The Relationship between Religion and Mental Health

I realize everyone grows up differently, and religion and spirituality may not even be factors in some people's lives. However, growing up in a very strong religious culture has left its mark on my mental health and on the mental health of many around me. Accordingly, I wanted to share a few thoughts on how spirituality can impact mental health for better or worse.

The degree to which a religion can influence us varies depending on the religion, the particular flock we may belong to when our initial views of the world are formed, and how we choose to engage with that religion throughout our adolescent and adult years. Some religions take a very hard line about certain issues such as drugs and sexuality. For someone who struggles in these areas, growing up in an unforgiving religion can result in a lot of buried shame.

At the same time, religion can serve as a strong support, especially when someone needs a sense of community and to feel there is a place to turn to when life is difficult. Belief in a loving God can help one endure great privations with forbearance. That said, beliefs tend to change as a person matures and no two people, even two people who profess to be part of the same religion, will have the same experience with that religion.

A particularly difficult scenario for some to face is when church is somehow integrated into their trauma, such as when someone is sexually abused by a clergy member or mistreated by someone in the congregation. My view on these matters is that each person must determine for themselves what role religion and spirituality will play in their lives. To the degree that religion supports positive mental health, it is doing its job well. However, it may be necessary to sort out some issues with perfection and shame associated with religion in order for religion to be an effective tool that leads to better healing and recovery.

One of the most difficult challenges some individuals can face in their lives is leaving their childhood religion. Some people can do this with very few consequences, while others may find themselves facing hurtful rejection from friends and family. Even those who begin to see their religion differently but remain a part of their original congregation can find that their new views don't sit well with other members and may have to keep quiet or experience various forms of persecution, some of them quite subtle.

Many religions are based on the idea that there is only one valid path to heaven. Upon leaving such a religion, a person may experience an internal sense of guilt and shame. Those whose early views are all deeply shaped by a religious culture and context may find themselves feeling lost and uncertain after making a significant change in their faith-based views. I was raised in such a Christian religion. I later transitioned to Buddhism and then accepted that I am "spiritual but not religious." Now my view is that there are many paths to heaven and none is invalid. I honor everyone's right to choose for themselves what religious beliefs to adhere to and how to engage with them.

I believe an overly rigid concept of right and wrong can be detrimental to mental health. Someone who grows up in a religion that heavily emphasizes the importance of marriage may choose to remain in an abusive marriage because of religious teachings. Although I am saddened when a good marriage ends, I rejoice when someone finds the courage to walk away from a hurtful spouse. "There is no recipe for living that suits all cases," Carl Jung said. I believe it's up to each person to discover an internal sense of morality for themselves. Views of morality can be informed by religious texts and the words of loving leaders, but I don't believe a single book or person speaks for everyone living. When someone makes a careful and calculated change to their idea of personal morality, it isn't always received well but I honor their right to do so as long as their choices to not hurt others.

It's important to recognize how religion and spirituality can hurt us and help us. It's important to examine our own views from time to time and adjust them as we gain additional life experience. If you are struggling in your religious worship, recognize that it is okay to examine other options, including a reframing of current beliefs while continuing to participate. Those who remain in a religion may feel threatened by someone who leaves the fold, but it doesn't need to be this way. If anything, those leaving require more love than those who remain.