Psychology of Religion: Week 5 Discussion on Mental Health

This discussion post summarizes Samuel Weber's research article (2014) on the interplay between religion and mental health, highlighting the potential of religious and spiritual practices in psychiatric treatments. The post explores mediating factors impacting the religion-health relationship, including historical perspectives from Sigmund Freud and the use of religion as a coping mechanism, particularly in conditions like PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder. It delves into the debate of whether religion is a helpful or harmful coping method, considering both its benefits and potential drawbacks. Furthermore, the post analyzes various religious coping methods, such as finding meaning, gaining mastery, and achieving life transformation, ultimately exploring the author's preference for the life transformation approach and the reasons behind it, which aligns with the fundamental definition of religion as a way of life and the established methods religions employ for personal development.

Summary of the Research article
Weber, S. (2014). The role of religion and spirituality in mental health. Current Opinion,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8422/fdcc2e5ef96123ef197821a03c0472018a36.pdf.
Written by Samuel Weber, this article deals with the clashes between psychiatry and religion,
the crux of this article promotes a sophisticated methodology that can be utilized to bridge the
gap between the two strong streams that has the power to inflict mental wellness among
certain subjects. The article culminates on a positive note where it sums up about the current
developments in the field of Psychiatry that are related to religion and its implication as a tool
in the process of the psychological cures (Greensten, 2016) .
Mediating factors that brings an impact on Religion health relationship
In the year 1907, Sigmund Fraud ruled out religion completely when he said that religion is a
‘universal obsessional neurosis.” The psychiatrists of that generation found that religion is an
ineffective way to treat because of its dual nature; it can bring in negativity in a patient
because it defies the logic at times (Whitley, 2017).
Use of Religion as a coping mechanism
Religion can be used as a support system during the phase of PTSD, it can be used under the
conditions when heavy medications are not feasible. According to the author, religion and
spirituality are emerging as a major support system for the patients that are suffering from
Posttraumatic stress disorders. Another positive factor associated with religion is related to
the inclusion of the social support system (Rettner, 2016). It can become a part of the CBT
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for generalized anxiety disorder, according to Samuel Weber, while dealing with the General
anxiety disorders, two subjects were told to read the holy books of Islam and Christianity
respectively. Both these subjects performed better in comparison with the rest of the lot on
which the experts were performing CBT.
Religion as a coping method is harmful or fruitful
Religion as a coping method is fruitful by all the standards. It is a tried and tested way. Most
of the religions of the world are strong enough to handle the contradictions that are associated
with them. Secondly, when we start a CBT based on other motivating systems the psychiatric
spends a fair deal of time in winning the trust of the patient. However, it is not the same with
religion, individuals trust in religion and it is easier for them to accept religion as a healer.
Religion can also carry baggage with it where certain previous bad experiences of a patient
can force him to react negatively towards a treatment. However, this type of negative
reaction can only slow down the rate of the recovery, in the worst case, the intervention of the
religion can spoil it even further (Rettner, 2016).
Religious methods of coping to achieve life transformation
The fundamental definition of religion says that it is a way of life. When we employee
religion for the purpose of transforming the life of a person then it serves as a natural process.
Most of the religions have well-developed systems related to the transformation of life. The
methods adopted by the religion are tried and tested, the religious ceremonies, prayer
routines, and abstinence as a part of the life transformation with the help of religion makes it
easier for the subject to adapt it as a habit.
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Bibliography
Greensten, L. (2016). The Mental Health Benefits Of Religion & Spirituality. NAMI,
https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/December-2016/The-Mental-Health-
Benefits-of-Religion-Spiritual.
Rettner, R. (2016). God Help Us? How Religion is Good (And Bad) For Mental Health. Live
Science, https://www.livescience.com/52197-religion-mental-health-brain.html.
Weber, S. (2014). The role of religion and spirituality in mental health. Current Opinion,
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8422/fdcc2e5ef96123ef197821a03c0472018a36.pdf.
Whitley, R. (2017). Religion and Mental Health: What is the Link? PsychologyToday,
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-men/201712/religion-and-
mental-health-what-is-the-link.
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