A doctoral thesis I guided at Madras University was on the impact of religious practices on depression. The research scholar, Johnny KK, tested the depression levels of terminally ill patients before and after “religious therapy.” There was a measurable diminishment of depression.
The dissertation also included a 136-page Review of Literature which showed the mounting evidence for the impact of religious practices on mental health. The evidence grows each decade.
Psychology and spirituality (or religion), once seen as enemies or rivals, are close allies today. One of the main reasons for this is the abundance of psychological research that shows that spiritual practices (such as meditation) or religious practices (such as private or common prayer or church attendance) promote mental, and even physical, health. In one word, people who practise meditation and regular prayer enjoy better mental health, and, in a number of cases, faster recovery from illness.
The findings are worth quoting.
Meditators have lower blood pressure than non-meditators.
Meditators manage negative emotions, such as depression or anger, better than those who do not meditate.
Practically everyone I know who has practised Vipassana meditation spoke of its positive impact, such as, facing situations more calmly and being aware of oneself.
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Fr Joe Mannath SDB
