Come on. Didn’t we kinda’ know this already?
A new study indicates that individuals who claim to be “spiritual,” but who lack an allegiance to a specific religion, may, in fact, be more likely to suffer from mental health problems.
The research shows that people who embrace spiritualism without religious constructs are at a potential mental-health disadvantage compared to those who are more traditionally religious (or even when compared to those who are atheists and agnostics). In addition to having greater mental health problems, these people are also more likely to take medication to deal with associated issues, the Telegraph reports.
The research, which was conducted by Professor Michael King from the University College London, among others, was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The shocking study came to the following conclusion: “There is increasing evidence that people who profess spiritual beliefs in the absence of a religious framework are more vulnerable to mental disorder.”
It seems to me that being spiritual but not religious doesn’t pin people down to the rules that they likely seek to avoid but I don’t see how they obtain comfort from such a faith, if that’s what it can be called.
The thing is, the “rules” that people don’t like are really just guideposts towards holiness and love. People look at the Commandments as a bunch of “thou shall nots.” But I always look at it as similar to getting married. You can look at your vows as saying no to millions of ladies or saying “yes” to one.
So if you look at it that way, if you got married and did’t honor your commitment to your wife what comfort could you possibly get from that marriage? To me, being married and unfaithful is similar to being spiritual but not religious.
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