Spirituality and Psychology

Increasingly, psychologists are recognizing the importance of spirituality.  In a recent article published in the American Psychological Association magazine for psychologists, "A Reason to Believe," Beth Azar looked at some of the psychological benefits of spirituality. 

She noted that since Sigmund Freud, some psychologists have seen religion as unhealthy.  However, research is now showing that it is in many ways just the opposite--a very important part of human existence.  Despite the 20th century movements of communism and atheism, 85% of the world still has some type of religious belief.

One important role of religion is to create "increasingly larger social groups, held together by common beliefs."

Religion provides a sense of certainty during times of angst and uncertainty.  People search for meaning and order and find comfort when they find it.

To some degree, the tendency to believe may be innate, and it may have to be "taught out of us."  One psychologist found that "children as young as age 3 naturally attribute supernatural abilities and immortality to “God,” even if they’ve never been taught about God, and they tell elaborate stories about their lives before they were born, what Barrett calls “pre-life.” "

Some areas of the brain have been found to be more active during religious contemplation.  Buddhist monks who were meditating  used the attentional areas of the frontal lobes more intensely.

Spirituality seems to lead to people having longer lives.  Religious persons live longer, have less depression, abuse substances less, and may take care of their health better.

Religion also leads people to be more prosocial.  They are more cooperative and more fair with strangers.

There is much more that could be said here.  The field of the psychology of religion keeps growing.  Some researchers are believers and some are not.  Either way, we've come a long way  since Sigmund Freud and the knee jerk reaction that says that religion is pathological.