Religion Influences Mental Health!

Nishtha Tiwari
Jun 07, 2019 • 63 views

No matter how far we go supporting atheism, it is now a fact after several scientific studies that religion improves mental health if we truly understand it. This should not be confused with healing the mentally sick but preventing some psychological conditions.

People around tend to blame the present conflicts of the society primarily on the faith one follows. But is it true? Researches prove otherwise. The emotional distress, loneliness, aggression, hate for ideas opposite to one’s own, lack of hope, etc can be managed through the system of faith we have been following. Its preventive measures in the form of guidelines or code of conduct help one deal with alcoholism, drug use, etc. Religion speaks against many things that are fatal to physical health and advocates several practices that help improve one’s emotional health.

Grief, excess joy, pessimism can be dealt with ceremonies (e.g. grief from the death of a loved one is channeled well through funerals) and turning towards belief in the Supreme. This sounds preposterous at first but when thought over to a length, one can conclude that gatherings in the name of religion help one connect to people, think and form ideas ( for or against a thing), discuss various aspects of the society and even express the deepest of problems, desires, and emotions. One can have a sense of belonging to a place, group and value system which are a natural tendency of a human mind. One will be less criticizing and more tolerant if one truly follows the religion. The bent of mind will be of learning and preaching the goodness and preventing and ill thoughts most of the times.

The philosophy of God, good and evil, the cycle of rebirth, salvation and Karma- all condition one’s brain in some way and as found with most of the people it is for positive results, for refraining from wromg doings. One believes that his deeds have outcomes, one even thinks that if no one loves, forgives, accepts, The Supreme does. He forms an idea that the cosmos listen to his wishes, pain and regrets and will put in the path the ways to mend the broken. There one helps grow inside optimism and hope, something to cling to one no one really understands. There is absolutely no guarantee that one will not stray from the path overinterpreting the whole concept but there is still abundant of probabilities that breaking of the spirit from within can be prevented.

Religion gives you a sense of purpose in life, Everyone of us finds our own from time to time but they are temporary goals and sometimes just wishes for less selfless beings of the society. The quality of serving others and accepting people, even helping them survive is one of the guidelines of every religion of this planet. One can have these qualities from birth and no doubt in that but to support it and even nourish it is the job outside factors do. A value system emerging from one’s religion when benefits everyone around is most of the time not questionable but instead is laudable. This, in turn, boosts not only one’s confidence but keeps one on the path of righteousness. One is always allowed to lead one’s own choice of life but least the person will have an alternative when succumbed to guilt or distress of any kind. As said, it can act quite well as a preventive measure against addiction and suicidal tendencies if one’s religiosity is strong.

It is definitely not to imply that a non-religious person cannot be hopeful, optimistic and thoughtful. But when we talk in general, there exist different temperaments. Not everyone is strong-headed, strong-willed or super cheery. People who always need a system to belong to or who want a solid purpose coming from an unassailable authority will find peace in their faith in their low times. They need organization in their life, either of their own or from someone/something that is considered the voice of a higher power. We all look up to something we consider is in a better position than we are.

There are supporters from the medical field to this notion. Below is the video link of Eric Jarvis (psychiatrist) talking about the same.

The results are overwhelmingly positive. Only in extremely rare cases, one will find disadvantages but then it has its own core reasons besides this particular one. Also, dependency on texts that teach you compassion, grace, love, living life to fullest and service is better than dependency on drugs or any other way that is physically or mentally harmful. There is no pointing out on the medical ways of healing as itis already cleared. To read about ‘Religion and Mental Health: Theory and Research’, click on

http://baylorisr.org/wp-content/uploads/levin_religion_mental_health.pdf
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