Communication tasks in the study of religion and mental health

Summary

Some of the tasks of communication involved in the study of religion and mental health have been discussed here. Such tasks are in some ways similar to the tasks of interpersonal communication, requiring those who would establish effective communication to take the time and effort to understand religious and secular disciplines both from the “inside” and the “outside.” Empathie participation in the efforts of those involved in relevant disciplines is needed but also detachment from such efforts in order to see clearly the nature and functions of these disciplines. Various differences between religious and secular disciplines which make for differences in the language used by the disciplines need to be recognized and understood. “Correlation” as a method of relating the contributions of different disciplines to each other and to common problems makes use of the kinds of understanding which have been stressed here. Such a method makes possible “dialogue” between different disciplines without losing the unique contributions and the unique identity of each discipline involved in the “dialogue.”