Religion serves the important purpose of facilitating spirituality in and of itself, but it also fulfills other functions, including psychological, social, and physical functions. On the contrary, spirituality focuses on the search for a particular significant destination, the sacred. Spirituality and religion often provide a sense of security and social structure, and those beliefs can be a strong survival mechanism in difficult times.
Being an active member of a close-knit religious community can provide structure, support, and a sense of acceptance, all of which are beneficial to mental health
.Connecting a group can make people feel welcome and valued. There are also certain life circumstances or situations that can challenge religious connections and beliefs. This can include a chronic illness, the loss of a loved one, or even feelings of rejection in times of change. During these difficult times, people may seek guidance outside their faith group or trusted spiritual leaders on how to cope and maintain mental well-being.
Christianity continued to be the majority religion, as 59.3 percent of the population identified as Christian; however, this figure had decreased compared to the 2001 census, in which 71.1 percent of the population identified as Christian. Religion is an organized, community-based belief system, while spirituality resides in the individual and what they personally believe. Finally, Manuti argues that religion “could be considered as a significant vital domain that gives more meaning to the experience of aging” (p. Possessing the skills, knowing the resources and creating an ethical framework to defend individuals and families affected by mental health conditions is key to playing a fundamental role in improving the overall mental health of the community.
My education is more like yours, a boarding school where there was too much religion and I think I took the easy path to confirm myself, because I didn't want to face my principal. Religion is often seen as a form of public and external expression, while spirituality is generally seen as something internal and personal. The use of a qualitative methodology allows a deeper understanding of these abstract concepts of religion, spirituality, beliefs and positive aging to emerge. This topic can also be considered in relation to the elements of theme one, around the diminishing role of the traditional family and what this means for social support networks for older adults, and how the changing modern world was seen as a threat to the sense of community.
Regarding medical care, a participant who was a retired nurse explained how all aspects of a person's life used to be taken into account when they were admitted as patients, including their social life, religion and family situation; something that, according to her, has changed in today's world. Another aspect of this was the inability to relate to the manifestations of religion that were evident in some parts of the world today. Several participants expressed how their experience and relationship with religion had changed significantly since they were younger and that some of the behaviors and ways of life associated with religion were changing and, in some cases, diminishing, and that other activities were becoming more important in everyday life, such as shopping on Sundays instead of going to church. These mental health benefits aren't limited to their respective categories: individuality isn't unique to religion, just as spirituality can include a sense of community in some cases.
Within religion there is spirituality, but if you have spirituality, it doesn't necessarily mean you have religion, says someone who practices both religion and spirituality. In addition, it is important to note that religion and spirituality do not always have a positive effect on people's lives. For example, many people may identify with a religion but not actively participate in religious practices, while others may not identify with a religion but still turn to religious support in times of need. .
