Faith
Yale Bridges Faith-Psychiatry Divide for Believers
Yale Divinity School’s 18-month working group, led by Professor Bruce Gordon, unites theologians and psychiatrists to heal longstanding mistrust in Christian communities.
The initiative fosters collaboration, recognizing spirituality as vital to patient identity amid growing interest from Yale’s psychiatry department.
“They were increasingly seeing patients who were speaking about spiritual experiences or religious convictions and commitments, and to put a fine point on it, they didn’t know what to do with this,” Gordon explained.
Faith Facts
- Explores brain function, psychedelics, end-of-life care, and distinguishing visions from hallucinations through Biblical lens.
- Develops shared language for person-centered medicine, equipping clergy to address depression and suicidal ideation biblically.
- Challenges stigma in churches, affirming faith coexists with mental health needs while countering secular hostility to religion.
As stewards of God’s temple, embrace this dialogue to strengthen families and congregations against mental health battles.