Religion is, as we know, opium for the masses - and one of the properties of opium is its ability to help people see the world through less black glasses than without it.
A new study from the University of Cambridge indicates that religious faith is indeed capable of making a significant difference in how people deal with crises and adversity.
We prayed to Claude to explain the conclusions to us.
The researchers from the prestigious British university analyzed extensive survey data, from both the UK and the US, about people's feelings during the corona lockdowns, and found that religious people tended to experience a lower decrease in well-being. More specifically, the study found that religious participants reported an increase of almost 30% less in the average level of depression compared to non-religious participants during the lockdown periods. Those for whom religion was defined as more central in life experienced only half the increase in depression. The corresponding study in the US showed that secular Americans who were infected with Corona tended to report a 60% severe decline in mental health compared to religious Americans.
The researchers say the results highlight the power of faith to build resilience and infuse meaning, even in the midst of tumultuous events such as a global health crisis.
"Religious beliefs may in some cases be used as psychological resources, which can strengthen self-esteem and add coping skills," explains Prof. Saria Iyer, co-author of the study.
Access to places of worship was also significant, especially for Catholics and Muslims in the UK, and even more so across the US. Attending religious services online reduced 40% of the mental health effects associated with contracting Corona.
Although the studies do not prove causality, the lead author of the study, Prof. Shawn Larcom, claims that the epidemic provided a unique natural experiment - "a blow to the well-being of society as a whole."
According to him, "It provided an opportunity to measure whether religion is important to the way certain people deal with a crisis."
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