The results on life expectancy and the elderly fraction of the population relate to
Azzi and Ehrenberg’s (1975) theoretical argument that a concern about salvation would
motivate people to participate more in religious activities as they age and, hence, get
closer to death. This theory may explain the negative association between life
expectancy and monthly church attendance but not the positive association between life
expectancy and religious beliefs. The weak results for the old-age fraction may arise
because the increased incentive to attend religious services is offset by high costs of
attendance due to ill health and immobility.