DOES RELIGIOUS PRACTICE LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF DEPRESSION?
Psychiatrists like Sigmond Freud and Albert Ellis argued that religious practices made mental health problems worse. However, this argument was NOT based on rigorous large-scale studies as have been done since the 1980s.
150 years ago, there was a giant battle between religion and psychiatry. Today a large majority of psychiatrists are agnostic or atheists. So, they do not bring religion into their therapy with their patients. However, since the 1980s many studies have been done and those that religious observance does lessen depression. There is also a 50,000 member American Association of Christian Counselors [AACC] led by Dr. Tim Clinton. These counselors are bringing their therapy into agreement with the Bible. However, they need help from our pastors to reach more depressed people
150 years ago, there was a giant battle between religion and psychiatry. Today a large majority of psychiatrists are agnostic or atheists. So, they do not bring religion into their therapy with their patients. However, since the 1980s many studies have been done and those that religious observance does lessen depression. There is also a 50,000 member American Association of Christian Counselors [AACC] led by Dr. Tim Clinton. These counselors are bringing their therapy into agreement with the Bible. However, they need help from our pastors to reach more depressed people
“Perspective: Having Trouble With Mental Health? Try Religion,” by Dr. Samuel T. Wilkinson [Yale Depression Research Program], 5/15/25, Deseret News, msn.com
“In a rigorous review of more than 400 studies that examined the relationship between religion and depression, most studies (61%) found less depression among those who were more religious…. The data showed that frequent religious attendance was associated with about a 30% lower incidence of depression.”
“But as rates of depression and anxiety continue to rise (alongside falling rates of religious service attendance), we ought to remember and take advantage of institutional religion as an important source of mental well-being.”
While it can be argued that church attendance can help lower depression, I would argue that if there is not sound biblical teaching and the teaching of a biblical worldview, then church attendance will not have its total good effect. Dr. George Barna discovered with his surveys in 2024 that a lack of a biblical worldview is a major contributor to depression.
“Research Suggests Consequences of Anti-Biblical Worldview Often Misdiagnosed and Treated as Mental Illness,” September 24, 2024 by George Barna,www.georgebarna.com .
Yes, often a lack of a biblical worldview is misdiagnosed as mental illness. This is caused by the failure of our pastors to properly preach the bible. It is time to call our pastors onto the carpet and remind them that they are to preach the WHOLE bible as it applies to controversial topics that will upset people. Some of our preachers love the praise of men more than the praise of God. So, more people must go back to church, but our preachers must do a better job of teaching the bible. The church must be more than just a social club.
