Religion, spirituality and mental health: the role of guilt and shame

The present study deals with four issues. First, several brief clarifying remarks concerning religion and spirituality, followed by similar but more extended remarks on guilt and shame. Second, consideration of religion’s negative influence on wellness and wholeness in mental health when religion contributes to excessive feelings of guilt and shame. Third, reflections on the potentially negative influence of such feelings on religion. Fourth, religion’s positive contribution to mental health when religion helps enable the healing of wounds arising due to the debilitating influence of inordinate feelings of guilt and shame.