Cover Letter

The audience of this research paper is everyone. I believe that everyone can benefit from learning something about religion and spirituality, especially concerning one’s mental health. This paper also reaches out to those who practice religion to really reflect on whether they are in line with their teachings and beliefs. I asked a lot of rhetorical questions in this paper in order to make the reader think and reflect as they read this paper.

Some of the most meaningful insights I have gained during this phase are research skills for my writing. I have honed my skills to be able to research a topic, find sources, and implement them into my writing whether it be by paraphrasing or quoting these sources. I also have learned to analyze these sources and tie them in with ideas that I have.

In this phase evidence and argument have most impacted my learning because I realized that there are multiple different perspectives for every topic and that they each have valid ideas. It is important to understand the idea of multiple perspectives and try to learn from everyone and everything we can, but also discern what is valid information and what information does not make sense.

This assignment helped me to reach the goal of “Locate research sources (including academic journal articles, magazine, and newspaper articles) in the library’s databases or archives and on the internet and evaluate them for credibility, accuracy, timeliness, and bias”. In particular when I was searching for articles I would look at where the authors collected their sources from to determine if this source was a valid and “good” source to use. I used many different scientific journals and pubmed to find many of my sources.

This assignment also helped me to “Understand and use print and digital technologies to address a range of audiences.” When writing this paper I had to broaden my view to see different sides of my topic and attempt to address them to improve my knowledge of the subject and hopefully enhance the reader’s understanding. I also wrote this paper with the intent of reaching different audiences.

Essay

Does Religion play a role in one’s mental health?

Throughout the ages, religion has been a high priority for many. Which religion is right? What does religion say about this moral topic? Are all religions the same? By definition, religion is the belief in superhuman powers, especially a God. There are so many religions out there with different beliefs and moral codes, yet many have similar ideologies and beginnings. The topic of the differences and similarities between all religions is a discussion for another day.

Most people in the world practice a religion. In fact Pew Research Center writes that “more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group” (Pew Research Center, 2012) in their work The Global Religious Landscape. This builds many different types of communities between groups of people as they can relate and bond through their similar religious beliefs. 

“In 2019, 970 million people globally were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression the most common” (World Health Organization., n.d.). But, how many of these people have been practicing religion? Would it be fair to say that religion has an impact on these people? Could it be a positive impact that helps to relieve the symptoms or a negative impact that worsens the symptoms?

I am a Coptic Orthodox Christian, and my church has instilled many values in me since my childhood. The community I grew up with has influenced me to become who I am today. When I look back, although there have been many rough patches, I have benefitted so much from religion. There have been setbacks and times when I have been stressed by responsibilities in my church, but there have also been instances where I have felt immense moments of peace and gratitude. The teachings, the community I am surrounded by, and even the rituals act as a path of escape and a way to cope with whatever issues I may be dealing with. If I am sad I know I can go and see my friends and have fun with them. I know I can find a teaching that will explain exactly what I am going through and help me deal with my issues. In my experience, religion overall has helped me cope with my problems. 

As seen in Figure 1 people gather together in religion and band together in unison. In this particular figure, we see people in a church praying together. Religion creates communities between people. Safe spaces are formed between these people with similar beliefs in order for them to share whatever they would like to share. People can feel like they belong especially when they may struggle with social interactions outside of their religious communities (Nami, 2016). 

In religion, there are instances when one may feel great stress concerning religion or great relief and peace because of religion. In most cases practicing any sort of religion will aid in relieving symptoms of mental health and allow for a sort of peace if the ideas are implemented properly.

Throughout the world, there are many different approaches to healthcare. However, a common trend worldwide is that physicians are not able to diagnose mental ailments as well as they can diagnose superficial and physical ailments. In Canada, “an appointment with a family physician lasts 10-15 minutes on average” (Mate, 2023). How can they truly diagnose and help if they do not even have enough time to listen carefully, with their undivided attention? To truly understand these impacts that religion may have on a person’s life and possibly fix them (perhaps with religion) physicians need to implement the practices of Narrative Medicine as shown to us by Dr. Rita Charon, to hear the story that is not being told by one’s lips. If they only have such a small amount of time with their patients how can they truly help besides applying a bandaid to a cut? There is so much more that can contribute to a patient’s ailments than just the physical injuries. Sometimes medicine cannot work alone and needs some of the practices that come from religion. Narrative medicine embodies these ideas because it allows the physician to build a trusting relationship with the patient and provides some of the principles that come from religion.

Some studies have linked depression and substance abuse to a lack of spirituality or exposure to religion (Mate, 2023). Spiritually focused forms of therapies have also been shown to have a positive effect on reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychological orders (Mate, 2023). What are some possible reasons for this? Also is there a specific religion that is alleviating symptoms of mental health more than others? Is there a common theme between multiple different religions that allows for this? To answer these questions, most of the ideas are speculation. More research is required with regard to these subjects. However, the principles that religion stands on and the qualities it possesses may be the cause for all of this.

In particular, churches were created so that people could gather together and praise God. This idea comes from the verse, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). In churches there are readings from the bible being read and then typically a sermon which analyzes the ideas presented and tries to implement them into one’s modern day life. There are guidelines for people to live by and in their eyes lead a “good life” and do the “right thing” (Nami, 2016).

There is also the idea of prayer. Prayer is a form of communication with God. In a way, it is like behavioral therapy according to some researchers. In prayer you speak to God, you say everything on your mind and you end up feeling better, either because you focus on things that you are grateful for or you trust that everything will work out the way it is supposed to (Feder, 2020).

Most notoriously there is also the idea of building a community. In almost every religion there is a place where people gather and attend religious events. They pray and typically partake in fellowship after. Fellowship is a form of companionship where you spend time with people who share similar interests, in this case, their religious ideas. When people have a community that they know will always be there for them, they feel like they belong and can trust the people around them (Nami, 2016). These communities could help people deal with underlying issues that may end up causing certain mental health disorders.

In every religion, there is some form of ritual that is a part of it. For example, funerals can allow people to deal with losses that could otherwise destroy them. The order of a catholic funeral ritual is shown in Figure 2. In Christianity, there are also weekly liturgies every Sunday. These liturgies (a type of ritual) give people structure in their week. People will know that on Sunday they go to church and that is a normal thing to do. Structure helps people stay organized and deal with the stresses they may face. Even some holidays are religion-based and will have some sort of ritual to go with it that may bring joy to people’s lives (Nami, 2016).

Although so far we have discussed why religion could relieve possible mental health symptoms, there is much to suggest that much like any battle there are two sides to this idea. To some extent, religion uses one’s imagination in order to foster this relationship with God. According to Luhrmann, most people do not visibly see God so it takes much imagination in order to actually talk to Him, like conversing with a friend. It has been found that religious involvement with God has even led to increased immune system functions and a reduction in loneliness (Feder, 2020). The more creative one is and the more imagination they have in order to really foster this relationship, the more pronounced these effects can be. However, these effects can often be very negative. Like relationships with people, individuals may have negative relationships with God, where they view him as judgemental and ready to punish. When individuals have this negative connotation of who God is then they are more likely to develop symptoms aligned with mental illness. Yet, when they see God as more of a loving father they experience fewer mental health symptoms (Feder, 2020).

Similar to much of anything in this world, a relationship with God could be considered “weak”, where individuals have a maladaptive relationship with God and actually worsen their mental health symptoms (Dein, 2018). When people view God as someone who is judging them for all the bad they do and who will punish them because of the ideas that have been invoked on them they are more likely to be stressed and scared and experience many emotions that could ultimately be signs of declining mental health.

However, this is not the fault of religion itself. Many different people practice religion, and some like to take the teachings of the religion and force them onto other people, even when they are not completely true. Religion is a tool people use to build strong, loving relationships with God and other people. This tool has power, the power to do good (possibly alleviate stress and better mental health symptoms), and the power to do evil (possibly worsen mental health symptoms). When love is involved in an individual’s relationship with God they seem to be healthier concerning their mental state. Therefore, it is not fair to say that religion worsens mental health because although there are some instances where this does happen, it is because of people invoking their thoughts into the teachings rather than properly practicing the religion. Most religions are centered around love for all, yet many who practice these religions often do not possess that love for everyone which can end up costing one’s relationship with God and make them suffer even more.

Religious relations can be divided into two groups: positive and negative. As we stated before positive religion is where you view God as a loving God who cares about you. Negative religion is when you view God as judgemental and as a punisher. Often, positive religion results in better outcomes concerning one’s mental health, while negative religion results in worse outcomes concerning one’s mental health. It is important to be aware of what type of religion you are practicing and reflect with a spiritual leader and healthcare provider to strengthen your religious ideals.

There is much literature to suggest that religion and spirituality (mainly positive religious practices) are associated with lower levels of depression, more preventative measures against suicide completion and attempts, lower chances of developing substance abuse disorders, and help people cope with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (Lucchetti, 2021). These are only a few examples of the benefits of religious and spiritual practices, more research is required to determine the effects religion may have on other mental health disorders.

What makes practicing religion have all these positive results concerning one’s mental state? We discussed that it is because there is a community with religion, positive teachings, rituals, and more that allow people to deal with their issues. However, is that all? Don’t school or work possess some of these qualities, like a community? So what makes religion different? We know that based on how one views their relationship with God it could either worsen or alleviate certain mental health symptoms. Could it possibly be love as that helps decrease one’s likeliness for certain disorders and alleviates the symptoms?

In the world today there is so much hate that causes people to separate from one another and do evil. If we replace that hate with love then every person could lead a better life with peace and no quarrels with one another. So many ailments, physical and mental, are caused by all the hate in the world. Further research is required to show that love is what can help this world. A family that is based on love is a strong family where all members care for each other and are happy.

In medicine, there is only so much that medication can do, but when you combine medication with good human interactions (religious/spiritual well-being ideas) the benefits can be so much greater (Mate, 2023). These relationships and this love can be found in religion which is why in many cases religion and spirituality can often better one’s mental health and allow them to lead better lives. Love is the answer to all our problems, and hopefully one day we can all show our love for one another and live in harmony.

Bibliography

The global religious landscape. (2012, December 18). Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscape-exec/ 

Dein S. (2018). Against the Stream: religion and mental health – the case for the inclusion of religion and spirituality into psychiatric care. BJPsych bulletin, 42(3), 127–129. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2017.13

Feder, S. (2020, November 13). Deep Faith Beneficial to Health. Stanford Report. https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2020/11/deep-faith-beneficial-health 

Lucchetti, G., Koenig, H. G., & Lucchetti, A. L. G. (2021). Spirituality, religiousness, and mental health: A review of the current scientific evidence. World journal of clinical cases, 9(26), 7620–7631. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v9.i26.7620

Mate, K., & Arora, A. (2023). Religion’s role in Mental Health: Think Global Health. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/religions-role-mental-health 

Nami. (2016). The Mental Health Benefits of Religion & Spirituality. NAMI. https://www.nami.org/faith-community-leader/the-mental-health-benefits-of-religion-spirituality/

New King James Version (1982). Matthew 18:20 

Planning a Catholic funeral service. LiturgyTools.net. (n.d.-b). https://www.liturgytools.net/2012/07/catholic-funeral-service-planning-forms-templates-worksheets-grid.html#google_vignette 

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab_2