Religion and Science: A Borderline or an Integrated Affair

(Th3.S10:3)

Dinu Stefan Teodorescu, University of Oslo, NORWAY

Abstract

Religious practice has a direct influence on health and especially mental health.

Religious practice in any form has been found to positively influence the retardation of the aging processes,

so that people practicing meditation for more than 20–30 years look younger with 10–12 years than people than do not.

Religious practice have been a guarantee against drinking habits in doctors in Norway and this is a significant predictor

of the practice of religion against hazardous drinking and addiction. Examples from different areas of human research

that give more and more credibility to the positive effect of the spiritual dimension on the material plane will be presented

as well as of Ken Wilber’s integral model, which is a lucky marriage between science and religion. The presentation shall

contains some new research on the effects of religious practice from prayer to meditation on the human health, both somatic and mental.

The conclusion is that there is no more use for a borderline relationship between religion and science and there can be

an integrated and harmonious relationship base on respect and understanding of each other.