Before reading this week's article on the intersection of psychology and Christianity, I viewed them as having passive aggressiveness towards each other. I have always thought that psychology and religion's association was based on a conflictual model, albeit a subtle one characterized by a win-lose position. In my view, the two disciplines always challenged each other's suppositions, questioned the rationality of the other's methods, and challenged the truth value of the opponent's content. For example, I did not think that there is a connection between religion and mental health or between religion and psychotherapy. However, after engaging with this week’s readings, my worldview on the intersection of religion and psychology significantly changed.
First, the article "Religion and Mental Health: Evidence for an Association" by Harold G. Koenig and David B. Larson hypothesizes that there is both a negative and positive association between religion and mental health. For example, the authors write t hat research conducted between the 1950s and 1960s showed a positive correlation between religion and deteriorating mental health ( Koenig & Larson, 2001 ). However, in later studies, it was ascertained that most people view religion as a shock absorber against their menta l health traumas and challenges. That notwithstanding, it is important to note that these findings varied with different parts of the world. Koenig and Larson (2001) conclude that recent studies show a positive association between religion and mental health, whereby researchers have established that religion's involvement is important in managing mental health conditions.
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Similarly, the same positive relationship is ascertained in the second article, "Are Religion and Spirituality of Relevance in Psychotherapy" by Jeffrey E. Barnett. Barnet (2016) notes that the interconnection is particularly important for religious patients since their beliefs and spiritual intervention contribute to their mental wellbeing. However, psychologists need to consider understanding the meaning of religion in the lives of their patients. Engaging with the two scholarly materials changed my perspective.
References
Barnett, J. E. (2016). Are Religion and Spirituality of Relevance in Psychotherapy? Spirituality in Clinical Practice , 3 (1), 5.
Koenig, H., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Religion and mental health: Evidence for an association. International review of psychiatry , 13 (2), 67-78.
