There is evidence of religion playing a role in human life for close to 500,000 years when the ritual treatment of skulls took place in China during the Paleolithic period.(Smart, 2007 p.26) What role is it though that religion serves to mankind? It can be argued that religion is a powerful coping mechanism that aids human beings in the ability to make sense of suffering, and that it provides control over those things unforeseen.
Until the 19th century, religion and care for the mentally ill were connected. Religious institutions made it their job to care for the mentally ill. Many of the hospitals for the mental were located in monasteries and run by the priests. These religious institutions are known to have treated patients with a great amount of empathy. Religion was believed to have had a positive, influence on the patients, who could be rewarded for good behavior by being allowed to attend chapel services.(Koenig 2001)
In the late 19th
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This conflict has manifested itself in clinical work, where psychiatrists have generally ignored the religious resources of patients or viewed them as pathological. In Koenig’s 2001 national survey of US psychiatrist, he found that 56% never even inquire about religious or spiritual issues in patients with depression or anxiety.
In the last 20 years, more attention has started to be paid to the scientific study of religion and its relationship to mental illness. Evidence has been accumulating to help provide a more objective answer to the question of the role of religion and spirituality in mental illness. This research is rapidly expanding and most of this is being done outside the field of psychiatry. Despite the negative and conflicting views held by many mental health professionals research into religion and spirituality and its effects on mental illness, needs to be at the forefront of clinical research.
Religiosity
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders have been found to have many causal factors. Many of these are cultural and one possibility is that religion plays a part in severity of symptoms, like obsessive thoughts. Because of Darien’s past history and heavy involvement...
Having a mental disorder, including Trichotillomania, does not make you any less of a Christian, despite the popular controversy of mental disorders and the Christian faith. In fact, many people who suffer from mental disorders use their Christian faith as a form of treatment in the lifelong battle they are fighting. This paper will examine what Trichotillomania is, including the causes and symptoms, how a Christian who suffers from Trichotillomania uses their faith as a part of their treatment, and how the Christian faith is impacted by Trichotillomania.
Throughout this essay I will demonstrate how religion has played a role in the lives of humans as well as explicate the reasoning behind the true nature of the creation of religion by a psychopath.
Much success has come from religion in therapy. Success has occurred when used to cope with psychological disorders, preventing unhealthy
Bergin, A.E. (1980). Psychotherapy and religious values. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 75-105.
The student paper entitled “The Effects of Predisposed Mental Illness and Religious Trauma” by Woolridge Grant describes the life and experiences of the writer, who is predisposed to mental illness and has suffered religious trauma. The paper represents all standards of critical thinking excellently but especially clarity, relevance, and depth. The student directly addressed his personal situation and was able to use critical thinking skills to determine the reasons for the outcomes of his perilous situation.
Incorporating religion and spirituality into counseling from a counselor’s perspective can be intimidating. According to the authors Gladding and Newsome (2014) counselors avoid incorporating religion and spirituality into counseling due to the fear of “violating ethical guidelines by imposing personal values on clients” (Gladding & Newsome, 2014 p. 174). To address the issues related to incorporating religion and spirituality in counseling, the Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) developed a list of six competencies to assist professionals. These six competencies are Culture and Worldview, Counselor self-awareness, Human and Spiritual
Koenig states that the impact religions have on mental pathologies such as depression and anxiety are making the person more suppress, moderate, deter and prevent the effects from stress which leads to depression (Koenig, 1998). Mormons may get caught up in practicing what they think is right about God and will step away from all other options. However, Koenig states that Mormons are wealthy and would sometimes rather counselors over their own religion. There is a lot of controversies over whether or not Mormons seek help in God or in other ways such as counseling or health professionals. The Mormons that do want professional help also are sometimes discouraged from fellow neighbors because of the inability past social workers had in knowing different cultures and religions beliefs, morals, and behaviors. The author also mentions that Mormons are built upon truth and when a mental or emotional illness occurs it is sometimes known as a manifestation of sin. Mormons who are diagnosed with a mental illness usually have had a difficult time self-reflecting until they are brought upon an illness that stops them living the way they used
Walker, D. F., Gorsuch, R. L., & Tan, S. (2004, October). Therapists’ integration of religion and spirituality in counseling: A meta-analysis. Counseling and Values, 49(), 69-80.
As far as mankind’s history can date, religion has had quite an intimate relationship with people. Although maybe it hasn’t always been identified in the same way as we identify religion today, spread across the world we have the remains of pyramids, temples, and even written in ancient texts from centuries ago dedicated to god, to the afterlife, to what lies on the other side. And up to today’s times, religion has grown along with man.
Worthington, E. L. Jr., Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., & McDaniel, M. A. (2011). Religion and spirituality. In J. C. Norcross (Ed.), Psychotherapy relationships that work (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press
The Psychology of Religion is composed of a variety of different perspectives, which in certain cases proves difficult in determining both the clinical and pastoral implications of a theory. Modern-day psychology has demonstrated possible beneficial results in religious spiritual individuals, however, much of the current research has avoided questioning the “real” presence of the Divine or a Higher Being. Although a century has passed since his undertaking of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud readily settled the question of religion by declaring it a form of mental illness. While Freud’s Psychology of Religion is that religion only exists as a neurosis, his view provides the three clinical implications of hypnotism, free association, and dream analysis, each of which have also remained a source of criticism. Rather than recognize the beneficial aspects religion and spirituality have to offer, Freud instead likened religion to a mental illness, which could be cured through psychoanalysis.
Now in order to fully understand the importance of addressing the topics of religion and spirituality into therapy as well as with grasping the importance of becoming skilled at integrating these issues into counseling, it is of great importance to distinguish between spirituality and religion and knowing how a client identifies with each one. And with religion and spirituality playing significant roles in aiding emotional well-bein...
Religion plays an enormous role in the history of mankind. Wars have been fought over it, lives have been surrounded by it, and it has directly or indirectly shaped the lives of many individuals. Culture and religion play a large role in developing each other. People’s religion is decided by their culture. The prominence or the lack of religion will develop someone’s religious identity have play a core role in determining what that person believes.
The religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are alike in many ways but they also share many differences. Judaism and Christianity use the bible in their holy scriptures, while Islam does not. Jesus Christ is a part of all three religions as Christianity and Islam developed from Judaism. Many believe that the three religions worship, pray to, and focus on the same god. They believe this as many of the prophets are they share much in common as they share many beliefs. However, the followers of the three religions pray differently and in different places. the religions believe that their god created the world and everything in the world. The three Abrahamic religions have different histories, yet they share many similarities and difference.