religion

A term which, in the UK, is defined as an organised belief system concerning the sacred and/or divine, which is based on the moral codes, cultures and subcultures, practices and institutions associated with such a belief system.

religion

An entity of wide human significance encompassing doctrinal, historical, literary, devotional, experiential, behavioural and transcendental elements. It is concerned with man's relationship to God, however perceived. Religion may be formalized in dogma or entirely free and individual. It may be a matter of indifference or of the most central importance. Its influence on health may be beneficial, negligible or malign. Religion has been one of the major causes of human suffering and a source of immense consolation to millions. It has brought out the direst cruelty and the most benevolent and altruistic conduct. By their nature, religious beliefs cannot be validated in the manner of scientific facts and must always be matters of faith and unsupported belief. Doctors have a duty to respect the religious beliefs of their patients.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Patient discussion about religion

Q. Is Christian religion dangerous to your mental health? I think manic episodes can be somewhat akin to religious experiences. Perhaps searching for God can lead to either mania or depression. Maybe we are searching for an impossible dream.

A. I would say that in our life, the balance factor is important. everything that is over-rated will not be good anymore. example :
- if you're too obese, you have higher risk of having some metabolic problems; but if you're doing your strict diet too strong, then you can risk yourself of lacking some nutrition
- you are lazy enough to do some sports, you can't have your muscles built. you push yourself too hard in workout session, there's a risk of sport injury

and i will say the same in religion related to mental health. we need to be healthy not just physically, but also mentally, and spiritually. the problem is, some 'fanatic' believers -because the religion itself always teaches us how to live our life well- are exaggerating some beliefs inside the religion verses, and live it outrageously, and later it will manifest in some manic manifestation.

More discussions about religion

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References in periodicals archive

In Chapters one and two, Lester explores the configuration of the women's religious movement in Champagne in its pre-institutionalized phase.

Creating Cistercian Nuns: The Women's Religious Movement and Its Reform in Thirteenth-Century Champagne

This reader is also somewhat confused by the editors contention that "New African American religious movements come into existence for different reasons than [sic] new white religious movements" (xiv), which, although essentially true, implies that all new white religious movements are one and the same.

Rebecca Moore, Anthony B. Pinn, and Mary R. Sawyer, eds. Peoples Temple and Black Religion in America

Sprinkled among timeless lessons from the likes of Habakkuk and Amos are stories from Wallis's time on the front lines of poverty-for 30 years, he has lived in one of Washington, D.C.'s most violent neighborhoods--and from his travels around the country to build a vibrant progressive religious movement, as well as his frustrating encounters with political establishments on the right and the left.

The good fight: how much longer can the religious left remain politically neutral?

Identifying new religious movements, cults, and dissenting religious groups, understanding their practices, and discovering reasons for their attractiveness to some students are helpful to the school counselor.

When spirituality goes awry: students in cults

Muhammad leads a religious movement that worships Allah and no other deity (god).

Islam time line

I AM not a member of any organised religion and as such don't hold a torch for any religious movement or religious cult.

Clare McKeon's column: Give religions chance to advertise

Star TV's pitch was doubtless enhanced when Murdoch's son, James, openly criticized the Falun Gong, an outlawed religious movement that has been brutally suppressed by Beijing.

Chairman Murdock strikes a deal. (Asia)

How else could it understand a religious movement that accepted Jesus as a great prophet and messiah born of the Virgin Mary, but that also vehemently denied his divinity as well as the reality of his Crucifixion?

What's the Catholic view of Islam?

Despite its open-minded, modern approach to law enforcement, however, nothing prepared the department for the challenge it faced when the Chen Tao religious movement came to town.

Interacting with "Cults"

The founder of the religious movement Christian Science, Eddy published Science and Health (1875) as an exposition of her ideas and as the official statement of the organization she headed.

Eddy, Mary Baker

Which religious movement was founded in Pittsburgh by Charles Taze Russell?

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