July 21, 2008
Help or hindrance? International experts explore the psychological impacts of religion
In the aftermath of World Youth Day, the University of Western Sydney (UWS) will hold a conference to explore the beneficial and harmful impacts of religion.
On July 24 and 25, the UWS Psychology and Spirituality Society will host the Spirituality, Human Development and Wellbeing Conference at the UWS Bankstown campus.
Dr Maureen Miner, from the School of Psychology at UWS, says religious and spiritual beliefs can have varied psychological impacts.
"While it has been proven that some forms of spirituality can contribute to personal and societal wellbeing, there is also strong evidence to suggest that other forms of spirituality can be detrimental to your mental health," says Dr Miner.
"For example, people who are unsure of their beliefs are more likely to develop anxieties, particularly in relation to the prospect of death; and people who have rigid religious beliefs coupled with an authoritarian personality are more likely to show an unhealthy prejudice towards other groups."
The two-day conference will feature presentations from international experts in fields of psychology, philosophy, sociology and theology, on a range of topical issues relating to psychological impact of religious and spiritual belief systems.
- Dr Bagher Ghobary, Visiting Research Fellow from the University of Tehran, will present on the topic of the reliance on God in the Islamic faith; particularly in relation to psychological wellbeing and coping with feelings of anxiety and depression.
- Adebayo Akomolafe, from Covenant University in Nigeria, will discuss the psychological implications of the conforming nature of religion, which requires obedience and adherence to ritualistic practices.
- Nooria Mehraby, from the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), will explore how religious counselling can help troubled Muslims and the principles of Islam that prevent the incidence of suicide.
- Associate Professor David Tacey, LaTrobe University, will discuss how counselling and psychological practices in Australia now embrace spirituality as an important contributor to health.
- Dr Olivera Petrovich, Oxford University, will raise the question of whether spirituality is innate through an examination of spirituality in children prior to religious teachings.
- Dr Marie-Therese Proctor, from the School of Psychology at UWS, will discuss how spirituality can be used as a coping mechanism, helping to console and alleviate grief.
Where: Building 1, UWS Bankstown campus, Bullecourt Avenue, Milperra
RSVP: For more information for bookings, call Vicki Fox on (02) 9772 6809 or visit the PASS website: http://www.passuws.org