Religion and Therapy: A Reflection on Faith, Mental Health, and the Self

I was raised within the framework of Christian values, beginning my journey of service to the church at the age of sixteen as an organist. The foundational principles found in the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and other Biblical teachings were instilled in me early in life. As I matured and encountered a broader range of life experiences and diverse individuals, my questions about religion—and the historical context surrounding it—began to deepen.

I vividly recall asking a pastor I worked with about the concept of forgiveness. The Bible teaches that God will “cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, King James Bible, 1769/2017). Likewise, in Romans 10:9, salvation is described as being granted to those who “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” and believe in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead. My question was simple yet profound: If God forgives all sins upon sincere repentance, what, then, will we be judged on during the Day of Judgment?

This inquiry marked the beginning of a personal journey—one that would lead me to explore the intersection of Christian faith, therapy, and the spiritual dimension of human existence. Today’s reflection will consider mental health treatment through the lens of Biblical understanding in three areas:

1. How to approach Biblical texts.

2. The importance of an individual connection with the divine.

3. Living authentically without compromising spiritual beliefs.

1. Reading Biblical Texts

In Galatians 4, the Apostle Paul presents a symbolic narrative illustrating the two covenants—Old and New. Verse 24 explicitly states that the account is an allegory, meaning a story crafted to convey a deeper truth. This distinction is critical, for many Biblical passages employ allegorical and figurative language rather than literal, historical reporting.

For example, in Matthew 21:18–22 and Mark 11:12–14, 20–25, Jesus curses a barren fig tree, despite it not being the season for figs. This account is widely understood as an allegory foreshadowing the coming destruction of the temple system.

These examples suggest three guiding principles for engaging Scripture:

1. Read the Bible to uncover enduring principles, rather than solely seeking literal historical accounts.

2. Recognize that many stories convey figurative truths and cultural insights from their time.

3. Seek ways to integrate Biblical principles into daily life in ways that foster personal growth and ethical living.

2. The Individual Connection with the Divine

I do not personally identify as a Christian—primarily because Jesus Himself never explicitly affirmed the religion of Christianity in Scripture. His teachings centered on inclusivity and the acceptance of all people, as reflected in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (King James Bible, 1769/2017).

This inclusivity stands in stark contrast to the ways humanity often categorizes, divides, and judges. Additionally, my life experiences have revealed that many professing Christians struggle to consistently uphold the very principles they espouse. This is not intended as an indictment of religion, but rather as an observation born of personal encounters.

In seeking to understand my own spiritual identity, I took a two-year break from both church attendance and my role as an organist. During this time, I critically examined my beliefs through the work of noted biblical scholars such as Carrier (2014) and Ehrman (2016), who have explored the historical origins of the Bible. This period of reflection led me to develop two core convictions:

1. God exists as a divine being, evident in the perfect order and placement of the sun, moon, and stars.

2. Every person is born with the innate capacity to live as a good and decent human being; it is life’s experiences that distort these guiding principles.

3. Living Authentically in the True Self

To live authentically, one must first know oneself—understanding what one believes and why. Spiritual exploration enables us to align our beliefs with the person we aspire to be. This requires asking reflective questions, challenging long-held assumptions, and intentionally preserving the aspects of our identity that reflect our truest self, while discarding those that no longer serve us.

Final Reflection

Returning to my original question—If God forgives all sin through heartfelt repentance, what will we be judged on during the Day of Judgment, if such a day exists?—I find my answer in Romans 12:1 (King James Bible, 1769/2017):

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Our goal is to sacrifice ourselves for the reasonable service of humanity, a creation from God. From this, I offer three interventions for those seeking self-exploration and spiritual connection:

1. Challenge your beliefs. Give yourself the freedom to explore with an open mind the convictions you hold.

2. Evaluate alignment. Ask whether these beliefs align with the version of yourself you wish to become. Identify what resonates and what no longer fits.

3. Engage in dialogue. Speak with those who hold different beliefs. Such exchanges foster understanding and deepen both personal and communal growth.

Until next time,
Micah Wyatt, M.S., LMFT

References

Carrier, R. (2014). On the historicity of Jesus: Why we might have reason for doubt. Sheffield Phoenix Press.

Ehrman, B. D. (2016). Jesus before the gospels: How the earliest Christians remembered, changed, and invented their stories of the Savior. HarperOne.

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. (Original work published 1769) https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org