{"id":5146,"date":"2024-12-09T14:34:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-09T19:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=5146"},"modified":"2024-12-06T14:35:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T19:35:10","slug":"how-do-god-bible-engagement-and-forgiveness-impact-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/12\/09\/how-do-god-bible-engagement-and-forgiveness-impact-loneliness\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do God, Bible Engagement and Forgiveness Impact Loneliness?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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According to the American Bible Society, nearly 75% of American adults experience moderate to high levels of Loneliness. Image by Enrique Meseguer<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New \u2018State of the Bible\u2019 Study Digs Deeply for Answers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Nearly 75 percent of American adults experience moderate to high levels of loneliness, according to newly released State of the Bible research<\/a> from the American Bible Society. That’s serious. But the new report also suggests three antidotes to loneliness: Developing a closer connection with God, Bible engagement and forgiveness.<\/p>\n

Loneliness is a major problem for many Americans. As recently as last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued an advisory report \u2013 \u201cOur Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation\u201d \u2013 that warned the \u201clack of social connection poses a significant risk for individual health and longevity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The advisory report explained that loneliness may \u201cincrease the risk of premature death as (much as) smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day” because it may contribute to strokes, depression, anxiety and dementia.<\/p>\n

God, Bible engagement and forgiveness — combined with church attendance \u2013 may decrease loneliness by more than 50 percent, according to the American Bible Society.<\/p>\n

Through Scripture, people can interact with a loving God. Through church, they can grow closer to God while having greater opportunities for meaningful relationships. And through meaningful relationships, people tend to feel less lonely.<\/p>\n

Quotable Quotes on Loneliness<\/strong><\/h3>\n

John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society\u2019s chief innovation officer and editor-in-chief of State of the Bible, said the need to address the problem is urgent. He called on churches to \u201crespond with care and creativity, offering a safe space to develop meaningful Christian relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beliefnet contributor Dr. Linda Mintle, a national expert on mental health, says this about loneliness in her new post, Lonely and the Need to Fight It: <\/em><\/a>\u00a0“For those struggling with loneliness, faith can offer powerful solace…. Even in the moments of deep loneliness, we are never truly alone.”<\/p>\n

She offers practical advice for breaking free of loneliness and Scriptures that give hope. She also examines loneliness and the breakdown of the community, health dangers, hidden costs and steps for reconnecting.<\/p>\n

Author and Patheos contributor Paul Bane also talks about hope in his article\u00a0Loneliness, The Despair of Being Alone.<\/em> He says, \u201cOne of the underlying ways of overcoming loneliness is having the awareness and hope, you and I are never alone. God with us is paramount in offering comfort and hope\u2026.\u201d Read more of his post here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Digging Deeply into An Epidemic of Loneliness<\/h3>\n

Looking at the “epidemic of loneliness,” the American Bible Society asked this question: \u201cIf the nation is indeed experiencing an \u2018epidemic of loneliness,\u2019 what happens when people form a meaningful relationship with the God they meet in Scripture?\u201d<\/p>\n

To answer the question, researchers divided participants in the study into three groups and asked a series of questions. The groups were:<\/p>\n