Having spiritual faith generally means that we believe in a Higher Being (“God”) and that our lives have a significant purpose on this earth. 

Our existence stems from being created in the image of a loving, all-powerful God, who wants us to praise and worship Him and to treat our fellow human beings as we’d like to be treated towards a common good.  Three of the world’s largest religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) believe in this.

Many other prominent world religions (i.e., Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.) are geared towards worshiping their interpretations of God (or multiple deities) that go by various names. 

While the religious interpretations of faith widely vary, these faiths are also centered around lifestyles that reflect positivity, purpose, and a higher good. The mental and physical benefits of spiritual faith have been studied and generally proven beneficial to our overall well-being.

Following are articles that have dealt with the link between spiritual faith and positive mental and physical well-being:

The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) released a blog post from December 2016 called “The Mental Health Benefits of Religion & Spirituality” by Luna Greenstein. She points out the similarities and differences between religion and spirituality:

“Religion and spirituality are both rooted in trying to understand the meaning of life and, in some cases, how a relationship with a higher power may influence that meaning.”

  In terms of the mental health benefits of religion, she states:

“Religion gives people something to believe in, provides a sense of structure, and typically offers a group of people to connect with over similar beliefs.  These facets can have a large impact on mental health – research suggests that religiosity reduces suicide rates, alcoholism, and drug use.” Ms. Greenstein categorizes those benefits as having a sense of shared community, rituals, and teachings.

In terms of the mental health benefits of spirituality, she states that common characteristics are a positive sense of individuality (a sense of worth, acceptance of others), mindfulness, and a sense of unity with one’s surroundings.

A November 2020 article from VeryWellMind.com (“What is Spirituality” by Elizabeth Scott, MS ) focuses not only on the mental but also the physical benefits of spiritual faith:

“People who feel comfortable and comforted using spirituality as a coping mechanism for stress can rest assured that there’s even more evidence that this is a good idea for them. Prayer works for young and old alike. Prayer and spirituality have been linked to:

• Better health
• Greater psychological well-being
• Less depression
• Less hypertension
• Less stress, even during difficult times
• More positive feelings
• Superior ability to handle stress”

Also important, she notes the possible pitfalls of spirituality: “Spirituality can enrich your life and lead to a number of benefits, but it is important to be cautious to not let spiritual ideals lead to pitfalls such as dogmatism or a reason to ignore the needs of others.”

Marripedia.org an article called “Effects of Religious Practice on Health.” They state that:

“Religious practice substantially contributes to physical and mental health. Regular religious practice lessens depression, promotes self-esteem, and builds familial and marital happiness. Religious worship also increases longevity, improves an individual’s chances of recovering from illness, and lessens the incidence of many diseases.”

I encourage you to read these articles to help you enhance your spiritual, physical, and emotional abundant living!

For more information, read my other related blog posts:

How to Relieve Stress Through Our Faith: 5 Principles

Managing Your Stress and Anxiety through Spirituality

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