The Positive Effects of

Religion
Psychological, Personal
and Social Benefits
 Religious belief allows people to
better cope with adverse life
events.
 Religiousness is associated with

better mental and overall health.

 Religious youth are less likely to

be violent or engage in
delinquent behaviour.
Paul Bloom (2008)
 The most significant
positive effect of
religion is that it
provides people a
sense of community
and strengthens
connections between
people.
 Faith has also been found to have a
soothing effect on those who are ill.
Those who professed religiosity are
found to have lower level of anxiety, and
are less likely to seek comfort in drugs
or alcohol.
- It is believed that religious people are
better equipped to deal with the stress
of suffering from a terminal illness.
Literature, Music and
Arts
 Religionhas inspired and
influenced many of the
greatest creative minds in
history to create masterpiece.
 Literature used to
shed light on the
flaws of religious
institutions
Noli Me Tangere
and El Filibusterismo
-contain scathing
criticisms of Spanish
clergy.
Christianity also has a rich,
prominent tradition and
history in music.
Christian worship music is a

large, lucrative industry.

 Islam has more complicated
relationship in music.
 The only music which serves to

praise Allah is halal.

 Any music which is given to

earthly indulgence and leads

Muslim away from Allah is strictly
haram.
 Christianity has had
strong , vibrant presence
in the visual arts
throughout history.
 Iconic works include
Michelangelo's
paintings in the Sistine
Chapel and Leonardo
Da Vinci’s The Last
Supper.
 Visual depictions of
the Prophet
Muhammad are
considered taboo.
 The key element of

Islamic visual art is

calligraphy and
geometric design.
Philippines
 They used the
figures in healing
rituals and
ceremonies that
dispel misfortune.
 Bulul
A precolonial burial
jar discovered in
Manunggul Cave in
Palawan.
 Refer to the belief of

the ancient natives in

the afterlife.
 Soul traveling to the

afterlife.
 Charity and
Humanitarianism
 Numerous religious organizations
dedicate their time and effort to
humanitarian activities.
 Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi
Foundation, Dar Amanah Children’s Village
Foundation Inc. (DACVFI), Gawad Kalinga,
Khalsa Diwan, Islamic Relief Worldwide(IRW),
Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, The
Salvation Army, Red Cross International. Etc.
IRW
 “Giftof a Smile”
program.
Gawad Kalinga
End poverty
Renew and

strengthen
Christian
values.
The Negative Effects of
Religion
Violence, Human Rights
Violations, and other
Abuses Power
 The most apparent harmful
effect of religion is when
adherents of one religion engage
in violent actions against
adherents of another religion.
 Such violence is often associated

with religious extremism and

fundamentalism.
People with extremely
conservative religious
beliefs often act in a
violent manner.
ReligiousViolence
includes attacks on
individuals or
communities, communal
violence, suicide attacks,
and terrorism.
Crusades
 Seriesof
religious wars
sanctioned by
the Latin
Church
Inquisitions
 Was a group of
institutions within
the Catholic
Church whose
aim was to
combat heresy.
Salem
 Witch trials
Muslim communities
continually face the issue of
violent acts which target
individual Muslims who
have been branded
“apostates”
According to haddith
Religionis also a factor in
the plight of indigenous
people.
1978 Jonestown Massacre
 Members of
religious
movements were
convinced by
their leader to
commit suicide.
1993 Branch Davidians
 Engaged in a stand
off with members of
the police in the state
of Texas in the US.
 It resulted in the

deaths of 76
individuals.
Doomsday Cult
 Believe in the
imminent end of
the world.
 Resulted in

several cases of
violence.
1995 Japanese Doomsday Cult
 Aum Shinrikyo
 Implemented

coordinated
attacks in the
Tokyo subway
system.
1997 Heaven’s Gate
 Members

committed suicide.
 UFO based

religion.
Women’s Right and
Gender Issues
Many religions
have been
criticized for
advocating
patriarchal
system.
 CatholicChurch
has faced
criticism for its
stand against
women becoming
members of
priesthood.
Conservative

Muslims often
implement
restrictive
rules against
women.
“Honor

Killings”
LGBTQI
Many groups
view them as
living in
defiance of
religious
doctrine.
 Westboro Baptist Church
 Anyone who does not
follow the laws of the
Bible is doomed to
suffer in hell.
 They are known for

their slogan
“God Hates Fags”
 Conflict between
Religion and Science
 Religion has been accused of
hampering scientific progress.
 Conservative nature of many

religions render them

apprehensive to new ideas and
innovations.