ABSTRACT
Before discussing the relationship between religion and health, let us examine demographic, health, family, and economic changes that have been rapidly occurring in the United States and throughout the world during the past century. This will provide a background for religion's influence on health and society. Many of these changes have been driven by advances in science and technology. Progress in telecommunications allows us to speak with relatives and friends in distant countries at any time of the day or night, watch every detail of a war on the other side of the globe, make purchases or business transactions on the Internet, all from the comfort and safety of home.
