I'll probably kick myself . . .

[aztecan]

 . . . for asking this question.

But, that's never stopped me.

I have been running into various stats recently, and when I remember exactly where I'll post it, that indicate those who have a belief system or faith community seem to remain healthier longer than those who don't.

I was just wondering whether those of us who are old enough to know better, yet too young to care, find this is the case?

Like many of us, I was brought up in a mainstream Christian church (Catholic, no less), have explored various forms of sprituality and now attend a UU church.

Whether it contributes to my well being, I can't say. I do like feeling a part of a spiritual community, though.

OK, I'm ready for the barbs.

HUGS,

Mark

(who is ducking behind his computer screen for safety.)

[Jeff G]

I consider myself a spiritual person . I think my belief and faith have played a role in helping me cope with HIV . I have also noticed I'm more inclined to feel the need to be spiritual during the tough times ... go figure ;-)   

[pozniceguy]

No need to duck yet , I find having been reared in a Catholic church in a very Catholic neighborhood  that many of the basics help when your soul needs a little boost.... the dogma left me many years ago and dont practice any particular organized  religous conventions... but I believe those fundamentals set you up for a lifetime...   whether you will live longer depends on so many uncontrollable factors that I wouldn't speculate on that question......

Nick

[joejoe1972]

I've learned to believe in myself and that has gotten me threw a lot of tough times. So I'm what you would call an atheist and I'm still here. I do think that everyone is in titled to believe in what ever they want.

in kindness,
JoeJoe

[Dachshund]

I've seen those stats floating around from time to time. People who are married live longer than singles, people who eat a Mediteranian diet, people of faith, etc. I guess I'll just never know if it was my lack of faith, smoking half my life, or one too many weiners up my butt that killed me.  I wouldn't put too much faith in a U.S.A.Today poll, it just might kill you.

[Moffie65]

Mark, please don't kick yourself, it might mess up your ankles.

Personally I don't think that our bacground in religious circles has much to do with our survivorship.  I do however, think that the discipline we learn from those experiences do help us have a larger view of the world and how we fit into it.  When I think back, and I do often, I cannot for one minute figure out how our past might give us a leg up on survivorship, but I know the analogy has been made before.   But then you would have to include all illnesses that have a terminal possibility and see if the figures also correlate to those also. 

I know that my view of the world has given me more independance as an adult, and maybe that has something to do with our survival.  I just don't know.

My thoughts.

[BT65]

I knew a lot of people who had excellent attributes, and strong support systems, who are no longer here. So, I don't think they necessarily contribute to being long on the earth.   From my own experience, though, good support has meant sanity to me at times, and easier to deal with problems as they arise.

[Fondoo]

Hi Aztecan, I'm glad you found a spiritual community you enjoy. That sounds healthy and I'm sure will add to your life if not necessarily in length but in quality. So many times quality can add to length but hell even a saint can get hit by a bus
   I am glad to have found the Buddhist path a few years ago. I finally found a philosophy and a practice that suits me but I have yet to find a Buddhist community so I envy you that.
   Tracy

[darkerpozz]

I agree with the post in that get from behind that screen your safe( protected from above if you will) A strong belief andd finding comfort in anything can't hurt. Hey the way i look at it is that it is no worse than vitamins in that they make you feel a bit stronger but the facts concerning how good they are for your specific body...up in the air.

[Ann]

darkerpozz,

It is unclear whether or not you are a long term survivor as defined in this forum's Welcome Thread. What year were you diagnosed? In your first post to these forums you said you have been poz "for at least ten years", but in your second post you said you've been poz for twenty. The criteria for posting in this forum is as follows:

This forum is a safe place for long-term survivors (LTS), defined as people living with HIV who tested positive for the virus before the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996. This forum is a result of LTS members petitioning for a place to discuss issues unique to those who lived with a diagnosis of HIV through the initial decades of the AIDS epidemic.

If you do not meet this criteria - and reading through your posts, I do not believe you do - you should not be posting in this forum. There are plenty other forums you may post in, so thank you for your cooperation.

Ann

[Fondoo]

I consider myself a spiritual person . I think my belief and faith have played a role in helping me cope with HIV . I have also noticed I'm more inclined to feel the need to be spiritual during the tough times ... go figure ;-)   

   
   A funny observation made by the Buddha is that the tendency you describe follows into the heaven realms. So the heavenly beings are so blissed out all the time they never practice a spiritual life anymore and eventually use up all the good karma that got them there,then they end up eventually being reborn in the hell realms
   The lesson for me is life is problematic he he

[darkerpozz]

Sorry Ann,
I will take my infected self elsewhere...

[Ann]

Sorry Ann,
I will take my infected self elsewhere...

Darkerpozz, I hope you realise I mean that if you don't meet this particular (sub)forum's criteria for a LTS, then you can still post in the Living and other forums here at AIDSmeds.com.

Ann

[aztecan]

There is, of course, the darker side of organized religion.

I thought growing up Catholic was punishment until I saw this story:

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/01/19/honour-and-secrecy-for-families-of-gay-muslims/

EEP!

I'm sorry, I thought blaming an entire family for one person's actions/lifestyle went out in the Middle Ages.

I guess I was wrong.

SHEESH!

What would they do to a son/brother/friend who showed up HIV positive? I shudder to consider it.

HUGS,

Mark

[MarcoPoz]

Mark,

Good question.  I don't think we pozzies are any different than any other person who comes face to face with their own mortality.  I think this is especially significant for us LTSs who have had years of anticipatory grief.  Nothing like having mortality smack you in the butt to have you contemplating the big questions in life and moving toward the more philosophical view of things.  For some this means spirituality and for some of these, spirituality means some form of religious practice.

Just my own opinion here:  If one wrestles with the deeper metaphysical and philosophical issues in life and comes away from the confrontation with some sense of their own understanding of where they are, it breeds a certain sense of peace of mind perhaps?  Maybe this accounts for the 'doing better' phenomenon.

Simple things like learning not to sweat the small stuff, understanding new situtations in light of a bigger picture, to maintaining some form of spiritual practice may be simply things which reduce stress?

Aye, but the road to peace of mind via religion has always been fret with minefields.

Perhaps coming up with personal responses to "who am I?", "What matters most to me?" "How can I manifest this?", "What gives my life meaning?" etc help one to have an outlook that in some way impacts stress levels etc?

Hell, I don't know.