Exploring, Connecting, Reframing Narratives. The Religiosity Gap Revisited.-View Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Lindell introduced the 2024 Oscar Pfister Award Lecture, highlighting its significance in the integration of religion, spirituality, and psychiatry. The award, named after Oscar Pfister, a minister known for his correspondence with Sigmund Freud, honors individuals contributing significantly to this interdisciplinary field. This year's awardee, Dr. Peter John Verhagen, a psychiatrist and theologian from the Netherlands, was recognized for his international contributions to psychiatry and religion.<br /><br />In his acceptance speech, Dr. Verhagen acknowledged the historical tension and evolving relationship between psychiatry and religion. He discussed the concept of the "religiosity gap," originating from Alan Bergen's work, which highlights the professional and personal divergence between mental health practitioners and their clients regarding religious beliefs. Verhagen's lecture emphasized the evolving nature of this field, moving from initial resistance to accepted integration, facilitating better therapeutic outcomes.<br /><br />Verhagen also addressed the Dutch perspective on spirituality, noting the varied and personal definitions embraced by the public. He highlighted the importance of acknowledging spiritual language and its role in psychological health, critiquing fast, technical approaches in favor of slower, reflective questioning.<br /><br />The lecture concluded with a discussion featuring audience members, raising questions about the potential divisiveness of organized religion and the possibility for psychiatry to inspire religious unity. Dr. Verhagen emphasized the responsibility of psychiatrists to inform public discourse on mental health issues associated with religion, advocating for a balanced view recognizing both the benefits and harms of religious beliefs.

Keywords

Oscar Pfister Award

religion

spirituality

psychiatry

Dr. Peter John Verhagen

Netherlands

religiosity gap

Alan Bergen

therapeutic outcomes

spiritual language

organized religion

mental health