Journal of religion and health
March 1, 2008
Yaseen Ally, Sumaya Laher
77 citations
Muslim faith healers in Johannesburg distinguish between mental and spiritual illnesses, each with its own causes and treatments, according to interviews with six healers. Islam provides a clear taxonomy that separates these conditions, and healers advise treatments accordingly. The findings suggest that Western views of mental illness should recognize culturally specific taxonomies to better understand and assist clients.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 2012
Gretty M Mirdal
73 citations
Mindfulness-based therapies, which have grown rapidly in recent decades, are almost entirely inspired by Buddhist meditation, yet Islamic thought—particularly Sufism and the teachings of Rumi—offers a compatible philosophical foundation. This article highlights the common ground between mindfulness-based therapies and Rumi's religious philosophy, arguing that concepts, images, and metaphors from Rumi's universe can provide a culturally sensitive alternative for mental health support, especially for Muslim populations. The authors suggest this approach is promising for research on consciousness and for developing healing methods that resonate with clients from Muslim backgrounds.
Journal of religion and health
October 1, 2015
Anastasia Philippa Scrutton
51 citations
Some cases of schizophrenia are argued to be demon possession and treatable by faith healers. A reply raises concerns about the intellectual credibility and harmful implications of such beliefs. This paper contributes by arguing that a critique of demon possession beliefs in schizophrenia is needed, but on an alternative basis. It reflects on differences between demonic and other spirit possession and considers implications for mental healthcare providers.
Journal of religion and health
September 1, 2013
Peter Bray
38 citations
People who have experienced loss often report psycho-spiritual experiences that lead to personal changes and psychological growth. This article presents a conceptual framework that combines two approaches to healthy growth: Lawrence Calhoun and Richard Tedeschi's post-traumatic growth model and Stanislav and Christina Grof's model of psycho-spiritual transformation. The framework acknowledges the significance of these subjective experiences and explores shared understandings about the human potential for growth in the struggle through loss.
Journal of religion and health
June 1, 2012
Brick Johnstone, Guy Mccormack, Dong Pil Yoon et al.
34 citations
The Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) shows adequate convergent and divergent validity when compared with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) Self-Transcendence subscales. In a cross-sectional analysis of 97 undergraduate and graduate students from a Midwestern university, all five BMMRS spirituality subscales correlated significantly with the TCI Mysticism scale. Two BMMRS scales—Daily Spiritual Experiences and Values/Beliefs—correlated significantly with the TCI Transpersonal Identification scale. No BMMRS spiritual subscales correlated significantly with the TCI Self-Forgetfulness scale. Among BMMRS religion scales, only Organizational Religiousness correlated with any TCI subscale (Mysticism). The findings suggest a distinct spiritual construct best conceptualized as emotional connectedness to the divine, nature, or others.
Journal of religion and health
March 1, 1986
J Pennachio
31 citations
Near-death experiences share many characteristics with mystical awareness. Walter Pahnke's nine-category typology of mystical experience, originally used to assess psychedelic experiences, is applied here to illustrate the mystical nature of near-death experiences. The typology also describes the self-transformation that follows mystical states of consciousness, and such self-transformation is a known result of near-death experiences. The author argues that Pahnke's typology characterizes the near-death experience and allows it to be defined as a mystical state.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 1985
C M Bache
18 citations
Teresa of Avila's severe seizures, long considered a hallmark of her mysticism, are reassessed. The traditional diagnosis of hysteria is no longer viable because clinicians have abandoned that category. By comparing Teresa's seizures phenomenologically to experiences reported by subjects in LSD-assisted psychotherapy, and using Stanislav Grof's categories, the essay argues that the seizures are perinatal symptoms. They represent the emergence and reintegration of primitive psychological systems, described as the growing pains of transpersonal consciousness. Rather than indicating degenerative psychopathology, the seizures reflect progressive movement toward higher states of consciousness.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 2024
Gemma Perry, Vince Polito, William Forde Thompson
17 citations
Twelve minutes of group chanting, either vocal or silent repetition of 'om,' reduces stress and anxiety while increasing feelings of social connection. In 34 participants randomly assigned to vocal or silent chanting, both forms significantly lowered cortisol levels and self-reported anxiety. Vocal chanting produced a greater decrease in self-reported anxiety than silent chanting, though cortisol reductions were similar. Altruism scores increased after both conditions, but there was no evidence that altruistic tendencies extended toward people from a different culture. The findings suggest chanting, regardless of vocalization, offers physiological and psychological benefits, with vocal chanting providing additional anxiety relief.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 2019
Milena Nardini-Bubols, Daniele Silva Da Silva, Andrea Dos Santos-Silva et al.
8 citations
A systematic review of 14 empirical studies found that incorporating altered states of consciousness or transpersonal approaches into psychotherapy may benefit adults, mostly women, by improving treatment for substance use disorder, increasing relaxation, and relieving physical pain. The authors call for future research to use rigorous experimental designs, clearly define concepts, detail methods, and establish ethical boundaries.
Journal of religion and health
June 1, 2009
Carl Allen Hammerschlag
7 citations
A team led by an American transcultural psychiatrist and a Mexican engineer, both deeply involved with the Huichol Indians, resolved a decade-long epidemic of sorcery-induced possession among Huichol children in boarding schools. The children had become possessed by demonic witchcraft, transforming them into aggressive animals, and local shamans had been unable to treat the illness. The team integrated traditional belief and ritual with modern psychological principles to create a healing narrative, representing a cross-cultural integration of mind, body, and spirit medicine.
Journal of religion and health
April 1, 2025
Thomas G Plante, David B Feldman, Jacqueline Ge et al.
6 citations
A two-week daily Examen-based practice, derived from a prayer developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, improved university students' life meaning, satisfaction with life, and hope compared to a wait-list control group. The randomized controlled trial assigned 57 students to the practice and 58 to the control. Measures taken before, after, and at a two-week follow-up showed significant differences between groups on these three outcomes, suggesting the practice enhances global evaluations of life and future perceptions. No significant effects were found for mindfulness, compassion, stress, anxiety, or depression.
Journal of religion and health
October 1, 2024
Roghayeh Khabiri, Leila Jahangiry, Mehdi Abbasian et al.
6 citations
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials found that spiritually based interventions—including meditation, transcendental meditation, mindfulness meditation, and yoga—significantly reduced blood pressure in adults. Systolic blood pressure decreased by an average of 7.63 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure decreased by an average of 4.75 mm Hg. The analysis showed high variability among the studies, but the reductions were statistically significant. These results suggest that such interventions can be effective in lowering blood pressure, which may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 2008
Curtis W Hart
6 citations
William James' classic work, The Varieties of Religious Experience, was shaped by his familial, religious, and cultural context, particularly the influence of his father, Henry James, Senior. A severe cardiac condition also motivated James to undertake and complete his exploration of religious experience. The essay examines The Varieties and highlights how James' use of narrative contributes to the study of mind-body medicine.
Journal of religion and health
February 1, 2016
Bradley Lewis
5 citations
Narrative medicine and contemplative care are two movements that aim to reform healthcare by addressing its shortcomings, yet they have developed separately with distinct literatures and practitioners. This article explores their philosophical similarities and differences, noting both movements share a diagnosis of healthcare's problems but offer related yet distinct responses. Using Margaret Edson's play W;t as an example, the author illustrates how these approaches intersect at the end of life, highlighting the potential for integration to improve patient care.
Journal of religion and health
April 1, 2024
Karimbakhsh Kordi-Tamandani, Khalil Hakimifar
3 citations
Gowâti music therapy in Taftan, Baluchestan, is an ancient healing tradition deeply intertwined with religious beliefs, mystical ideologies, and sacrificial rituals. The study, based on interviews, active participation, and expert consultation, reveals that the ceremony's therapeutic impact is rooted in cultural and spiritual practices. Due to restricted access to private ceremonies, findings rely on anecdotal accounts and interviews with the caliph (performer). The research traces music therapy's historical connection to spirituality in ancient Iran, highlighting the unique characteristics of Gowâti music therapy as a culturally embedded form of healing.
Journal of religion and health
April 1, 2025
Lluis Oviedo, Berenika Seryczyńska, Magdalena Jelińska et al.
2 citations
Praying the Rosary is linked to moderate positive outcomes, including reduced depression, increased empathy, and lower religious struggle, based on an international sample from Italy, Poland, and Spain. The network analysis identified religiosity and religious struggle as central factors with the most connections to other variables. Qualitative responses described the prayer as a source of inner peace and a coping mechanism during distress. The study suggests that Rosary prayer may offer similar benefits to other forms of meditation and prayer, though correlations were moderate.
Journal of religion and health
February 1, 2023
Glenn J Mccullough
2 citations
Anton Boisen, a key figure in the psychology of religion and pastoral psychology, faced skepticism about his ideas and stigma over his psychiatric diagnosis. The author argues Boisen was a prophet whose critiques of psychiatry and claim that psychosis and mystical experience overlap were ahead of their time. Scholars have overlooked the prophetic truth in Boisen's 1920 visionary experience, which predicted today's ecological crisis. Reclaiming Boisen's voice could help reclaim the uniqueness of the disciplines he helped create.
Journal of religion and health
April 1, 2024
Atheer Ganem, P Emile Rossouw, Dimitrios Michelogiannakis et al.
1 citation
Shamanic healing (SH) may reduce self-rated pain and improve quality of life in women with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). In one of three reviewed studies, SH significantly lowered TMD pain scores after 9 months. Patients across studies reported better sleep, energy, digestion, back pain, and feelings of calmness and peace. However, the evidence is limited: all participants were females with a mean age of 38.3 years, and no randomized controlled trials were included. The authors call for well-designed, power-adjusted clinical trials with adequate control groups and long-term follow-up to confirm these findings.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 2016
Paulo H C Dias, Gilberto Safra
1 citation
Human beings are understood as a paradox between immanence and transcendence. Drawing on the clinical conceptions of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, this work seeks an integral way to understand mystical experience in order to rethink the ontological assumptions underlying clinical practice. It critiques both purely psychological and purely spiritual approaches to mystical experience. The argument is illustrated through the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna, comparing different authors' interpretations of his experiences and offering the authors' own perspective.
Journal of religion and health
September 1, 2010
Bruce Stephen Kerievsky
1 citation
Passionate involvement in wanting specific outcomes, popularly called rooting, is examined. The author draws on personal experience, spiritual literature, and 30 years of study with Dr. Thomas Hora. The concept of "choiceless awareness," from J. Krishnamurti and attained through meditation, is presented as a way to transcend this mode of being.
Journal of religion and health
June 1, 2026
Siliana Maria Duarte Miranda, Gabriela Patrus Ananias De Assis Pires, Eliane Viana Mancuzo et al.
Patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) expressed gratitude in five main areas during a mindfulness-based intervention: religious belief and reliance on God as a coping strategy, the ability to perform simple daily tasks autonomously, the presence of family and friends, assurance from the health care team and treatment, and changes from mindfulness training. Despite the severity of their progressive disease, participants found meaning in relationships, spirituality, medical care, and meditation.
Journal of religion and health
April 16, 2026
Glenn J Mccullough
Anton Boisen's most overlooked theoretical contribution is the hermeneutical treatment of psychosis, which he developed from his own 1920 psychotic episode. During that episode, he sensed his visions were describing inner conflicts and pointing toward a cure, independently replicating ideas of Freud and Jung. His visions contained a Jungian mandala, the "Family of Four," which appeared before he encountered Jung's work. Although Boisen intuited the significance of his visions, he could not fully interpret them. The article offers an interpretation of Boisen's visions as a case study in hermeneutical treatment of psychosis.
Journal of religion and health
March 31, 2026
Ana Cláudia Mesquita Garcia, Everson Meireles, Eliza Mara Das Chagas Paiva et al.
A Brazilian Portuguese version of the Mystical Orientation Scale Revised (MOSR-BR) was developed and tested in 505 Brazilian adults. The scale showed a single underlying factor explaining 47.6% of the variance, with very high internal consistency. Higher mystical orientation scores correlated with greater death transcendence and with religious and existential well-being. People who used psychedelic substances occasionally or frequently scored higher on mystical orientation than non-users. The authors note the study is exploratory and limited by its cross-sectional design, non-random sampling, and lack of confirmatory factor analysis or test-retest reliability.
Journal of religion and health
February 1, 2026
Arbind Kumar Choudhary, R Abirami
A systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies from the USA, Europe, and China found that spiritual interventions—including meditation, prayer, mindfulness, and compassionate care—significantly reduce anxiety (effect size 0.70), improve quality of life (effect size 0.75), and provide moderate benefits for chronic disease symptoms (effect size 0.65). Patient satisfaction with spiritual support consistently exceeded 80%, with highest ratings in palliative care. Stronger effects appeared among older adults, those with chronic illness, and participants in meditation-based programs. The findings support integrating spiritual care into patient-centered health models.
Journal of religion and health
December 1, 1987
L A Lorenz, F J Sullivan
An initiation ritual from primitive societies, as described by Mircea Eliade, can serve as a model for counseling cancer patients, providing meaning and structure to patient-counselor interactions. In this framework, the patient's encounter with death, whether feared or actualized, can become a catalyst for personal growth at any stage of the disease. Case examples illustrate the model's practical application, and comparisons are drawn between the stages and components of the initiation ritual and other consciousness-altering techniques.