Paul Nyende
28 July 2007
Spirituality is very personal, and everyone's spiritual path may be unique. While there are many different religions and paths people used to find God, research has shown that those who are more religious, those who believe in God or a higher power, experience many benefits to their health and wellbeing.
Religious activity has been a source of comfort and relief from stress for multitudes of people. According to studies from the University of Florida and Wayne State University, 96% of study participants use prayer specifically to cope with stress. Canadian college students who were involved with campus ministries visited the doctor less, scored higher on tests of psychological wellbeing, and coped with stress more effectively.
The new religious revival in Uganda has resulted in several churches providing spiritual and other services. While many have been of great benefit to their followers, a few have taken a different direction; inflicting psychological harm onto the followers.
Pastors and other religious leaders need to take a leading role in identifying problem sects with potential to turn religion into a mental health hazard. For example, severely mentally disrupted patients with psychiatric symptoms may be referred for prayer alone, and are denied access to modern mental health care services, hence worsening their symptoms. The religious leader is expected to be better able to deal with issues of basic belief, values, and orientation toward life, he has an inescapable role to play in the conservation and advancement of mental health.
All stake holders interested in social development need to consider the question: How do we use religion to better ourselves rather than destroy ourselves?
Recent reports in the media regarding scams, manipulation and electric shocks in churches are revealing a worrying trend. Some unscrupulous individuals have chosen to use their knowledge of psychology to meet their selfish goals.
Observation shows that there is very little control over the messages that followers receive. High intensity fear messages are used in persuading them and hammering them to submission. The Ugandan population is very vulnerable due to poverty and HIV/Aids. Some sects are characterised by 'mind control,' 'sinister manipulation,' and 'creation of environments of totalism.
Outsiders are seen as evil and the strategy is to cut members off from rational reference, promising new families through 'love bombing' where all members are considered brothers and sisters. Leaders are usually charismatic and self appointed.
They are preoccupied with accumulation of wealth and recruitment of new members. Quick marriages are very central in the activities of the groups and are effective in the recruitment of new members. Some groups discourage the use of ARVs for members living with HIV/Aids.
Many focus on denouncing your former values and beliefs, the blind acceptance of an incomprehensible doctrine through complex lectures and the rejection of logic. These messages are carefully timed through the repetitive use of mind-narrowing chants or phrases in the late night hour when exhaustion and fatigue increase vulnerability as your ability to evaluate incoming messages is at its minimum.
High intensity stimuli may be used as in the case of powerful sound systems with electronic sound effects. In many cases confessions of personal weakness is used in the destruction of the individual ego, making it unlikely that you will be able to think independently.
Many discourage questioning, creating a false sense of righteousness by pointing to the shortcomings of the outside world and other religious groups.
With all these developments in mind, when you read about cults, you may begin worry. A faith group will be described as a "destructive cult," if it exhibits the following characteristics:
An authoritarian power structure, with control concentrated at the top, charismatic or messianic leader(s). They define Messianic as meaning that the leaders identify themselves as God or state that they are the only persons capable of interpreting the Bible properly. The use of deceit in recruitment of new members and raising of money, isolation of their members from society; filtering of information and the use of mind control methods.
Given the sensitivity of the matter we need to handle it without prejudice and one strategy would be through sensitisation of the masses and counselling. It is important for us to be inspired by religious beliefs but on the other hand it is also important for us to equip the population with information so that they can draw the line between destructive and constructive groups.
The writer is a social psychologist and Lecturer, Dept. of Mental Health and Community.
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