Mental Health and Religion: An Evaluation from Point of Western Society

Year 2007, Volume: 23 Issue: 23, 65 - 92, 01.06.2007

Mustafa Köylü

Abstract

One of the main aims of the world religions is to acquire their followers a sound physical and mental life. However, since eighteenth century some philosophers and scholars claimed that when people’s educational levels increased, and scientific and technological developments prevailed in the societies, religions would be disappear in the societies and they would be the remembrance of the past. But, the real situation completely became different from those of their thoughts. As people become more educated and scientific and technological developments advanced further, people began to give greater importance on the religious beliefs and practices. While the Psychology of Religion saw religion as an irrational thing in the past, now it accepts religion as a social support and a powerful mechanism in mental and even physical health. This article examines the relationship between religion and mental and physical health. For this aim, it first traces the historical development of the relationship between religion and science, second presents some developments in this area in developed countries and lastly, tries to evaluate this positive relationship between religion and mental and physical health based on some empiric research done in mostly in the United States of America.

Keywords

Mental health, physical health, religion, psychology of religion.

Ruh Sağlığı ve Din: Batı Toplumu Açısından Bir Değerlendirme

Abstract

Bu makalede İslamî öğretilere dayalı kimi söylemlerin kadınlara yönelik şiddet sorununun oluşumunda ne denli bir etkiye sahip olduğu; daha açık bir ifadeyle, bazılarınca şiddet içerdiği varsayılan ayet ve hadislerin gerçekten şiddet içerip içermediği konusu ele alınmaktadır. Öyle anlaşılıyor ki, dinin naslarının doğru bağlamda anlaşılamaması ve bazı yanlış algılamalara dayalı olarak kimi şiddet olaylarının dinî nedenlerden kaynaklandığı savı ortaya atılmıştır. Oysaki kadına yönelik şiddet söylemini benimsemiş hiçbir düşüncenin, doğru anlaşıldığı takdirde ayet ve hadislerden dayanak bulabilmesi mümkün değildir.

Keywords

kadın, şiddet, İslam, söylem, bağlam

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