Religious and spiritual struggles
When Religion Becomes Traumatic
Have there been any studies on the psychological harm caused by religion?
On balance, have studies shown religion to benefit or harm mental health of believers?
The overall research literature suggests a mixed but generally negative picture when “religious fundamentalism” is defined as rigid, authoritarian, exclusivist, or obedience-centered belief systems. At the same time, researchers consistently distinguish between fundamentalism and religiosity in general. Moderate or non-authoritarian religious upbringing often correlates with some positive outcomes.
