Scientific research on the relationship between spirituality, religion, and mental health has grown exponentially over the past few decades, resulting in evidence to suggest that religion and spirituality can both positively and negatively impact mental health, shape explanatory models of health and illness, and influence help-seeking behaviors and engagement with healthcare providers.
Notwithstanding the lack of consensus and undisputed evidence-based data on the relationship between spirituality, religion, and mental health, the available evidence demonstrates the need for an increased recognition of the role of spirituality/religion in mental health clinical practice and research. As such, Neurotheology is an exciting new approach that may help bridge our understandings of religion, health and the overall human condition. Other researchers prefer to use terms like “spiritual neuroscience” or “neuroscience of religion”. It is an emerging field of study that seeks to understand the relationship between the brain science and religion.
It has been argued that mental health-care professionals ought to consider discussions around spirituality and religion, and establish partnerships with spiritual/faith-based organizations to avoid alienating those individuals whose belief system are not represented by secular principles. Some professionals have even called for a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Model of mental health to ensure a more holistic approach to treatment.
Given the traditional unwillingness of the mental health profession to engage with spirituality and religion, the relationship between these domains has been characterized by divisions and mistrust. This Research Topic aims to bridge that divide by initiating conversations, and contributing to filling this gap in the literature.
The appropriate understanding and linkage between the brain and faith has an enormous implication on mental health and wellbeing in terms of providing evidence-based information, policy recommendations, healthcare guidelines, and final successful implementation mental health initiatives.
By creating a space to discuss the complexities around the relationship between spirituality, religion, and mental health, the authors wish to add to the evidence-based knowledge in the field and pave the road for the application of some of these ideas to clinical practice.
We invite empirical papers (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods), systematic and narrative reviews, and perspectives on the following topics related to spirituality and religion:
1) Issues related to spirituality / religion and therapy / mental health
2) Bio-medical / ethical issues
3) Spirituality / religion and neuroscience (changes in MRIs and CT scans when people meditate/pray) and implications for MH
4) Cross-cultural issues when working with spirituality and religion / Cross-cultural beliefs towards mental health and treatment modalities
5) Comparative and intervention empirical studies
6) Brain, neuroscience and faith / spirituality
7) Death, near death experience, religion, and Mental health
