A Review of the Functions of Religion as a Component in Securing the Family Base

Abstract

The capability of religion to reduce sorrow and connect human beings to powerful spiritual sources should be considered as its greatest gift to human beings. Today, it is felt that life in the 21st century is accompanied with particular mental stress, causing many physical illnesses and even death. In spite of this, attitudes and beliefs of individuals regarding life and the surrounding environment, as well as commitments to values and characteristics of individual and social life are very influential on mental health. Hence, the impact of religious beliefs on human affairs, especially on emotional and spiritual affairs, is indisputable. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the role of “faith” as one of the main components affecting the mental peace of the family and, consequently, that of the society in order to study it in different religious, psychological and sociological aspects through documentation and library tools. The results showed that the influence of faith on mental health, as stated in religious texts and confirmed by elite psychologists, is undeniable and certainly it contributes to securing family base, especially in the present era that there are a variety of stressors.