don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

"When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me." ~Emo Philips

"I've never understood how God could expect His creatures to pick the one true religion by faith - it strikes me as a sloppy way to run a universe." ~Robert A. Heinlein (Jubal Harshaw in Stranger in a Strange Land)

The answer to the essay title question must be, "It depends." It depends on what kind of a society you value, what kind of world you want to live in. For much of human history, slavery and cannibalism were normal, acceptable, even desirable. Only in the past century have the two fallen out of favor, save in a few benighted hellholes like The Sudan or parts of Alabama. Religions, on the other hand, continue to exert a strong hold on most nations, including Republican America.
 
Resolving the question as to whether slavery, cannibalism and/or religion are compatible with a wellness lifestyle also depends on the meaning given to the three terms. I'm an expert on wellness. I can tell you what I mean by wellness. Alas, my notions about the concept, especially the emphasis on evidence-based science and reason and a broad focus encompassing three dimensions and at least 16 skill areas, are not shared by all. For some, wellness is no more than a motley mix of spa treatments; for others, it's a buzzword to promote products. In any event, I believe I can be objective about wellness, since my enthusiasm for it is conditioned upon convincing effectiveness data that supports it. 

I don't know of any Western supporters of either slavery or cannibalism living at the present time, but there is no shortage of enthusiasts for religion. I make no claims of expertise regarding religion, which seems an asset for addressing the question at hand. The advantage is that most religious experts cannot be objective about religion; they are trained to resist information at odds with their faith. They are defenders of religion, not objective evaluators. In fact, some are viewed as representatives of religion deities! You want objectivity from priests, rabbis, imams, shamans, witch doctors and such? Forget it. 
 
The basic nature of wellness is that of a mindset or perhaps philosophy that embraces personal responsibility for all aspects of life. It usually entails a conscious choice to seek exceptional physical and mental health. Wellness seekers believe strong evidence associates certain mental outlooks (optimism, positive relationships) and behavioral traits (vigorous daily exercise and sound nutrition) with a good and satisfying existence.
 
Religion, at least as this non-expert sees it, entails a belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. The Oxford dictionary defines religion as "a belief in a superhuman controlling power, especially in a personal God or gods entitled to obedience and worship." However, the word religion has many definitions, all of which "embrace sacred lore and wisdom and knowledge of God or gods, souls and spirits."
 
So, with these brief caveats and definitions noted, let me address the question posed in the title of this essay: "Are Slavery, Cannibalism And/Or Religion Compatible With A Wellness Lifestyle?"
 
I suggest an emphatic no regarding all three. I will make the case for excluding slavery and cannibalism later, if requested. Here is a summary of why I think wellness and religion are incompatible.
 
For starters, wellness (unlike religion) need not and must not be taken on faith. There is evidence, via controlled studies, that wellness lifestyle practices reduce a person's risk of illness and increase his/her prospects of being fit, calm, serene, positive and cheerful more often than not. There are many other attractive states associated with wellness. On the other hand, there is no evidence for the existence of the gods religions promote. The only evidence associated with religions seems to be the historical record of atrocities committed in the name of one or another of them. This alone would suggest that religion is incompatible with wellness. Can you imagine wellness enthusiasts burning sedentary folks at the stake? Bringing dissenters to trial for blasphemy? Space limits and concerns that I might frighten readers militate against providing a litany of the sins of religions over the millennia. 
 
Wellness is kept up to date as warranted by new studies and lessons from human experiences; religions are unchanging, for the most part, though they do they evolve in the interest of survival, just like species and other institutions. (A recent example is seen in the Catholic Church. Plans are underway to  eliminate the infamous netherworld called "Limbo," a special place for babies who died without being absolved of "original sin" by the rite of baptism - see Ian Fisher, "Vatican Considers Consigning Limbo to Oblivion," New York Times, December 27, 2005.) Today's three major religions seek to defend inviolable rules and guidelines laid down at a time when most folks were goat-herders and nomadic traders.
 
Religious authority does not respect dissent or independent inquiry, whereas wellness thrives on it. Religious dogma is set and interpreted by higher earthly powers, channeling a deity. Zealots with such mindsets often insist on imposing their values on everyone else. Wellness promoters know that such a lifestyle cannot be embraced and clearly not sustained unless chosen freely and pursued diligently in accord with unique, individual circumstances and potentials.
 
Religious dogmas are a hazard to science, democracy and wellness, as is evident from even a casual assessment of the theocratic tendencies of the Bush Administration. Please - don't get me going on this topic. I could resort to cannibalism -- or slavery.

These are a few reasons why I think religion, like slavery and cannibalism, is not compatible with a wellness lifestyle. What do YOU think? Feedback will be welcomed and may be shared with others as "visitor feedback." All the best. Be well and always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of emotional intelligence. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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