Does Religion Have Any Effect On Your Well Being (Physical Or Psychological)?

[idiosyncrasy]

It has been suggested in a previous thread that religion leads to psychological problems.

[Peter Pedant]

The problem with asking a question like this is that the answers are unusable anywhere else as a result of 'recall bias'

[sandyRoe]

Carl Gustav Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, was of the opinion that religious belief made an individual healthier and more at ease with themselves and their world.

[andy-hughes]

It has no effect on my well-being that I am aware of.

[weecalf]

Religion was designed to be mans gift to god .So are you saying the gift is not good enough ,should he not get it. If we choose not be part of a particular gift we have done nothing wrong .Like every other gift its the thought that counts .

[naomi24]

Ah, I see you've moved the discussion. Perhaps you'll address my last point on the other thread here then. Is a grown man who thinks that reading an entirely fictional story written for young people will have a psychologically damaging effect upon him healthy?

[LazyGun]

There have been studies that show both positive and negative effects of religiousity on well being, as measured by (largely subjective) responses from participants enrolled into the study.

Its clear to me that religion can have both harmful and beneficial effects on both your physical and psychological well-being. It is my opinion that nowadays, the cultural and social harms of religion outweigh its benefits.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect most types of life experiences may have an effect on one's well being, but not necessarily will. Can be good or bad depending on the individual experience/circumstance.

[jomifl]

Ah cannae gie a bevvy oan th' sabbath

[mibn2cweus]

religion < - > psychological problems . . . egg < - > chicken

[idiosyncrasy]

Naomi@ //Is a grown man who thinks that reading an entirely fictional story written for young people will have a psychologically damaging effect upon him healthy?//

I am a reader and will read almost anything if it is interesting. be it factual or fiction. Is reading dangerous? If I read Anna Karenina will I become suicidal? What about the BFG, will I suddenly feel that I am possessed of superhuman hearing and immense speed?

[naomi24]

So what effect do you think Harry Potter might have on you? You won't read that.

[Khandro]

Does Religion Have Any Effect On Your Well Being?
Yes, it makes you feel better, and there are statistics to show that the religious live longer, healthier lives.

[gness]

Growing up in a religious family let me see how controlling and damaging it can be....I am far happier with my life and how I feel since I left all that behind me. Had I stayed with the faith I'm sure I would be a wreck by now.

I know my mother, for instance, thought that she would always have the support of the Catholic Church if she needed it.....

In fact, when the time came, she would have had more help and support from a knit and natter group....She could no longer give so she was of no more use. At least her mind is too far gone for the truth about the Catholic Church to distress her.

[Khandro]

gness; I'm sorry to hear about your mother's plight. I am not Catholic, but a close friend is, and his mother in her final years was looked after extremely well in a Catholic care home by nuns, far better than my mother was in a privately run secular one.

[pixie373]

It's hard to say, as those who are religious will have a different psychological make -up anyway. It's more likely some need it and some don't. It's a comfort blanket.

[jim360]

I expect that the spectrum of psychological problems will be broadly same among the religious as not. I am atheistic and not necessarily the happiest person on the planet, but the two aren't really connected. My friend is very religious and also very happy -- probably despite it, but it's not the easiest thing in the world to tell. What religion can do is lead to psychological problems in those on whom it is imposed -- which is a different problem.

[idiosyncrasy]

Research largely shows that religion and spirituality have a positive correlation to psychological well-being. However, there has been a great deal of confusion and debate over their operational definitions. This study attempted to delineate the two constructs and categorise participants into different groups based on measured levels of religious involvement and spirituality. The groups were then scored against specific measures of well-being. A total of 205 participants from a wide range of religious affiliations and faith groups were recruited from various religious institutions and spiritual meetings. They were assigned to one of four groups with the following characteristics: (1) a high level of religious involvement and spirituality, (2) a low level of religious involvement with a high level of spirituality, (3) a high level of religious involvement with a low level of spirituality, and (4) a low level of religious involvement and spirituality. Multiple comparisons were made between the groups on three measures of psychological well-being: levels of self-actualisation, meaning in life, and personal growth initiative. As predicted, it was discovered that, aside from a few exceptions, groups (1) and (2) obtained higher scores on all three measures. As such, these results confirm the importance of spirituality on psychological well-being, regardless of whether it is experienced through religious participation.

And before anyone says this is a C & P, here is the link.


http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10943-011-9540-2

[pixie373]

It is impossible to categorise humans in that way. There will be so many other differences, you don't know what you're measuring.

[naomi24]

idiosyncrasy, will you answer my question please? What effect do you think reading Harry Potter might have on you?

[birdie1971]

Khandro - “... Does Religion Have Any Effect On Your Well Being? Yes, it makes you feel better, and there are statistics to show that the religious live longer, healthier lives...”

Really?
Would you be so kind as to provide us with a link to this evidence?