It was the duty of the pharaohs to maintain the health of their subjects.

Leeches were used for bleeding by Syrian physicians as early as 100 BC.

As many as 267 Biblical health principles have been enumerated.

Theodore Roosevelt, a sickly child who developed into a vigorous adult, exhorted Americans to get outdoors.

Few diets are based upon clinical studies.

This book examines the complex relationships among religion, prayer, and health in America. It is not an authority on religion and health per se. There are already a number of scholarly publications that extensively address these two issues from a scientific or behavioral point of view. However, the Biblical teachings on prayer and health are insufficiently addressed. Also these publications tend to be bias against religion and to ignore the Bible's teachings on prayer. This book attempts to address these biases.

The first four chapters focus on America's health practices, research into personal health practices and health, and the effect of stress on personal health. Chapter 2 gives a brief overview of America's health practices in recent years. It is by no means inclusive and is included for background purposes. Most of Chapter 2's data figures are gleaned from government web boards and the author's documents. The serious reader can visit the boards themselves to get more information. Chapters 5 through 7 focus on American's religious beliefs, prayer, and health practices, research on the connection between religion and health practices, and the anomaly of worsened health among fundamentalist Christians. The last two chapters discuss the Bible's teachings on prayer and personal health. Specifically they address why prayers, especially prayers for health, are and are not answered. Five printer friendly surveys are included in Appendix A. They are designed to give you a better understanding of your ability to deal with life's stress, life's problems, your anger, and depression. A fifth tests your understanding of prayer as taught in the Bible.

About the Author:
Frank Lewis is a statistician with almost 40 years experience in health care statistics. He has worked for the government, the American Red Cross, and the business sector as a statistician and research manager. He has over 60 publications and web presentations. Dr. Lewis holds a Ph.D. in Health Care Utilization from the Columbia Pacific University. He manages a web board "Health Care Technology" and two connected boards that provide health and religious news and statistics. Frank has been a born-again evangelical Christian for over 50 years. His book, "Religion, Prayer, and Religion in America" examines the complex relationships among religion, prayer, and health in America. It is not an authority on religion and health per se. There are already a number of scholarly publications that extensively address these two issues from a scientific or behavioral point of view. However, the Biblical teachings on prayer and health are insufficiently addressed. Also these publications tend to be bias against religion and to ignore the Bible's teachings on prayer. Frank Lewis' book attempts to address these biases.