INTRODUCTION
Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being examined in psychiatric research.1 Religion, as old as mankind is, has the basic characteristic of a strong belief in a greater, invisible controlling power and appears to be a psychological necessity for mankind.2 It is often organized and practiced within a community, but it can also be practiced alone and in private.1 The primitive man had primitive religions and worshipped the elements of nature such as sun, earth, air, cloud, water amongst others.2 Religion is a powerful coping behaviour that enables people to make sense of suffering, provides control over the overwhelming forces of nature (both within and without), and promotes social rules that enhance communal
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BODY
Religious and spiritual factors are increasingly being analyzed in psychiatric studies.1 Religious beliefs and practices have long been linked to hysteria, neurosis and psychotic delusions.1 Current studies have nonetheless found another side of religion that may serve as a psychological and social resource for coping with stress.1 ‘It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has’ – Hippocrates. Religiosity is defined as the adherence to beliefs, doctrines, ethics, rituals, texts and practices associated with a higher power either alone or among organized groups.5 Until recent times, religiosity and mental health care were closely aligned.1 Numerous first mental hospitals were located in monasteries and run by priests.1 These religious institutions, with some exceptions, often treated patients with far more compassion than state-run facilities prior to 19th century mental health
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The role religion and spirituality exert on a patient’s support networks, including families, mental health professionals, spiritual leaders, and the public, as well as the separation of religious context from the professional treatment of mental health is growing narrower and has received less scientific critique.7 In addition, the treatment inference of religiosity and social support from family members, mental health and health care professionals, and the larger public is an underinvestigated field of mental health analysis that requires further studies.7 Mental health and wellbeing are matters of everyday life and as such should be of appeal to all persons, as well as to all areas of society.9 When faith-informed therapies are developed, a universal tackle is to construct therapies that encompass religious and therapeutic constituents within their delivery.10 There are at present three main routes by which faith-informed approaches are infiltrating mental healthcare.10 Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, an entirely nonclerical means, is closely allied to cognitive–behavioural therapy, with a factual attestation base.10 Therapeutic prayer, substantially fostered by Christian and Moslem practitioners, has hinged on a three-step religious undertaking with patients.10 Premier amongst them is to assert that clandestine prayer by the practitioner for their patients’ well-being is unsullied and a befitting expression of commiseration.11 The second is to propound that shared
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...
It is estimated that around a dozen U.S. children will die in faith-healing cases each year. Typically associated with Christianity, Faith healing is founded on the belief that certain people or places have the ability to cure and heal sickness, disease, or injuries. Typically this “healing” is associated by a close connection to a higher power through prayer, divine intervention, or the ministration of an individual who claims himself as a healer. Faith has been scientifically proven in the field psychology to yield benefits to health. Although faith has promised a greater wellbeing for many individual’s lives, it has yet to be a significant replacement for medication many people but relaying on faith as a means for medication.
Ward, D. J. (2011). The lived experience of spiritual abuse. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 14(9), 899-915. doi:10.1080/13674676.2010.536206
Throughout time, the definition of what is considered to be “religion” has been proven to be quite a challenge. This is primarily due to the fact that religions continuously evolve over time as well as an individual’s perception and understanding about what religion seems to be. Despite this ongoing process of modifications when attempting to characterize and define religion, what is certainly constant is the fact that religion plays a great role in influencing societies and individuals historically (McGuire 5). In order for an individual to well integrate oneself into society and build a daily life, religious practices is essential to this process. By analyzing the effects of religion and religious practices on communities and individuals, it will become apparent that religious practices are quite more important than religion itself and its institutions when it comes to helping one adjust into society and life.
Much success has come from religion in therapy. Success has occurred when used to cope with psychological disorders, preventing unhealthy
McMinn (2011) establishes the topical history of integrating psychology and theology, and promptly transitions to the necessity of inclusion for spirituality into counseling sessions; he cogitates three queries: Will this aid in establishing a healthy sense of self? Will this aid in establishing a healthy sense of need? Will this aid in establishing a healing relationship? (McMinn, 2011, pg. 32). These three components cater to psychological and spiritual health. Christian counseling helps the client move away from need, a faulty sense of self, and relationships to “an assured sense of self, a cognizance of human need and limits, and revealing interpersonal relationships with others and most importantly, God” (p. 59). McMinn (2011) provides intervention tools needed for effective therapy. However, amid the six challenges, counselors can see the risks in implementing the suggested tools with: defining relevant ethical standards, establishing a scientific base, confronting dominant views of health, expanded definitions of training, blurred pers...
According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, people who regularly practice religion possess a greater sense of personal well-being (Diener, Tay, & Myers, 2011). Now, during the self-evaluation, it becomes apparent that the employment of religious practices enables one to escape from their everyday woes of life to a state of nirvana. Additionally, the employment of religious totems during periods of reflections, often aids in allowing the beholder to experience a close relationship sensation to their divine power. Furthermore, the idea of a divine power and gateway totems affords a person the ability to analyze morale events and actions in a way that can result in the realigning of life ambitions. Consequently, spiritual reflection drastically increases during times of stress, uncertainty, and moral dilemmas offering as a sign of relief or guidance. Furthermore, considering this information in its entirety, it showcases why religion is prevalent throughout society during adverse conditions. Now, that there is evidence of religion 's ability to influence society during times of peril, let’s move onward to the stage
Throughout history, it seems that medicine and spirituality have been linked in many circumstances. In a study looking at the use of complementary and alternative therapies in cardiac patients, spiritual healing was one of many practices patient sought to utilize. In another study, 29% of participants chose to use prayer or premeditation as a way to cope with their chronic illness. In both studies, prayer or meditation was more likely to be used by individuals who had a large social network, as well as support from another person in the same health situation. Based on these studies, it seems that many individuals (not just cardiovascular patients) turn to their spirituality in times of health distress.
A difficulty that has occurred commonly is that a definition of spirituality cannot be agreed on. In a broad explanation of both religion as well as spirituality, religion constitutes the organization of faith, implementing prayer, ministry and theology. Spirituality could be viewed as a more individualized experience with a higher being, creator or idea (Walker et al., 2004, p. 70). These expressions allow a vision of client diversity that is found in all counseling classifications. While defining religion and spirituality properly seems trivial, when training counselors to properly apply the use of such variables in their therapies, a concrete explanation is imperative.
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
There is evidence suggesting that attention to one’s spirituality influences the ability to cope with illness, help in the prevention of illn...
In healthcare organizations, medical staff must conform to their hospital and their country’s code of conduct. Not only do they have to meet set standards, they must also take their patient into consideration. When making a decision upon a patient, medical staff must recognize religious backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. By understanding a patients’ beliefs and their belief system, a medical worker can give the patient their deserved medical assistance without overstepping boundaries or coming off as offensive. The practices and beliefs of four religions will be articulated throughout this essay to fully understand how religion can either help or hinder the healing process.
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...
Testerman, J. K. (1997, June). Spirituality vs religion: Implications for healthcare. Retrieved May 22, 2011, from http://www.aiias.edu/ict/vol_19.19cc_283-297.pdf