Truth Is Life!

Experiencing how God’s truth energizes life!

BIGGEST CAUSES OF DEATH ON EARTH & GOD’S BEST SOLUTIONS

SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW
What are the biggest causes of death, injustice and abuse in the world and the best and simplest solutions? News focuses on war and terrorism and often influences people to think that political parties, esp. switching to a new one, will make big changes. But the real biggest causes of loss of life and the solutions are also much different from what most people think. But research shows that the very best ways to protect lives in the modern world are ancient laws given by God for our protection. The principles God gave in health, economics, environment, human rights and other areas—often ignored today—are being consistently validated by thousands of modern scientific studies.

God’s warnings and many scientific studies confirm that the most significant killers on earth are actually “silent killers” in the sense that they aren’t reported very much and aren’t as sensational, such as bad health habits, greed, pollution, mental health issues, racism, governments/democide, and others, many of them influenced by corporations. That knowledge is the most important truth for life in this world and it is knowledge that God has given to His people and which 1000s of scientific studies are confirming.

I will overview what research is showing, but I encourage you to follow and read the many links that are on this page for more in depth information, including other pages on this site, but also many others that have very solid research that is useful.

The reality is that none of these deaths or crimes in the list below would occur if people following the Bible and it’s golden rule, 10 commandments and other laws which are the practical applications of law. Sin and esp. greed and pride are the root causes of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). The Old Testament principles of human rights and health and economics are especially important in protecting life, but most churches ignore these, using the tragic principle of anti-nomianism.

The SDA denomination is one of the very few that understands that Jesus did not come to abolish the law in even a jot or tittle (Matt. 5:18-20), since it is the foundation of freedom (Psalms 119:44-5,James 1:25), love (Romans 13:8-10), wisdom (Deut. 4:1-8), and peace/stability (Leviticus 25:18-19, 1 Kings 4:25, Nehemiah 5, etc.).

Dr. Homer Dixon wrote in his 2006 book “The Upside of Down” about 5 very serious threats that are damaging/destroying millions of lives every year now and could cause the collapse of nations/civilization in the near future: energy stress, economic stress, demographic stress/disease, environmental stress and climate stress. They are interlocking crises, so if one gets worse it can easily make others worse too.1

NOTE: One problem in figuring out the top causes of death is that many people die and the cause of death is not recorded. In 2017, the world recorded causes for about 1/2 of all deaths reported.2 So that can help us identify the biggest dangers and work to reduce/stop them.

SECTION 2: The Biggest Causes of Death
Several factors usually contribute to deaths and sometimes one cause affects deaths in several categories. For example, greed is the foundational root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10) and is also often a consequence of a decline in spirituality. So some studies differ to some degree, but these are the top causes of death based on these studies.

  1. Disease/Bad health: ~43,000,000 people/year (2021)3 (most due to poverty/bad habits/junk food and a lot due to poverty)
  2. Abortion: ~40-50,000,000+ fetuses/year4 (75%+ due to greed/poverty)
  3. Poverty: ~18,000,000 people/year5 (greed/poverty is a factor in most deaths of all kinds)
  4. Pollution: ~12,600,000 people/year6 (due to mostly corporate greed)
  5. Mental health/Suicide: ~8,000,000 people/year7 (due largely to corporate media)
  6. Injuries/violence: ~5,800,000 people/year8 (due mostly to media/corporate greed)
  7. Racism ~3,850,000 people/year (extrapolated from 176,000/yr. in the USA)9
  8. Work accidents: ~4.4 million people/year10
  9. Democide by atheist govts. ~1,740,000 people/year*11
  10. Violence (Murder, crime, etc.): ~1,600,000 people/year12
  11. Road accidents: ~1,350,000 people/year13
  12. War: ~300,000 people/year14

NOTE: One problem in figuring out the top causes of death is that many people die and the cause of death is not recorded. In 2017, the world recorded causes for about 1/2 of all deaths reported.2 So that can help us identify the biggest dangers and work to reduce/stop them.

SECTION 2: The Biggest Causes of Death
Several factors usually contribute to deaths and sometimes one cause affects deaths in several categories. For example, greed is the foundational root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10) and is also often a consequence of a decline in spirituality. So some studies differ to some degree, but these are the top causes of death based on these studies.



Section 3: Detailed Causes and Biblical/Scientific Solutions


1. Health-Related Deaths (Lifestyle Diseases, STIs, & Iatrogenic)

The Crisis: This is the leading category of human mortality, claiming over 43 million lives annually. It includes 17.5 million from cardiovascular disease, ~10 million from cancer, and millions more from diabetes, respiratory illness, lack of exercise, obesity, etc.  Furthermore, STIs—which would be virtually non-existent under Biblical marriage—contribute to over 1 million deaths yearly through HIV, HPV-related cancers, and hepatitis. Finally, allopathic medicine, including properly prescribed drugs and medical errors (iatrogenic deaths) are estimated to be the 3rd and 4th leading cause of death in some developed nations.

The Biblical Solution: God says: : “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). God’s “NEWSTART” laws are profoundly valuable for health. 

  • Nutrition: God’s ideal vegetarian diet (Gen. 1:29, 2:16,Gen. 3:18) confirmed by over 10,000 scientific studies that say it is health, fighting diseases, viruses, longevity, etc.
  • Exercise: God told man to have many children and work hard to manage the earth (Gen 1:28,  3:19, 3:23). Sex is good exercise in marriage  🙂 as is taking care of a garden. 
  • Water: God created pure water and rivers (Gen 1:2, 5-10, 2:5-6,10-14) that is essential for life to flourish, purifies our body and removes toxins 
  • Sunlight: God made the sun which we need to be healthy (Gen. 1:16) Sunlight gives us vitamin D, kills viruses and other benefits which helps our body stay healthy.
  • Temperance: God repeatedly says that all He created is good. No alcohol, drugs, tobacco, poisons, etc. were there.  So healthy people avoid these things. 
  • Air: God made the sky and of course pure air which is essential for life. Later he breathed into man the breath of life. (Gen. 1:6-8; 2:7). Fresh air helps reduce all causes of death.
  • Rest: God rested after finishing all His work (Gen. 2:2) as an example for us (Eph. 5:1).  Later Adam goes into a deep sleep (Gen. 2:21). Good sleep is a super power according to scientists. crucial to keep our body systems functioning well. 
  • Trust in God: God asks us to trust Him and His wise principles because they will give us the best life, avoid sin and death (Gen. 2:15-17) and science shows that trust makes the vagus nerve stronger and it helps all organs of the body to resist disease.

    The 7th Commandment regarding sexual purity and 8th commandment against stealing are also beneficial. God says: “You shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14) and “You shall not steal” (Ex. 20:15*).
  • Scientific Confirmation:
    • WHO Perspective: “Modifiable behaviours, such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and the harmful use of alcohol, all increase the risk of NCDs”.
    • The Power of NEWSTART: Dr. Gary Fraser’s research on the Adventist Health Studies proves that those following these Biblical health principles live up to a decade longer than the general population.
    • Scientific Quotes: “Following the health principles found in the Bible is the most valuable thing anyone can do for their health… these principles have enormously improved health and longevity” (Fraser, 2003).
    • Monogamy as Medicine: Dr. Joseph McIlhaney notes that “the only 100% effective way to prevent the sexual transmission of STIs is lifelong mutual monogamy.”
    • Scientific References:
    • WHO NCD Fact Sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases.
    • Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs): www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs317/en/.
    • Fraser, Gary E. Diet, Life Events, and Health in Adventists. Springer, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-1279-8.

    • Khaw, Kay-Tee, et al. “Combined Impact of Health Behaviours and Mortality in Men and Women: The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study.” PLOS Medicine, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0050012.
    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Sexually Transmitted Infections Surveillance 2022.” CDC, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/default.htm.
    • McIlhaney, Joseph. Hooked: New Science on How Casual Sex is Affecting Our Children. Moody, 2019.

2. Abortion

The Crisis: Between 40 and 50 million fetuses are killed annually. Research indicates that over 75% of these are driven by economic pressures and greed.

The Biblical Solution: Recognition of the sanctity of life from conception and the provision of economic justice to remove the financial “need” for abortion.

  • Bible Verse: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…” (Jeremiah 1:5).


Scientific Confirmation: A study of 5,577 biologists found that 96% affirm that a human life begins at fertilization. Dr. Steven Jacobs notes this biological reality is the essential foundation that must inform legal protections. If a fetus is human, it falls under all legal protections for all human beings.  

  • References:

3. Poverty and Hunger

The Crisis: Poverty is a primary driver in up to 18 million deaths annually—roughly one-third of all global deaths. Between 13 and 18 million of these occur in developing countries, mostly among children. In the US, poverty is the fourth-leading risk factor for death, associated with 183,000 to 295,000 annual deaths. Approximately 9 million people die specifically from hunger and hunger-related diseases.



The Biblical Solution: The value of land around the world is estimated to be up to 4 quadrillion dollars*. The biblical Jubilee and Inalienable land rights concepts, rooted in God givinving land rights, which prevent permanent poverty by ensuring every family has the means to produce food

There are over 30 other Bible economic principles such as tithe and offerings for the poor (Malachi 3:8-10, Deut. 14*), canceling debts (Deut. 15:1), don’t favor the rich against the poor (Deut. 1:17) and many others that could easily end poverty.

  • Bible Verses: “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine…” (Leviticus 25:23).*

  • Scientific Confirmation:
    “Hunger is caused by poverty and injustice… our global food system is structured to value profits over people and planet.” — WhyHunger.

  • Child Mortality: Roughly 5.9 million children die every year, often due to lack of nutrition and poverty.*

  • In the US, “cumulative poverty” (10+ years) is associated with 295,000 annual deaths, more than obesity or dementia.*

  • Economic Injustice: Hunger is not a lack of food but is “caused by poverty and injustice”.

  • Scientific References:

 

4. Environmental Pollution

The Crisis: Pollution and environmental degradation claim ~13 million lives per year. Central to this is the industrialization of animal agriculture, which consumes the majority of our planetary resources and is destructive in several major ways. 

The Biblical Solution: The original plant-based diet given at Creation (Genesis 1:29, 3:18) and the mandate for environmental stewardship “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15) are some of the best solutions.

Science confirmation: Paul McCartney, citing environmental data, notes: “If anyone wants to save the planet, all they have to do is just stop eating meat… It takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty.”


“Climate change. Ocean dead zones. Fisheries depletion. Species extinction. Deforestation. World hunger. Food safety. Heart disease. Obesity. Diabetes. The list goes on. There is one issue at the heart of all these global problems…—our demand for and reliance on animal products… animal agriculture is also one of the leading causes of many other environmental issues, including overfishing, destruction of wildlife, deforestation, and depletion of freshwater resources to hydrate livestock or irrigate fodder…animal agriculture is responsible for roughly 90% of the razing of the Brazilian Amazon…Animal agriculture consumes on average 55 trillion gallons of water annually…it takes roughly 5,000 gallons of water to produce 1lb. of beef.”.

“There may be no other single human activity that has a bigger impact on the planet than the raising of livestock”.

Scientific References:

5. Mental Health and Suicide

The Crisis: Mental health struggles and suicide claim roughly 8 million lives annually. Suicide, “deaths of despair” (overdose and alcohol-related deaths) and social isolation are now recognized as a physical health threat comparable to smoking. Depression alone affects 350 million people worldwide. Almost 1 million lives are lost yearly to suicide, translating to 3,000 deaths every day.

The Biblical Solution: Trust in God, the Sabbath rest and honoring parents/family structure are primary defenses against the stresses of modern life. They mandate rest and the preservation of the multi-generational family unit, creating a “safety net” of community and belonging.

  • Bible Verses: “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” Ex. 20:8 Honor your parents that your days may be long upon the land the Lord your God has given you.” Exodus 20:12. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

  • Scientific Confirmation:
    “Suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined” in America. — The Overnight*

    Community Resilience: Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad’s meta-analysis of 148 studies found that people with strong social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival than those who are isolated.*

    The Sabbath Effect: Research on “Rest” and Sabbath-keeping shows significant reductions in cortisol (the stress hormone) and lower rates of depression.

    Dennis Prager argues that honoring parents is the “antidote to totalitarianism” and creates a “society that lasts” by providing moral authority and social stability.*

    Family Protection: Research by Case and Deaton on “Deaths of Despair” shows that the breakdown of the traditional family structure (the 5th Commandment) is a primary driver of the rise in suicide and drug use among the working class.


  • Scientific References:
  • We estimate that 14.3% of deaths worldwide, or approximately 8 million deaths each year, are attributable to mental disorders.
    Walker ER, McGee RE, Druss BG. Mortality in mental disorders and global disease burden implications: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2015 Apr;72(4):334-41. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2502. 
  • Mental disorders
    https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders
  • Globally, more than 720 000 people die by suicide every year.   https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/data-research/suicide-data
    Infographic: https://www.who.int/multi-media/details/suicide–facts-and-figures-globally

    Mental health https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health

    Holt-Lunstad, Julianne, et al. “Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review.” PLOS Medicine, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316.

  • Case, Anne, and Deaton, Angus. Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. Princeton University Press, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780691199955.


6. Capitalism/Corporations
(note: Some of these deaths covered in other points, but since capitalist corporations cause so much of the devastation, they warrant their own category)

To accurately assess the impact of secular corporate structures when oriented toward profit over human welfare, we must look at systemic factors outside of the tobacco and alcohol industries (which kill ~5 million and 3 million people per year respectively, but are traditionally grouped under lifestyle health). When we isolate corporate-driven mortality—specifically occupational hazards, industrial pollution, and economic exploitation—the numbers are staggering.

Corporate-Driven Mortality (Excluding Tobacco/Alcohol)


7. Accidents and injuries

The Crisis: Roughly 4.4 million people die each year from injuries and violence, representing 10% of all global deaths. Workplace injuries claim 2.93 million people annually.


The Biblical Solution: The Bible tells us that people are created to do good works for others (Eph. 2:10) and that we should never treat the poor worse than the rich (James 2), that the rich must not exploit the poor (James 5:1-6) and many others. The 10 Commandments emphasize following God’s blueprint for a safe and peaceful society. The Sabbath rest also emphasizes that workers must not be exploited and that fatigue does not lead to fatal mistakes.

8. Racism

The Crisis: Racism and racial segregation in the US alone, approximately 176,000 deaths per year. If we extrapolate that to all countries in the world, the death toll is an estimated 3.85 million deaths annually.
 

The Biblical Solution: The Biblical teaches that God created human beings at creation on day 6 and from them all other human beings have descended*. So all humans are of “one blood” and created in God’s image.

  • Scientific Confirmation:
  • Economic Inequality: Dr. David Williams notes that racism and economic inequality are “built-in” causes of death. The Biblical solution of returning land to every family ensures no permanent underclass can exist.
    Williams, David. “The House that Racism Built and Its Consequences for Health.” Collegedale SDA, 2019. https://livestream.com/collegedalesdachurch/events/8305584/videos/185998211.


9. Crime/Violence/Murder

The Crisis: Intentional violence, and murder kill approximately 1.6 million people annually.

The Biblical Solution: The Ten Commandments provide the only stable foundation for a free and civilized society.

  • Exact Verse: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13). “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
  • Scientific Confirmation:
    • Societal Stability: Modern behavioral science supports these ancient codes as “durable verbal rules for organizing life in a cooperative society”.
    • Totalitarian Resistance: Dennis Prager notes that the 1st Commandment—accepting God as the ultimate authority—is the primary protection against the “totalitarian state,” which was the biggest killer of the 20th century.
    • Personal Integrity: Behavioral scientists note that following these “rules of cooperation” reduces harm, builds trust, and is “essential to the existence of men in society”.
  • Scientific References:

10. Democide (Atheistic Totalitarianism)

The Crisis: Prof. R.J. Rummel’s research shows that totalitarian governments (often atheistic/secular) killed 174 million people in the 20th century—an average of 1.74 million per year.

The Biblical Solution: The 1st and 2nd Commandments, which place God as the ultimate authority over the state, and the requirement for economic justice.

  • Bible Verses: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). “Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man” (Deuteronomy 1:17).

Scientific confirmation:

  • Professor R.J. Rummel states: “Most contemporary democide, far greater than any historical cases, has been by free thinkers… all communist and fascist governments (Hitler, Mao, Stalin, etc) have been secular, and also murderous. The worst of all such governments have been atheistic and communist, and murdered overall around 110,000,000 people in the 20th Century.”.

    Power and Death: Rummel’s core finding: “Power kills; absolute power kills absolutely.” This confirms that the Biblical decentralization of power and submission to Divine law is the only safeguard for life.

  • Scientific References:




11. Road Accidents

The Crisis: Approximately 1.35 million people die on the world’s roads annually.

The Biblical Solution: Principles of temperance and the preservation of life.


12. War

The Crisis: War accounts for approximately 300,000 to 378,000 deaths per year. While tragic, it is significantly lower than health-related or poverty-related deaths, though it receives far more media attention.

The Biblical Solution: The Golden Rule and the rejection of pride and greed.

  • Exact Verse: “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).
  • Scientific Confirmation: Rummel notes that “Power kills,” and democratic freedom (aligning with Biblical self-governance) is the most effective method of nonviolence.
  • Scientific References:
  • Rummel, R. J. Death by Government. Transaction Publishers, 1994.

REFERENCES

1 A review of Dr. Dixon’s work is here: www.theupsideofdown.com/theargument.html. A more recent paper is here: “Synchronous failure: the emerging causal architecture of global crisis“. Homer Dixon. www.homerdixon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Homer-Dixon-et-al.-Synchronous-Failure-the-architecture-of-global-crisis-ES-2015-7681.pdf.

2 “Almost half of all deaths now have a recorded cause, WHO data show”, www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/half-deaths-recorded/en/.

3 “Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) killed at least 43 million people in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally”. “Noncommunicable diseases” https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases.

4 “Number of Abortions – Abortion Counters”, www.numberofabortions.com.

5 “In the developing countries, an estimated 13 to 18 million people, mostly children, die from hunger, malnutrition and poverty-related causes each year.” Ilaboya, I.R. et al. “Causes, Effects and Way Forward to Food Insecurity.” Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment 3 (2): 181, December 18, 2011. www.ijee.net/article_64396_9d9a696fd79aacfd9d88ad31817cc1dd.pdf

“Around 9 million people die every year of hunger and hunger-related diseases. This is more than from AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.” https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/people-and-poverty/hunger-and-obesity/how-many-people-die-from-hunger-each-year

“Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) killed at least 43 million people in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally….Poverty is closely linked with NCDs…Vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people get sicker and die sooner than people of higher socio-economic positions, especially because they may have limited access to health services.
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases

“poverty is America’s fourth-leading risk factor for death, behind only heart disease, cancer, and smoking.
Jarow, Oshan. “Poverty is a major public health crisis. Let’s treat it like one.” Jul 14, 2023. https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/23792854/poverty-mortality-study-public-health-antipoverty-america-deaths-poor-life-expectancy

6 World Health Organization. “An estimated 12.6 million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments.” March 15, 2016. www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/deaths-attributable-to-unhealthy-environments/en/. See also: World Health Organization. “Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks.” https://www.who.int/quantifying_ehimpacts/publications/preventing-disease/en/ and World Health Organization. “7 million premature deaths annually linked to air pollution”. March 25, 2014, www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/.

7 “We estimate that 14.3% of deaths worldwide, or approximately 8 million deaths each year, are attributable to mental disorders.” Walker, Elizabeth Reisinger et al. “Mortality in mental disorders and global disease burden implications: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” JAMA psychiatry vol. 72,4 (2015): 334-41. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2502

8 World Health Organization. “Injuries and violence: the facts.” Geneva, 2010, https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/key_facts/en/.

9 Galea, Sandro. “How Many U.S. Deaths are Caused by Poverty, Lack of Education, and Other Social Factors?” Jul. 05 2011 https://www.mailman.columbia.edu/public-health-now/news/how-many-us-deaths-are-caused-poverty-lack-education-and-other-social-factors
Galea, Sandro et al., “Estimated Deaths Attributable to Social Factors in the United States.” Aug. 2011, American Journal of Public Health 101, 1456_1465, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.300086

10 WHO: Injuries and violence https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/injuries-and-violence, Safety and health at work – International Labour Organization, www.ilo.org/global/topics/safety-and-health-at-work/lang–en/index.htm
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/03/workplace-death-health-safety-ilo-fluor/

11 Professor R.J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii and talks on how “free thinkers”/atheists have caused the most harm in all history of any ideology and says. “Most contemporary democide, far greater than any historical cases, has been by free thinkers, i.e., those who believe that the established religions are superstitions, and one should be scientific, objective, rational, etc. Communism is a case in point, where out of the 174,000,000 murders 1900 to 1999, about 110,000,000 were by communists, who are professed atheists.”

Power Kills, Democratic Peace Q&A www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/QA.V2.HTML

12 World report on violence and health, www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/en/abstract_en.pdf.

13 World Health Organization. “Road traffic injuries.” December 7, 2018. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries.

14 Data from this new study also suggests that 378,000 people worldwide died a violent death in war each year between 1985 and 1994 abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=5207645 https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-chart-shows-how-many-people-have-died-from-conflic-1713625114, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/20/armed-conflict-deaths-increase-syria-iraq-afghanistan-yemen