Religion and Spirituality in Psychiatry

4 The Bible: Relevant Issues for CliniciansARMANDO R. FAVAZZASUMMARYThe Bible is the most globally influential andwidely read book ever written. Both directly andindirectly, it has been a major influence on thebehavior, laws, customs, education, art, literature,and morality of Western civilization. This chapterpresents basic facts about the Bible itself becauseit is such a vast and complicated book that is confusingto many readers. The concept of the biblicalGod is explored because it is not uncommonfor manic, schizophrenic, and depressed psychiatricpersons to proclaim the delusion that theyare God or Jesus Christ and to put themselvesin harm’s way. Further, high- functioning charismaticpatients who believe they are God cando enormous damage by becoming cult leaders.Many religions, including those based onthe Bible, use sin and guilt as methods that controltheir members’ behavior but may result indepressive and obsessive-compulsive disorders;also, the notion that women must be submissiveto their husbands may be used by men to rationalizeabusive behavior. The chapter discusseshomosexuality, an issue that divides societies andfamilies because the Book of Levitical Laws condemnshomosexual behavior. Christians are notobligated to follow these laws, yet many continueto despise homosexuality even though psychiatryno longer considers it to be a mental disorder.The history of Christian religious healing isreviewed and demonstrates that sick persons whoparticipate in religious healing rituals may feelbetter temporarily and that some self-proclaimedChristian healers may be charlatans. Despite itscomplexity, the Bible has for more than two millenniaprovided solace and hope to the vexed andthe hopeless. Psychiatrists should know about theBible because of its importance in the lives of somany mentally ill persons and their families.The Bible is the most globally influential andwidely read book ever written. Judaism andChristianity are Bible-based religions, and neithercould have survived by oral tradition alone.Judaism’s impact on the world mainly has comethrough the brilliant accomplishments of individualJews. Christianity’s impact has been muchgreater because of its mission to convert all personsinto Christians and because it became themain religion of the European continent whosesoldiers, merchants, settlers, explorers, andpriests traveled throughout the world bringingtheir Bibles and their religion with them.Both directly and indirectly, the Bible hasbeen a major influence on the behavior, laws,customs, education, literature, art, and moralityof Western civilization. Its views on topics suchas God, sin, guilt, gender, sexuality, homosexuality,and healing are especially relevant to psychiatristsin their clinical interactions with patientsand are the subject of this chapter.The United States is unique in the world forhaving both a high level of religious belief andof formal education. An estimation from numeroussources is that one-third of Americans watchreligious television each week, and one-thirdbelieves that God speaks to them directly. Amajority say they are church members, attendreligious services at least once a month, and readthe Bible at least once a week, while 25 percentattend weekly Bible study groups.(1) The world’s31