PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION AND MENTAL HEALTH: SACRAMENT OF PENANCE IN PERSPECTIVE
PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGION AND MENTAL HEALTH:
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE IN PERSPECTIVE
BY
OKOJIE EHINOMHEN PETER epo4escriva@yahoo.com January, 2014
INTRODUCTION
Between psychology and religion, any connection? For one who considers religion as having no manifest behaviour, the answer cannot be in the affirmative. As far as can be chronicled of man’s history, religion has always occupied and influenced human behaviour. Through history, we find scholars who at one point or the other made allusion to this fact. Some have argued from various perspectives or disciplines that man is a by nature a religious being. Karl
Marx is popular for his quote: “religion is the opium of the masses.” Psychology as a systematic study of human and animal behaviours recognizes the place of religion as it relates to man. If psychology as so defined remains as such, then it is adequate at least for it to be concerned with empirical data gleaned from human behaviours. But the question is: what business has psychology with religion which poses itself as having to deal with the metaphysical and not the empirical? The answer is obvious: psychology of religion comprises of the application of psychological methods and principles to religious traditions, as well as to persons whether religious or irreligious. In other words, psychology of religion studies the manifest human behaviours connected with religion and religious beliefs. The science attempts to accurately describe the details, origins, and uses of religious beliefs and behaviours.1 Consequently, it places psychology of religion on a firm foundation to address human explicit behaviours that stem from religious beliefs and practices.
The Sacrament of Penance is a practice held within the Catholic Church. The mental wellbeing of any Catholic faithful has a strong dependence on this practice. The extent to which this practice influences behaviours particularly of Catholics is the extent to which they key into this
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE IN PERSPECTIVE
BY
OKOJIE EHINOMHEN PETER epo4escriva@yahoo.com January, 2014
INTRODUCTION
Between psychology and religion, any connection? For one who considers religion as having no manifest behaviour, the answer cannot be in the affirmative. As far as can be chronicled of man’s history, religion has always occupied and influenced human behaviour. Through history, we find scholars who at one point or the other made allusion to this fact. Some have argued from various perspectives or disciplines that man is a by nature a religious being. Karl
Marx is popular for his quote: “religion is the opium of the masses.” Psychology as a systematic study of human and animal behaviours recognizes the place of religion as it relates to man. If psychology as so defined remains as such, then it is adequate at least for it to be concerned with empirical data gleaned from human behaviours. But the question is: what business has psychology with religion which poses itself as having to deal with the metaphysical and not the empirical? The answer is obvious: psychology of religion comprises of the application of psychological methods and principles to religious traditions, as well as to persons whether religious or irreligious. In other words, psychology of religion studies the manifest human behaviours connected with religion and religious beliefs. The science attempts to accurately describe the details, origins, and uses of religious beliefs and behaviours.1 Consequently, it places psychology of religion on a firm foundation to address human explicit behaviours that stem from religious beliefs and practices.
The Sacrament of Penance is a practice held within the Catholic Church. The mental wellbeing of any Catholic faithful has a strong dependence on this practice. The extent to which this practice influences behaviours particularly of Catholics is the extent to which they key into this
References: Washington, DC: Office of International Affairs, 2006. Reprinted 2008. Donahue, M. J. & Benson, P. L. (1995). “Religion and the Well-being of Adolescents” in Journal of Social Issues, 51(2), 145-160 Press, 2005, pp. 235-252. ____________ The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns: Motivation and Spirituality in Personality, New York: Guilford Press, 1999 Keyes, Corey (2002). "The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing in Life" McBrien, Richard P. Catholicism, New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994 McCullough, M Research and Practice, New York: The Guilford Press, 2000 Oates, Wayne E The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Nairobi: Paulines Publication Africa, 1994 Trese, Leo J Witmer, J.M. and Sweeny, T.J. (1992). "A Holistic Model for Wellness and Prevention over the Lifespan" Journal of Counseling and Development 71: pp Wulff, D. M., Psychology of Religion: Classic and Contemporary (2nd ed), New York, Wiley, 1997 INTERNET SOURCES About.com (2010, March 02) 14, 2014, from http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/stressmanagement/a/whatismental.htm Hardon, John A (Lombard, IL: Inter Mirifica, 1998). URL: http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Sin/Sin_010.htm Retrieved January 14, 2014