Keywords

Christianity, guilt, mental health, self-image, religious beliefs

 

Authors

  1. Schnorr, Marcia

Abstract

ABSTRACT: At the time this article first appeared in JCN, religious beliefs were a concern in psychiatry. Some thought religious attitudes, beliefs, and rituals were symptoms of mental illness, and religious ideation and delusions could be caused by religious beliefs. This article explores how distorted Christian beliefs and practice can contribute to poor self-image, negative feelings, guilt, and thus mental illness. However, rightly understood, Christian faith and practice enhance mental health.