed on
from generation to generation.
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I'm not sure
exactly how it works,
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but the memory does remain.
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Now the interesting thing
is that what you're suggesting
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and what science is suggesting
now, is that we can enhance our
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own physical immune
system which is on the outside
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and that which is
within our bloodstream by
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behaviors of faith and prayer.
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Talk to us a
little bit about that.
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That's an
interesting thing all right.
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A number of scientific
studies have been done
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demonstrating the fact
that people who are prayed for
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who are ill or who have had
surgery.. recover more quickly
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than the ones who
are not prayed for.
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This has been kind of
an interesting thing that
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people have
found this to be true.
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And I don't understand
how it works, really...
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I don't understand
the mechanics of prayer.
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How is it that I can
offer a prayer, say some words,
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and they reach God,
and He sends a message back
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here and helps someone else.
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But neither can I
understand how a TV reporter
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with his cameraman
can be over in Afghanistan
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or Turkey and
there's an earthquake
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and he can take pictures
there and I can see them
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a minute later or less in my
own TV, in my own living room.
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That happens... I see it
happen, I know it happens,
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and I'm sure that that
prayer, that message to heaven
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reaches its
subjective and comes back
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with the power just like
that TV picture comes back.
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That's a good analogy.
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You talked with me a little
bit before the program here,
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and you were mentioning
the study where they had
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so many patients that
really didn't even know who
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the people that
were praying for them
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and they got
better... Is that right?
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That's right... This
was in a coronary care unit,
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and part of
them were prayed for,
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part of them weren't,
the doctors didn't know,
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and the patients didn't
know who was being prayed for...
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But the ones who had
prayer offered for them,
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on the average, recovered
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more quickly than the
ones that were not prayed for.
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Let me ask you this question...
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Let's say someone today
is watching and I know there
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are many people that
are watching and saying...
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"Oh, you know, I
REALLY believe that"
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"I believe with all my
heart; I've been praying about
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this situation
or that situation;
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I know other
people are praying for me,
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but they're not healed. "
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What do you have
to say about that?
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Well I think we can go to the
Bible for an answer to that...
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To the Apostle Paul, himself...
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You know, the
Apostle Paul records there in
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2 Corinthians 12:7-10
how he had a problem...
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We don't know for
sure what it was...
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A lot of theologians feel
it probably was poor eyesight;
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maybe as a result of
the blinding light that
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hit him on the way to Damascus.
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But he asked the Lord
to remove that from him.
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And how many
times did he ask Him?
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Not just once, or
twice... He asked Him 3 times.
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And the Lord said, "My
grace is sufficient for you. "
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That's the burden
that you have to carry;
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maybe it was to
help keep Paul humble.
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But the fact that our
prayer is not answered in the
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way that WE want
it to be answered
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doesn't mean that
it's not being answered.
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God has the answer; He
has the ultimate knowledge.
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And I think we need to,
when we pray, have faith
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that God is going to
work out what is best for us
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even though it may
not be what WE think
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we would like to have happen.
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So, in other words,
just because we're praying,
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or someone else is praying,
we're not really the judge
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as to whether or not
prayer has been answered
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in some senses...
That's exactly right
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You mentioned Scripture,
you mentioned the story about
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Paul in the Bible; is
Scripture a good guide
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to help us figure out
what maybe God may will
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or is or has been up
to in other people's lives
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than what might be
happening in our own?
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Well I think we have
to take into consideration
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the fact that, as
the Apostle Paul wrote,
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"All things work together
for good to those who love God"
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And if we love Him, even
though we may not get the answer
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that WE desire for our prayer,
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we must recognize and have faith
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that God is working
things out in His own way,
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and in a way that will
be best for us as well.
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Can prayer, can
practices concerning faith
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help with depression?
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Yes, they really can...
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And as we go on for the
next few minutes in our program,
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I'd like to just refer
specifically to some of the
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medical literature regarding
some of the aspects of medicine,
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and we do find that depression
really can be helped by prayer.
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There was an article in the
"American Journal of Psychiatry"
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which they researched a
group of 87 depressed patients
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who were hospitalized...
actually hospitalized with a
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physical illness, but
they were prayed for...
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and not only did their physical
illness recover more rapidly,
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but they also overcame their
depression at the same time.
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Now, was this an
answer to prayer?
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We don't know
for sure, we have no
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scientific proof for that,
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but I have confidence in
the Lord and His willingness
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to help us out,
and if they got better,
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I think that had
something to do with it.
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There was also another article
along the psychiatric aspect
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that some research
that was done in 1997...
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Well, it was reported in
1997, and they found there that
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people who attended
church at least once a week,
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were half as likely to
have a substance called
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"interleukin-6" which is an
adversary of the immune system
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than the people who did
NOT go to church regularly.
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So apparently there's something
about just going to church
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...the confidence and
relationship a person has to God
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and the fellowship that is
there at the church as well
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that help to make a
person so that his immune system
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functions more
readily, and more effectively.
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So just going to
church, just attending church,
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studies are now
showing that hey, THAT protects
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or in some way
boosts your immune system.
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That's exactly
right, and along with that
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there's another article
from "Southern Medical Journal"
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that was reported also in 1998,
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which found that older persons
who attended church services
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on a regular basis were
less likely to be admitted
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to the hospital, and
when they were admitted,
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they had spent
fewer days in the hospital
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than the people who did
not attend church regularly.
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So there are real
physical benefits...
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I mean, physical
healing can come...
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Depression would be
more of a psychological
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or a psychiatric-type situation.
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There are some real
blessings that come from
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attending church, faith and
prayer in the corporate setting.
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Anything else that
you've discovered as you have
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been looking at this research.
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Well there was also another
article, and also a new one
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reported just last year in 1998
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in the issue of journal called
"Health Education and Behavior"
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and they concluded
there, and I'm going to refer
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specifically to that article...
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They conclude that religion
and faith promote health
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and fight disease through
increasing social support,
00:10:38.28\00:10:42.07
improving coping
skills, and giving people
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positive views of themselves.
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And these researchers
then pointed out also...
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that religion seems to, and
this is an interesting thing
00:10:49.18\00:10:52.28
...seems to discourage behavior
that increases health risks
00:10:52.31\00:10:57.42
such as use of
tobacco, drugs, and so forth.
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So it has a behavioral
component. That's right.
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And this isn't the
only researcher that
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has reported that either.
00:11:05.15\00:11:06.22
This spirituality
has to do with our
00:11:06.25\00:11:09.15
social behavior very definitely.
00:11:09.18\00:11:11.41
Our relationship to God is
not just a personal matter,
00:11:11.44\00:11:15.82
it influences our interpersonal
relationship as well.
00:11:15.85\00:11:19.26
What is the difference
between someone saying...
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"I'm a spiritual
person" and someone saying...
00:11:21.86\00:11:24.15
"I'm a religious person"
00:11:24.18\00:11:25.35
Okay, well I think a
person who is spiritual
00:11:25.38\00:11:27.77
actually has a direct
relationship with God.
00:11:27.80\00:11:31.00
A person who is
religious, he can think about
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religious things;
he can pray to idols,
00:11:33.41\00:11:35.08
or icons and he
can be religious,
00:11:35.11\00:11:38.11
but not really spiritual.
00:11:38.15\00:11:39.74
I think "spiritual"... this
is my interpretation at least,
00:11:39.78\00:11:42.70
has to do with our
relationship with God, Himself,
00:11:42.73\00:11:45.95
the Living God,
the true God in heaven,
00:11:45.98\00:11:47.86
the Creator of heaven and earth.
00:11:47.89\00:11:49.42
So I think that
spirituality has to do with a
00:11:49.45\00:11:52.76
definite relationship
and acceptance of Him
00:11:52.79\00:11:56.18
as a part of our life.
00:11:56.21\00:11:59.47
So spirituality then is
our personal relationship...
00:11:59.50\00:12:03.34
Then religion, is that
more of a social aspect?
00:12:03.37\00:12:05.78
I think for many people it is.
00:12:05.81\00:12:07.70
In fact for most people,
in fact for a lot of people,
00:12:07.73\00:12:10.19
I think church is just sort
of a social club, you might say.
00:12:10.22\00:12:13.91
Are there good things
about that? There are, yes!
00:12:13.94\00:12:17.00
I mean, the
interpersonal relationship,
00:12:17.03\00:12:20.45
visiting with your
friends and so forth
00:12:20.48\00:12:22.73
has positive
effects on an individual,
00:12:22.76\00:12:24.88
but it's not the same as that
00:12:24.91\00:12:26.87
personal relationship
with the Divine Being.
00:12:26.88\00:12:29.14
So it's best to be
spiritual and religious.
00:12:29.17\00:12:32.13
I guess that would be a good
way to say it; yes, I think so!
00:12:32.16\00:12:35.40
So you have the
best of your relationship
00:12:35.43\00:12:37.28
with God, and then
you have the best of
00:12:37.31\00:12:39.02
that religious setting
where you can get encouragement;
00:12:39.05\00:12:42.33
you can get social support,
00:12:42.36\00:12:43.78
you can have those
things working together.
00:12:43.81\00:12:46.16
Yeah, that's precisely correct.
00:12:46.19\00:12:48.93
Okay, well, as we look
further at this subject,
00:12:48.96\00:12:54.88
you were mentioning to
me some fascinating research
00:12:54.91\00:12:58.09
that came out
of Duke University.
00:12:58.12\00:12:59.97
Maybe you could introduce that
for us before we go to our break
00:13:00.00\00:13:03.40
Okay, there was a doctor,
Dr. Koenig, at Duke University;
00:13:03.43\00:13:07.10
he was the
director of their study
00:13:07.13\00:13:11.26
of religion,
spirituality and health...
00:13:11.29\00:13:13.40
And the fact that he is in
charge of a program like this
00:13:13.43\00:13:18.75
and the fact that
he wrote about it,
00:13:18.76\00:13:20.61
is an indication that
there is a high interest,
00:13:20.64\00:13:23.48
even among the
medical profession,
00:13:23.51\00:13:25.04
in this particular subject...
00:13:25.07\00:13:27.02
And he refers to
that in his writing
00:13:27.03\00:13:29.27
about the work that he has done.
00:13:29.28\00:13:30.74
So the
fascinating thing is that...
00:13:30.77\00:13:32.31
Hey, they're even writing
books about this, and what not.
00:13:32.34\00:13:35.25
And when we come back,
I hope that you join us.
00:13:35.28\00:13:39.32
We're going to look a
little more closely at other
00:13:39.35\00:13:41.72
research that goes beyond
the physical and the behavioral,
00:13:41.75\00:13:45.99
and some of the psychological
things that we've talked about,
00:13:46.00\00:13:49.12
and looks at stress and
how it affects our immunity.
00:13:49.15\00:13:52.50
We hope that you can join us.
00:13:52.53\00:13:53.50
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00:14:05.60\00:14:08.66
Have you been on a
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00:14:08.70\00:14:11.25
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00:14:11.28\00:14:14.01
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00:14:14.04\00:14:17.09
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00:14:19.74\00:14:22.18
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00:14:22.21\00:14:24.97
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00:14:32.67\00:14:36.44
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00:14:40.17\00:14:43.78
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00:14:46.71\00:14:49.27
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00:15:00.42\00:15:05.49
Welcome back! We
have been talking with
00:15:16.97\00:15:18.97
Dr. Glen Wiltse
from North Dakota
00:15:19.00\00:15:21.05
We've been talking about
immunity, faith and prayer,
00:15:21.08\00:15:25.00
and we've discovered that
faith and prayer can really
00:15:25.01\00:15:28.70
enhance our immune
systems not only physically,
00:15:28.73\00:15:31.67
socially, behaviorally, but
there are other ways as well
00:15:31.70\00:15:36.43
And, Dr. Wiltse, why don't we
just pick up where we left off.
00:15:36.46\00:15:39.89
We were talking about the social
aspects, what about stress?
00:15:39.90\00:15:44.43
Stress is something
that's extremely important.
00:15:44.46\00:15:47.02
We did talk about the
immune system earlier,
00:15:47.05\00:15:49.31
and one of the aspects
of the immune system is
00:15:49.34\00:15:51.52
antibodies, so we
didn't talk about that before.
00:15:51.55\00:15:54.02
But it's been discovered
by those who study stress...
00:15:54.05\00:15:56.83
that these antibodies which are
substances that are developed
00:15:56.86\00:15:59.74
by our immune system
that help to fight off
00:15:59.77\00:16:03.01
another infection similar
to this that might come on
00:16:03.04\00:16:06.13
next time, or
later on in life...
00:16:06.16\00:16:07.99
And that if a
person is under stress,
00:16:08.02\00:16:10.68
there was a Dutch study
that was done several years ago
00:16:10.71\00:16:14.41
in which they
observed a group of 80 people
00:16:14.44\00:16:16.43
over a 6-month
period, and they found out
00:16:16.46\00:16:19.41
that those with high
stress levels had fewer than
00:16:19.42\00:16:23.64
half of the antibodies
in their systems as the ones
00:16:23.67\00:16:27.31
that were under less stress.
00:16:27.34\00:16:28.68
So apparently there's something
about stress that affects
00:16:28.71\00:16:31.79
the immune system.
00:16:31.82\00:16:33.69
You hear a lot of
people that say...
00:16:33.72\00:16:34.95
"I'm stressed out"
"It's just getting to me"
00:16:34.98\00:16:37.17
What IS stress?
What does that mean?
00:16:37.20\00:16:39.63
Well, I think we have to
go back to Dr. Hans Selye
00:16:39.66\00:16:42.75
who was a Canadian
physician researching about
00:16:42.78\00:16:45.10
30 or 40 years ago...
00:16:45.13\00:16:47.24
He devoted his life actually
to investigating stress,
00:16:47.27\00:16:50.74
and he came to the
conclusion that what most
00:16:50.77\00:16:53.45
people call stress, really
should be called the stressor.
00:16:53.48\00:16:57.66
The stress is not what
is adversely affecting us,
00:16:57.69\00:17:04.45
it's the way we
ALLOW it to affect us.
00:17:04.48\00:17:09.40
So that stress isn't
actually what happens to us,
00:17:09.43\00:17:12.03
it's the way we
respond to what happens to us.
00:17:12.06\00:17:15.34
And there's something over
which we can have some control.
00:17:15.37\00:17:18.33
He called it DISTRESS...
00:17:18.36\00:17:21.94
and, of course, well all
know what DISTRESS means.
00:17:21.97\00:17:23.85
We're uncomfortable
when we're in distress.
00:17:23.86\00:17:26.09
So in other words... let me
just see if I got this right
00:17:26.12\00:17:30.70
It's not so much
what happens to us,
00:17:30.73\00:17:32.80
but how we RELATE
to it that's important.
00:17:32.81\00:17:35.23
That's exactly right,
and I think that we can
00:17:35.26\00:17:38.51
look to the Bible
again for an answer here.
00:17:38.54\00:17:40.46
Christ gave us the
antidote for stress,
00:17:40.49\00:17:42.30
we quoted that text
on a previous program.
00:17:42.33\00:17:44.50
He says... "Come
unto me all ye that labor
00:17:44.53\00:17:47.08
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest. "
00:17:47.11\00:17:49.72
So if we have the
peace and the equanimity that
00:17:49.75\00:17:52.75
comes with knowing
Christ, then we're not going
00:17:52.78\00:17:55.11
to react adversely to
the adverse circumstances
00:17:55.14\00:17:58.80
in which we're
surrounded or the things that
00:17:58.83\00:18:00.50
happen to us.
00:18:00.53\00:18:02.22
That kind of
reminds me of Job...
00:18:02.25\00:18:04.22
That's one of my favorite
Bible things, you know...
00:18:04.25\00:18:06.38
He said when
everything happened bad to him,
00:18:06.41\00:18:09.54
I think it's chapter 1, and
actually throughout the book,
00:18:09.57\00:18:12.35
but he says, hey...
"The Lord gave it to me,
00:18:12.38\00:18:13.90
the Lord took it away...
Blessed be the name of the Lord"
00:18:13.93\00:18:17.51
Is that what you're talking
about? That's exactly right.
00:18:17.54\00:18:19.88
So that an attitude of
contentment, and a resignation
00:18:19.91\00:18:24.18
to live with
whatever circumstance we're in
00:18:24.21\00:18:28.42
...whatever the outcome may be,
00:18:28.45\00:18:31.08
even though we don't get healed,
we're praying for healing...
00:18:31.09\00:18:35.55
Even though we have
a death in the family,
00:18:35.58\00:18:38.47
or we have
somebody that cheated us,
00:18:38.50\00:18:39.96
or somebody has stolen our car,
00:18:39.97\00:18:41.66
we could allow these things
to stress us out, as we say,
00:18:41.69\00:18:45.09
but the way we react to
this adverse circumstance,
00:18:45.12\00:18:48.43
determines how we feel...
00:18:48.46\00:18:50.70
And actually, it affects
the status of our immune system.
00:18:50.73\00:18:54.84
In other words, if
we react adversely,
00:18:54.87\00:18:56.94
we're going to be less
able to fight off a disease,
00:18:56.97\00:19:01.12
a virus or a germ
that comes along to us,
00:19:01.15\00:19:03.25
or maybe have a heart attack,
or have to have surgery...
00:19:03.28\00:19:06.24
All of these things are assisted
by a good healthy immune system
00:19:06.27\00:19:09.90
...But if we allow
stresses to adversely affect us,
00:19:09.93\00:19:13.73
and if we don't
react properly to them,
00:19:13.76\00:19:15.85
then they're going to
have an adverse affect on us,
00:19:15.88\00:19:18.63
and we will
really be under stress.
00:19:18.66\00:19:20.91
Now, you mentioned some
of these Bible characters,
00:19:20.94\00:19:24.02
Christ, Job... a couple of
texts comes to mind for me.
00:19:24.05\00:19:29.06
"Great peace have
they which love Thy law,
00:19:29.09\00:19:31.49
nothing shall offend them. "
00:19:31.52\00:19:34.12
And you see Christ went out
and He prayed for nights on end;
00:19:34.15\00:19:37.13
He got up early in the morning.
00:19:37.16\00:19:38.39
Has there been any scientific
documentation of this?
00:19:38.40\00:19:42.27
Not that we need it,
but you kind of got your
00:19:42.30\00:19:44.92
fingertips on that... does
science say anything about that?
00:19:44.95\00:19:47.65
Well, there's a
doctor, Dr. Benson,
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.76
from Harvard
University, who has done
00:19:49.79\00:19:51.34
a lot of research along this...
00:19:51.37\00:19:52.96
In fact, he has written 5 books
just on this specific subject.
00:19:53.00\00:19:57.52
So, I don't know how
he could find enough words
00:19:57.53\00:19:59.36
to write 5 books about
this, but he's done it.
00:19:59.39\00:20:01.93
And he has found in his
research, over a period of
00:20:01.96\00:20:04.84
25 years, has shown that
people who meditate and use
00:20:04.85\00:20:08.27
simple prayers have strikingly
favorable physiologic changes
00:20:08.30\00:20:12.76
in their bodies, and
these things include things like
00:20:12.79\00:20:16.40
lower oxygen
consumption, lower heart rate,
00:20:16.43\00:20:20.60
lower respiratory
rates, lower blood pressure.
00:20:20.63\00:20:25.84
The results also
include the abatement of a
00:20:25.87\00:20:29.42
variety of different diseases
that these people had as well.
00:20:29.45\00:20:33.68
So that here we have meditation
and prayer as being important
00:20:33.71\00:20:37.45
aspects of our life.
00:20:37.48\00:20:38.83
I'm a little bit concerned about
this term "meditation" though...
00:20:38.86\00:20:41.62
You know, it has some perhaps
unfavorable connotations.
00:20:41.63\00:20:45.95
Maybe as a minister,
and as a nurse as well,
00:20:45.98\00:20:48.20
you can give us a
little enlightenment on this.
00:20:48.21\00:20:50.67
Well, that's an
interesting consideration.
00:20:50.70\00:20:55.08
I would just say...
"You know, this research
00:20:55.11\00:21:00.48
indicates that meditation,
simple prayer of any kind
00:21:00.51\00:21:03.81
can bring changes. "
00:21:03.84\00:21:05.13
I think the Bible is fairly
clear, and you correct me;
00:21:05.16\00:21:07.59
you're also a
Christian physician,
00:21:07.60\00:21:09.23
and referred to the
Bible for many years...
00:21:09.26\00:21:11.00
that there are
definitely two sources of power
00:21:11.03\00:21:15.02
in this great controversy.
00:21:15.05\00:21:16.57
If we meditate on one,
if we're closely connected
00:21:16.60\00:21:19.35
with the powers of
evil, they can actually bring
00:21:19.36\00:21:22.61
the Bible says,
"signs and symptoms or change
00:21:22.64\00:21:26.26
signs and symptoms,"
bring apparent healing.
00:21:26.29\00:21:29.37
There also are the forces
of good which we've focused on,
00:21:29.40\00:21:32.93
and I think that, you
correct me if I'm wrong,
00:21:32.96\00:21:36.30
but I would think, doctor,
the best thing to do would be
00:21:36.33\00:21:38.50
within the rubric or
within the confines of Scripture
00:21:38.53\00:21:42.35
to operate within that...
00:21:42.38\00:21:44.76
"To the law, to the testimony,"
it says in Isaiah 8:20,
00:21:44.79\00:21:48.94
"If they speak not
according to these,
00:21:48.97\00:21:50.62
there is no light in them. "
00:21:50.65\00:21:51.84
Even though I might feel
better, I might look better,
00:21:51.87\00:21:54.09
and I might physically
be, in some sense, better!
00:21:54.12\00:21:56.48
Would that be
accurate? I think so...
00:21:56.49\00:21:58.25
To my mind, I think
meditation has a connotation of
00:21:58.28\00:22:01.80
association with
God, and with Christ...
00:22:01.83\00:22:04.05
We get this by reading
His Word and by praying.
00:22:04.08\00:22:07.53
If we read His Word,
meditate upon the message
00:22:07.56\00:22:09.71
that it gives to us
there, this is the appropriate
00:22:09.74\00:22:11.59
type of meditation,
rather than the individual
00:22:11.62\00:22:16.25
who sits out here
with his eyes closed,
00:22:16.28\00:22:18.84
and humming some
meaningless symbols.
00:22:18.87\00:22:22.44
That, I think, is the meditation
00:22:22.45\00:22:23.90
that leads people
down the wrong path.
00:22:23.93\00:22:25.89
You mentioned to me, before we
began discussing this subject,
00:22:25.92\00:22:30.44
that there really seems to be,
in the scientific literature,
00:22:30.47\00:22:34.61
real positive benefits from
being religious or spiritual
00:22:34.64\00:22:41.43
in terms of
recovery times and whatnot.
00:22:41.46\00:22:43.28
Tell us a little bit
about that. Yes, that's right...
00:22:43.31\00:22:44.49
Yes, there was a
report from New Hampshire,
00:22:44.52\00:22:46.88
from Dartmouth Medical School,
00:22:46.91\00:22:48.60
some research work
that they had done there...
00:22:48.63\00:22:50.60
And they found that people who
00:22:50.63\00:22:52.13
classified themselves,
and this is a personal
00:22:52.16\00:22:55.70
classification,
as very religious,
00:22:55.74\00:22:57.30
were 3 times more likely
to recover from an illness
00:22:57.33\00:23:00.16
than the people who
did not consider themselves
00:23:00.19\00:23:02.16
to be religious.
00:23:02.17\00:23:03.16
So apparently, a person's
appraisal of his own religiosity
00:23:03.17\00:23:06.99
and I think we would better
say probably "spirituality"
00:23:07.00\00:23:10.20
is even more important,
are much more likely to
00:23:10.23\00:23:12.30
overcome illnesses than
the people who do not consider
00:23:12.33\00:23:14.95
themselves to be spiritual
or to have religious concepts
00:23:14.98\00:23:18.99
and component of their lives.
00:23:19.02\00:23:20.88
Can these
elements prevent disease?
00:23:20.89\00:23:22.50
Yes, they won't completely
prevent, but they can be a
00:23:22.53\00:23:26.60
positive influence in helping to
00:23:26.63\00:23:28.33
keep a person
from getting diseases.
00:23:28.36\00:23:29.97
In other words, people are
LESS likely to get diseases
00:23:30.00\00:23:33.27
if they are, what
we call, religious,
00:23:33.30\00:23:36.44
or what a lot of people call
religious and we'd like to call
00:23:36.47\00:23:38.49
spiritual... They're much
less likely to become ill.
00:23:38.52\00:23:43.53
And of course, there are other
things that enter in to it too.
00:23:43.56\00:23:46.69
I'd like to read a
statement from Dr. Koenig
00:23:46.72\00:23:49.50
from Duke University...
00:23:49.53\00:23:50.82
Some study that he did there
regarding church activities
00:23:50.85\00:23:54.18
and the fact that it
isn't just our relation to God,
00:23:54.21\00:23:56.62
but it's also our
relationship to other people...
00:23:56.63\00:23:59.19
the interpersonal relationships.
00:23:59.22\00:24:01.25
He concluded the
following statement...
00:24:01.28\00:24:03.69
"The church activities
may prevent illness by a
00:24:03.72\00:24:06.42
direct effect using
prayer or Scripture reading as
00:24:06.45\00:24:09.47
coping behaviors, plus
church-goers are usually
00:24:09.50\00:24:12.86
people who enjoy a good diet,
00:24:12.89\00:24:14.91
don't get involved in
substance abuse, smoking,
00:24:14.94\00:24:17.58
unsafe sexual practices, or
other self-destructive behaviors
00:24:17.61\00:24:21.14
Moreover, those who go to church
or a temple usually have a
00:24:21.18\00:24:24.68
strong network of
friends who are quick to help. "
00:24:24.83\00:24:28.04
So here, I think we see
the conclusion of a researcher
00:24:28.05\00:24:30.79
who spent a lot of
time studying this...
00:24:30.82\00:24:32.50
That the person who
has a relationship with God
00:24:32.53\00:24:36.33
is also going to have a
better lifestyle as far as the
00:24:36.36\00:24:41.02
daily habits of
life are concerned.
00:24:41.05\00:24:43.54
And they have people
watching out for them.
00:24:43.57\00:24:45.14
That's right, and the
association with others
00:24:45.17\00:24:47.74
is a very positive
influence, a positive effect.
00:24:47.77\00:24:50.88
Now, you know, we're
sitting here on a television set
00:24:50.91\00:24:53.50
and we're taping a
program that will be viewed by
00:24:53.53\00:25:00.86
many people, and is it
best to get your religion
00:25:00.89\00:25:05.40
from the television?
00:25:05.43\00:25:07.39
Can you get ALL the benefits
by maybe just staying at home
00:25:07.42\00:25:11.36
and watching the religious
programming whenever it comes on
00:25:11.37\00:25:13.94
Is that the best way to do this?
00:25:13.97\00:25:15.12
Well I think a person
can be benefited by that,
00:25:15.15\00:25:17.29
but RESEARCH, and this is
just not my personal opinion...
00:25:17.32\00:25:20.41
Research has
demonstrated that people who
00:25:20.44\00:25:23.02
worship at home, by
watching religious TV programs,
00:25:23.05\00:25:26.47
are not as healthy as the
people who actually attend
00:25:26.50\00:25:29.46
church services
with other people.
00:25:29.49\00:25:31.60
So there's something about the
00:25:31.63\00:25:32.92
social
environment of fellowship...
00:25:32.95\00:25:35.99
And you know, the Apostle Paul
00:25:36.02\00:25:37.36
must have recognized this
00:25:37.39\00:25:38.61
because in one of his writings,
he says, in his counsel,
00:25:38.62\00:25:42.63
that we should... "Forsake
not the assembling of ourselves
00:25:42.66\00:25:45.75
together, as the
manner of some is. "
00:25:45.78\00:25:48.09
So, even back in Paul's
day, either he observed it,
00:25:48.12\00:25:51.54
or else God
inspired him to write this.
00:25:51.57\00:25:53.69
So there's no
substitute for getting out
00:25:53.72\00:25:57.13
and being with the people,
being with the body of Christ,
00:25:57.16\00:26:01.39
and interacting. That's right
00:26:01.40\00:26:05.04
We've got about 2
minutes left, doctor.
00:26:05.07\00:26:07.14
Are there any parting
studies or most important things
00:26:07.17\00:26:11.40
on this subject of
faith, prayer and immunity
00:26:11.43\00:26:13.54
you want to share with us?
00:26:13.57\00:26:14.76
Well I think there's one
other study that was done
00:26:14.79\00:26:16.68
at Georgetown
University in Washington, DC
00:26:16.71\00:26:19.80
and they reviewed
212 different studies.
00:26:19.83\00:26:23.92
And this was not 212
people, he went through the
00:26:23.95\00:26:26.27
medical literature and
reviewed 212 reports from
00:26:26.30\00:26:29.78
different researchers on the
00:26:29.81\00:26:31.73
influence of
religious belief on health...
00:26:31.76\00:26:34.41
And he found that 75% of
these articles showed that
00:26:34.44\00:26:37.41
there was a positive
effect and relationship
00:26:37.44\00:26:42.39
between religion
and spiritual belief,
00:26:42.42\00:26:45.25
and the health
of the individual.
00:26:45.28\00:26:46.88
So this is pretty
strong proof, I think...
00:26:46.91\00:26:48.91
When three-fourths of all
of the articles were written
00:26:48.94\00:26:50.81
by these
specialists, and showed a
00:26:50.84\00:26:53.01
favorable relationship
between our spiritual lives,
00:26:53.04\00:26:55.74
and our health.
00:26:55.77\00:26:56.86
So the Bible has said
it; science says it...
00:26:56.89\00:26:59.65
But I want to leave
one question here for you
00:26:59.68\00:27:02.28
and then we can
get your response
00:27:02.31\00:27:03.72
then we'll closeout, I think
this VERY important program.
00:27:03.75\00:27:06.21
Should prayer and faith;
00:27:06.24\00:27:08.11
should religious practices...
00:27:08.14\00:27:09.84
should all of these things be
00:27:09.87\00:27:11.49
used in place of
just good common sense?
00:27:11.52\00:27:14.02
No, they shouldn't. I
think that's important.
00:27:14.05\00:27:17.14
It IS good and it's
an excellent practice
00:27:17.17\00:27:19.50
for us to follow
healthful living practices,
00:27:19.53\00:27:21.98
but we shouldn't allow prayer
00:27:22.01\00:27:24.55
to take the place
of living properly.
00:27:24.58\00:27:27.18
We should live a
healthful diet, have exercise,
00:27:27.21\00:27:30.26
and along WITH this,
exercise, prayer and faith.
00:27:30.29\00:27:33.31
We've been talking
with Dr. Glen Wiltse.
00:27:33.34\00:27:35.63
We've talked about
prayer, faith and immunity.
00:27:35.66\00:27:38.74
We hope that what
we've shared today
00:27:38.77\00:27:40.26
has given you
confidence that there IS a God,
00:27:40.29\00:27:43.27
that He DOES love you;
00:27:43.30\00:27:45.12
that you CAN go
to Him in prayer.
00:27:45.15\00:27:47.16
It DOES increase
your immune response.
00:27:47.19\00:27:50.12
It CAN give you health;
it can PROTECT your health...
00:27:50.15\00:27:53.44
And we hope that as a
result of today's program,
00:27:53.47\00:27:55.62
you will have health
that lasts for a lifetime!
00:27:55.65\00:27:57.80