Religion, spirituality and belief: introduction

Religion

Religious involvement may be part of a person’s past (e.g., raised in a religious family) or they may be currently practising a religion, or both.

The Fair for All Religion and Belief Project (3.2MB) define religion as ‘a common core of shared beliefs or rituals that ‘bind together’ a group of people in their obedience to or worship of a supernatural power considered to be divine (often referred to as ‘God’).’

The Equality Act (2010) says that ‘religion means any religion’ but doesn’t include a definition of religion. Therefore, a religion does not need to be mainstream or well known to be protected by the Act. The Act also says that ‘religion includes…a lack of religion’, and therefore people who do not have a religion are also protected under the Act.

The pages in this ScotPHO section generally focus on major religious groups, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism, as well as those with no religion.

The ScotPHO report Dimensions of Diversity (2010) (4.4MB) provides some examples of potential health impacts associated with religion in Scotland:

• high smoking levels in West of Scotland Catholics,
• varying gender gaps in mental health across different religions,
• varying levels and gender gaps in self-assessed health,
• protective effects of the low value placed on excess consumption in most religions,
• the social benefits of the group structures based around religions.

Behaviour associated with different religions and beliefs may theoretically affect health and wellbeing both positively and negatively. It can be difficult to distinguish behaviours associated with religion from other cultural behavioural drivers. See the Data: Health Behaviours section for more information.

Some religious groups face prejudice and discrimination in Scotland, which can negatively impact health and wellbeing. See the Data: Prejudice and Discrimination section for more information.

Spirituality

Spirituality is not defined by law in the same way that religion and belief are. In their report, Spiritual Care Matters: An introductory guide for NHS staff (2.0MB),  NHS Education for Scotland describe spirituality as:

‘Spirituality, as in the need for meaning and value, is an integral part of a person’s ‘well-being’. It has a spectrum of meanings and is a common denominator for everyone, whether or not they have a religious belief. An individual’s world or societal view is usually shaped and linked to their spirituality and is often challenged and tested in times of need or distress.’.

Within the NHS (438kB), spirituality and spiritual care are defined as:

‘…a natural dimension of what it means to be human, which includes the awareness of self, of relationships with others and with creation…Spiritual care is not necessarily religious. Religious care should always be spiritual. Spiritual care might be said to be the umbrella term of which religious care is a part’.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists provides information on spirituality and mental health, including a definition of spirituality.

Belief

The Fair for All Religion and Belief Project(3.2MB) define belief as ‘a personal conviction or understanding about something, such as ‘is there any meaning to life?’. It is often accepted without necessarily any proof. Religions are beliefs, but so are agnosticism, atheism, and humanism.’

The Equality and Human Rights Commission also includes pacifism and veganism in their definition of belief.

The Equality Act (2010) does not include a definition of belief other than ‘belief means any religious or philosophical belief’, as well as the lack of a particular belief. Under the Act, a belief does not need to include faith or worship of a god or gods, but there are certain criteria that it must meet to be protected. These criteria are laid out and explained in Religion or belief: a guide to the law.