"...belief in a higher power do significantly better in short-term psychiatric treatment than those without."
Yes, it's very reassuring that the big man in the sky is looking after you, and when things don't go to your plan, well that's part of his plan, so be cool! Oh, and I get to see my loved one's when I die. Awesomeness! This would make anyone happier.
"This raises interesting questions. Does this support the concept of depressive realism?"
Of course there's depressive realism, it's depressing to know that this life is all that is, and those that do bad, like wipe out a bunch of wealth from people's pensions - they're not going to punished in an afterlife. Really depressing!
"If the association is found to be causal, would it be ethical for a psychiatrist to prescribe religion?"
I'm sure there's a causal association, but I want to truth, so of course it would be unethical to prescribe bogus religion. In some sense, psychology already tries to find a more meaningful story for the patient, a better self view, and it might be true, but pushing them to a religion is wrong - religion is judgmental, arrogant, and what's worse is that grown ups shouldn't believe in mystical beings. Face the hard truth, and live the best life you can, because you only have one.
Slashdot Mirror
"...belief in a higher power do significantly better in short-term psychiatric treatment than those without." Yes, it's very reassuring that the big man in the sky is looking after you, and when things don't go to your plan, well that's part of his plan, so be cool! Oh, and I get to see my loved one's when I die. Awesomeness! This would make anyone happier. "This raises interesting questions. Does this support the concept of depressive realism?" Of course there's depressive realism, it's depressing to know that this life is all that is, and those that do bad, like wipe out a bunch of wealth from people's pensions - they're not going to punished in an afterlife. Really depressing! "If the association is found to be causal, would it be ethical for a psychiatrist to prescribe religion?" I'm sure there's a causal association, but I want to truth, so of course it would be unethical to prescribe bogus religion. In some sense, psychology already tries to find a more meaningful story for the patient, a better self view, and it might be true, but pushing them to a religion is wrong - religion is judgmental, arrogant, and what's worse is that grown ups shouldn't believe in mystical beings. Face the hard truth, and live the best life you can, because you only have one.