The Research Institute for Spirituality and Health (FISG) in Langenthal has spent 20 years studying how faith and spirituality influence resilience, mental health, and coping with illness. Unsplash / National Cancer Institute What carries people through illness and crisis? That question led Swiss physician René Hefti to found the Research Institute for Spirituality and Health (FISG) in Langenthal, which on Thursday, Sept. 11, celebrated its 20th anniversary. FISG has spent two decades researching the relationship between faith, spirituality, and health — showing that spirituality can strengthen identity, gratitude, and coping skills. In an interview with Swiss evangelical media platform Livenet.ch, Hefti reflected on the journey that began with a conviction that something vital was missing in medical practice. “During my specialist medical training, I repeatedly experienced that a dimension was missing — namely, faith, spirituality,” Hefti said. Patients faced suffering and death, and he saw the need to understand what gave them strength and hope. After discovering a growing body of research in the United States, Hefti traveled to Duke University to work with Professor Harold Koenig, one of the leading scholars in the field. “They were studying questions such as: ‘Do religious people have better blood pressure and less depression?’ or ‘Do they cope better with cancer and heart surgery?’ This research fascinated me,” he said. The visit became the spark for founding FISG — then the first institute of its kind in Switzerland or Europe. In its early years, FISG organized research workshops with Koenig and began supporting bachelor’s and master’s theses on the subject, filling a gap left by university programs. The response from students, Hefti said, was “tremendous.” René Hefti René Hefti (Livenet.ch) Over time, the institute conducted studies testing whether religiosity could act as a resilience factor. By “stressing” patients and healthy participants, researchers measured responses such as pulse, blood pressure, and cortisol levels — and found that those with higher levels of faith were more resistant to stress. Later research also confirmed that spirituality helped people cope better with heart disease and depression, with meaning and gratitude emerging as strong spiritual resources. Hefti said one of the most striking findings came from a survey of general practitioners. “Two-thirds of doctors believe in transcendence — a higher power — exactly the same proportion as in the general population,” he said, noting this challenges the common perception that academics are less religious than average citizens. Currently, FISG researchers are analyzing data from the Swiss Household Panel, a national cohort of 6,000 participants surveyed every three years, to see if there is a population-level correlation between religiosity and health outcomes such as doctor visits and reported diagnoses. “If we find a connection here, it would be strong evidence for the health-promoting effect of religiosity,” Hefti said. Thursday’s anniversary celebration included greetings from Bernese Health Director Pierre Alain Schnegg, academic reflections from theologian Simon Peng-Keller, and a video address by Duke’s Harold Koenig, who has been a mentor to the institute. Hefti said the priority now is to consolidate FISG’s core activities — research, training, and networking — and expand its academic partnerships. Planning for leadership succession is also on the horizon. “We have learned over 20 years that spirituality is a powerful resource for strengthening identity, promoting gratitude and forgiveness, and integrating suffering into life’s bigger picture,” Hefti said. “The challenge is to continue this work and help society see faith not only as a private matter, but as something that can contribute to public health.”

Alex Arnold is the Center for Christianity and Public Life's first ever director of research. CCPL The Center for Christianity and Public Life (CCPL) has named Alex Arnold as its first director of research, marking what leaders describe as a major step in advancing the organization’s mission to integrate Christian thought into American civic life. The Washington, D.C.-based, nonpartisan group — launched publicly in October 2022 — said the newly created role will oversee research efforts, develop partnerships with scholars and practitioners, and inform public conversations about the place of faith in public life. The move, according to CCPL, is part of its long-term plan to equip civic leaders with ideas and resources drawn from the Christian tradition. “After an exhaustive search which left me more hopeful than ever about the future of Christian civic leadership and scholarship,” said CCPL President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Wear. “I, along with CCPL’s Board of Directors and our entire team here at CCPL, are excited to welcome Alex Arnold as our first-ever Director of Research. We have been building toward this moment for over three years, and Alex is the right person for this role." Wear had been impressed by the “rigor” of Arnold’s thought, “the breadth of his influences and concern, and the wonderful spirit he brings to this work and our organization.”  “This is a pivotal moment in the history of our country, and for the role Christianity plays in American life,” added Wear. “I look forward to working with Alex as we help civic leaders understand the moment and offer positive contributions that draw on the tremendous resources of the Christian faith to shape our politics and public life for the better.” Arnold joins CCPL after serving as the Director of Research for Heterodox Academy. Before that, Arnold spent over a decade in various roles at the John Templeton Foundation, including serving as Director of the Foundation’s Philosophy and Theology programs and grantmaking.  Now, Arnold will partner with CCPL’s President and CEO to lead and develop the organization's Public Imagination work.  He will produce new research and develop partnerships with leading scholars, practitioners, and civic organizations. His work will advance CCPL’s mission and inform public decision-making. “I am thankful for this chance to join CCPL's vital work,” said Arnold. “The Lord Jesus exhorts His followers to be salt and light in the world, and I'm excited to use the gifts and experience God has given me to obey His exhortation.  “Christianity offers unique and invaluable resources—intellectual, spiritual, and practical—for our civic challenges, and my intention is that through careful yet accessible research and meaningful partnerships, we can help persuade the public of the positive difference faithful Christians living out their convictions can make in American public life.” Since its founding in 2022 by Wear, a former presidential aide and longtime advisor to religious and civic leaders, CCPL has sought to highlight the credibility of Christian ideas in public life and promote the public good. The organization focuses on cultivating Christian civic leaders and providing Christian resources to public decision-makers. Over the last three years, CCPL has built a network of leaders who believe spiritual formation is central to civic renewal, led by Director of Christian Civic Formation Chris Butler. With Arnold’s appointment, CCPL said it will expand its public offerings in the months ahead, producing new research, leveraging existing studies, and convening scholars and civic leaders to shape discourse and influence public decision-making. This effort includes CCPL’s annual summit, For the Good of the Public, scheduled for the end of October in Washington, D.C.

Gen Z men suffer a greater identity crisis than women in the same age group, says the 6th chapter of the 15th annual State of the Bible report by American Bible Society Naassom Azevedo from Pixabay Gen Z men are experiencing the greatest “identity crisis” of any age group, according to new data from the American Bible Society’s 15th annual State of the Bible report. The sixth chapter of the 2025 report, released Sept. 10, examines self-image, beliefs, and priorities across generations and genders. Only 30% of Gen Z men — those in their early teens to late 20s — reported having a strong sense of identity, compared to 41% of Gen Z women. More than half of men and women in the Boomer+ generation reported a strong sense of identity. The findings also show that religious individuals, not just Christians, are more likely to report a strong sense of identity. “Identity levels are strong among people who practice religion—and not just Christianity,” said John Plake, Chief Innovation Officer at American Bible Society and editor-in-chief of the State of the Bible series. “Something about core beliefs, shared worship, and common culture gives people a better sense of who they are. But we find an even greater effect with Scripture engagement. When people not only read the Bible but build their lives on it, they’re far more likely to have a strong sense of identity.” To measure identity, researchers asked respondents three questions: “I know who I am,” “I always have a good sense about what is important to me,” and “I know what I believe or value.” The State of the Bible findings come from a nationally representative survey conducted for American Bible Society by NORC at the University of Chicago, using its AmeriSpeak panel. The data came from 2,656 online interviews with U.S. adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, collected Jan. 2–21, 2025. Among respondents who follow non-Christian religions, 40% said their faith is very important to them, and 67% were in the “strong identity” category. This suggests that it’s not simply identification with a religion that shapes a person’s identity, but how important that faith is to them, according to the American Bible Society.  The chapter reported 63% of “Scripture Engaged” individuals ranked at the highest level of strong identity, with only 9% at the weakest level. The report also found that a stronger sense of identity correlated with lower levels of loneliness. 89% of strong-identity men and 81% of strong-identity women reported low or moderate levels of loneliness. 91% of practicing Christians agreed that they “exist to know, love, and serve God,” but 19% of nominal Christians disagreed with this statement. To download the sixth chapter of State of the Bible 2025, visit StateoftheBible.org.