A teenage girl is most likely to abstain from sex when both parents and she consistently worship. Teens in religious households are also less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Consistent religious worship also significantly reduces rates of suicide and depression, and that holds true around the world. Its effectiveness in this area has been particularly noted when it comes to teens. On college campuses, those students involved with campus ministries made less use of college mental health services than their non-practicing peers.
Religious worship is also a tonic for crime and violence.
Several studies have shown that in crime ridden inner cities, even when controlling for demographic, family and other variables, churchgoing is significantly associated with reduced crime levels. Among their other findings Fagan and Loconte highlight a study of poor inner city minority students who are academically gifted. None of this means that more regular religious worship, in and of itself, would automatically solve all of America's social ills. But still the evidence is clear that when we consider the troubles facing our communities, troubles that public policy and money can never solve, all of us including our presidential contenders would be well-served to consider how the sincere practice of religion in America can be encouraged, instead of belittled. JWR contributor Betsy Hart, a frequent commentator on CNN and the Fox News Channel, can be reached by clicking here.