Psychology and Religion

Just as psychology studies pretty much everything a human could ever partake in, it also studies religion. The science of psychology is an attempt to analyze every part of the human experience and behavior. The psychology of religion aims to uncover the impact of relationships in religion in order to predict behaviors.

It is meant to connect religious consciousness with religious patterns and behaviors. While many psychologists have defined religion in their own ways throughout the years, it is safe to say that religion and spirituality are deeply engrained in psychology.

For many religious people, their religion is their way of life. When someone follows a religion, it gives them meaning. The world is big and there are a lot of question marks. For many, religion calms those worries and gives them solid ground to stand on.

Religion tends to outline a set way to live. This includes morals to hold yourself accountable , a way to treat others, a belief in what comes next when we die, and more. Religion usually also gives someone an organization to belong to, such as a church or temple.

Around the whole world, there are twelve classical religions. These religions include Baha’ism, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism. There are smaller, less prominent religions as well but most people who are religious fall under one of these.

These spiritual traditions vary in what they offer people, what they practice, what they study, and what they find meaning and substance in. However, all of these religions include people making the psychological commitment to something they care for and believe in.

There is no concrete or cognitive reason as to why humans tend to believe in religion and spirituality. However, when we are young, we seem to love finding things to believe in. Children’s brains are so big and so ready to learn.

An article written by the American Psychological Association discusses the tie between adults viewing the world as an intentional design, created by something, and children naturally believing that everything exists for a reason. To a child, if something exists or acts a certain way, there is a purpose behind it. In a child’s mind, there is no other way. For example, why do trees exist? A child might answer “So that squirrels have a place to live and play in.”

Humans naturally feel connected to people who feel similar to them. When we “click” with someone it’s usually because of similar thought patterns, morals, and lifestyles. When it comes to religion, there are a whole group of people that feel similarly to you! Religion provides a space for individuals and families to find religious, spiritual, psychological, and sometimes even financial support.

Regardless of the actual religion, there is likely always a local community that people of the same religion belong to. This is one of the major connections between religion and psychology – it allows people to feel like they belong and are being cared for.

Just as religion and spirituality can connect people, it can also pull them apart. While there are different levels of religiosity and spirituality, someone’s belief system is typically personal and treasured. When someone else doesn’t believe in something important to us, it can cause tension.

This could be because of a disagreement, judgment, or a host of other things. Sometimes this ends in the parties going their separate ways. In some religions, believers are not allowed to have friendships or relationships with people who do not follow the same religion. This would cause a divide as well.

Tune in and learn how religion and psychology can work together and pull apart!