You know what.... I don't find this study indicative of anything.

Sorry. I'm too stupid to handle this

There are some conflicts of interest, maybe? It is a jumping off spot for further discussion. I wonder aloud if spirituality has to be religious? Maybe it is a state of mind or an altered state of consciousness, that would open up a chanel to the super ego? Maybe visualization methods or neuro linguistic programing take place in a certain receptive state like a trance? Just wondering? Because effective coping styles can keep people from going off the deep end or ending up dead or in an institution. What ever works to relieve suffering is A OK in my book. Amen.

It's a vague study with too many moving parts

Atheists?

Buddhists?

Wiccans?

I mean they backed off drawing in conclusions about the punishing god which didn't find their "helpful elf" theory credible. By backing off drawing conclusions about fire & brimstone their theory isn't a theory. It's an infomercial.

Did they test people who are grounded in a fact/math/science base world for psychiatric problems?

Are they saying all fictional belief helps coping mechanisms so.... Would belief in fairies would be helpful.

Sorry... That recent AC360 crap about heaven has soured me on all bs coming from the powers that be. Collective loss of oxygen to the head I thought caused hallucinations. Couldn't bring myself to watch.

There are no stats I find credible related to this article.

Edited to add: it would be helpful if they tested a theory that economic and social status security helps prevent psychiatric problems. And do shopaholics count as religious? Sorry for the rambling but I'm having problems coping with bs this season

My stance has been that if you want to meet a messed up psych patient, let them have religious ideation inter-woven in their delusional system. It's the worst. A vengeful punishing Deity seems to lead to self destructive punishing behaviors like cutting.

OTOH, I would think Buddhism would be a natural path for developing effective coping mechanisms.

I'm not pushing religious teaching as a panacea for mental health techniques but I have seen programs like AA benefit atheists, like my late father. Reaching outside of yourself for the strength of group can be a sort of spiritual step, that helps some folks learn to ask for support to get better.

the hypothesis that patients with religious ideation are worse off than those without it.

Psychotic patients often turn to religious ideology in an attempt to understand what is happening to them. However, correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

As the article states, religion can play both a positive and negative role when someone is suffering from a psychiatric illness. Some find solace, others find punishment.

Cutting is a symptom most often seen in those with personality disorders. I've never seen any correlation with religion, but it might be out there.

The AA issue is an interesting one. Many non-believers struggle with the higher power concept, but some have been able to craft a definition that excludes a god. I'm glad your father was able to get some strength from it.

And social structures as a whole I believe benefitted the human race since beginning of time.

Thx. I do understand your pov. Makes sense.

But it's from a respected source in a legitimate journal.

Interesting information though on how one's concept of god leads to different outcomes.