Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

Open to Debate

Education, Society & Culture, News, Government, Politics

4.5 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

America is suffering from a loneliness epidemic. Some groups have suggested religious communities may be key to solving it. Could it help? Those arguing “yes” say it gives people regular social contact, support systems, and a sense of purpose that could combat isolation. Those arguing “no” say that secular options would provide better, broad-based solutions. Now we debate: Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic? Arguing Yes: Harold Koenig, Director of Duke University’s Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health Chris Murphy, Senator of Connecticut Arguing No: Ruth Whippman, Author of "America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness Is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks" and "BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity." Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Look what we're doing today right now.
0:02.7	We're arguing.
0:03.7	Yeah, exactly.
0:04.7	And arguing is good, actually.
0:06.7	I think a healthy country is a country that argues a lot.
0:10.4	We do too.
0:11.2	We do too.
0:12.2	I've been involved in debates on this particular topic many, many times.
0:15.1	And this one was the most good nature debate.
0:18.2	I think I've ever witnessed.
0:20.3	This is open to debate. Hi, I think I've ever witnessed.
0:26.1	This is open to debate. Hi, everybody. I'm John Donvan. The idea that we are living through an epidemic of loneliness has been emerging for some time, but it was really gaining
0:31.2	acceptance after the Surgeon General of the United States issued a report saying that this
0:36.4	was a public health crisis. Loneliness is a public
0:39.1	health crisis. He was arguing that a growing trend of people feeling isolated and disconnected and
0:44.9	unseen was having real consequences on their health, increasing conditions like cardiovascular
0:50.9	disease and dementia and stroke and depression and anxiety and even premature death.
0:56.2	Of course, discussions began very quickly about how to remedy this,
0:59.8	and a number of churches and others in pastoral roles gone on board with the idea that
1:03.9	participation in religion could counteract loneliness by creating community and a sense of belonging and a sense of meaning.
1:13.4	Now, to a lot of people for whom religion and its practice really does work that way, all of
1:18.4	this seemed obvious, but to others, the idea seems highly debatable. So that's what we're going to do
	...

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