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Year 8

Possible psychological benefits of religion

I can explain how religious beliefs and practices could support someone’s mental health and give different perspectives on this.

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Year 8

Possible psychological benefits of religion

I can explain how religious beliefs and practices could support someone’s mental health and give different perspectives on this.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Some evidence suggests religious belief can be beneficial for mental health.
  2. Some evidence suggests religious practices can be beneficial for mental health.
  3. Some people may dispute the claim that religion is beneficial for mental heath.

Keywords

  • Higher power - a spirit or being (such as God) that has great power and that can affect nature and the lives of people

  • Mental health - a state of wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life and contribute to their community

  • Mindfulness - the practice of maintaining a moment by moment awareness of our thoughts

  • Prayer - the act or ceremony of speaking to and communicating with God, a god or higher power

  • Secular - not having any connection with religion or spiritual things

Common misconception

That all forms of religious belief and practices will have mental health benefits.

Religion is a very broad term and different beliefs and practices will have different effects on different individuals.


To help you plan your year 8 religious education lesson on: Possible psychological benefits of religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson includes analysis to offer different perspectives on this issue and could be explored further.
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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to be grateful for something?
to be angry about something
to be jealous about something
Correct answer: to be thankful for something
to be unhappy about something
Q2.
What practice involves focusing the mind, often to achieve a calm and relaxed state?
daydreaming
exercise
Correct answer: meditation
reading
sleeping
Q3.
What is a condition where someone can't control the urge to engage in a certain behaviour or use a substance, despite negative consequences?
Correct answer: addiction
allergy
anxiety
amnesia
Q4.
What term means all powerful?
omnibenevolent
Correct answer: omnipotent
omnipresent
omniscient
Q5.
Which of these is not typically a religious belief about the afterlife?
that people are able to spend eternity with God in heaven after death
that people have a time of waiting after death before moving on
that people are reincarnated into other living things after death
Correct answer: that people cease to exist at death and do not live on in any way
Q6.
What term refers to information or facts used to support a claim?
arguments
assumptions
Correct answer: evidence
guesses
hypotheses

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the key terms below to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:prayer,speaking or communicating with a higher power
tick

speaking or communicating with a higher power

Correct Answer:secular,not having any connection with religion or spiritual things
tick

not having any connection with religion or spiritual things

Correct Answer:mindfulness,having a moment by moment awareness of our thoughts
tick

having a moment by moment awareness of our thoughts

Q2.
What term means a state of wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life and contribute to their society?
Correct Answer: mental health, mental wellbeing, wellbeing, good mental health
Q3.
According to a 2019 National Volunteer survey (UK), what percentage of people found that their mental health had improved since they started volunteering?
17%
27%
57%
Correct answer: 77%
97%
Q4.
Which of these is a religious practice which could be linked to good mental health?
believing in a higher power
believing that there is life after death
Correct answer: praying regularly to a higher power
feeling that there is a purpose to life
Q5.
What did Carl Jung suggest to Rowland Hazard to help him overcome his addictions?
attending a religious service
speaking to a religious leader
Correct answer: connecting with a higher power
connecting with other people
Q6.
Which of these statements is most accurate?
volunteering is always connected to a religious belief
mindfulness is always a secular activity
writing daily gratitudes is always a religious activity
Correct answer: both religious and secular activities can help people feel connected to others