The Two Faces of Faith: The Sense and Nonsense of Religion — A Psychological Perspective

At the 50th anniversary celebration of the "Initiative for Help Against Psychological Dependency and Religious Extremism e.V." and the "Bavarian Working Group of Democratic Circles e.V.", psychologist Werner Gross delivered a remarkable lecture. Under the title "The Sense and Nonsense of Religion and Religiosity: On the Two-Faced Nature of Faith", he offered a critical and nuanced analysis of the ambivalent role religion plays in the lives of individuals and in society as a whole. His insights resonated deeply with the more than 60 attendees — and sparked lively discussion. The lecture will soon be published in a conference volume; here we offer an advance look at its central ideas.

Faith as a Resource: The Healing Side of Religion

Werner Gross begins his lecture by highlighting the constructive potential of religious belief. Many people find comfort, meaning, and orientation in faith — especially during times of crisis. Rituals, prayer, or the thought of a higher order can help ease psychological burdens, manage anxiety, and build resilience.

Religion can function as a resource for personal growth and collective identity. Spiritual communities foster a sense of belonging, encourage social engagement, and prompt ethical reflection. In psychotherapeutic practice, too, this becomes evident: for people of faith, a connection to transcendence can form a meaningful part of their healing process.

The Dark Side of Faith: When Religion Becomes Dependency

Yet Gross does not limit himself to this positive perspective. The "two-faced nature" of faith reveals itself most clearly where religious systems promote control rather than freedom. Fundamentalist worldviews, rigid dogmas, or authoritarian religious leaders can drive people into psychological dependency — sometimes with serious consequences.

In his work with those affected by religious abuse, Werner Gross repeatedly encounters cases in which religion became a source of fear, guilt, and self-denial. This not infrequently leads to deep inner conflict, social isolation, or even depressive illness. In such cases, what was once a source of meaning becomes a source of suffering.

Religious Education as Prevention: Enlightenment Instead of Indoctrination

How can we prevent religion from tipping into dependency or extremism? Gross advocates for an open engagement with questions of meaning and a differentiated religious education — in families, schools, and communities alike. Children and young people should not only learn what is believed, but also how to engage with religion critically, reflectively, and in a spirit of freedom.

At the same time, he calls for societal vigilance against religious abuse of power. Initiatives such as the hosts of this event — the "Initiative for Help Against Psychological Dependency and Religious Extremism e.V." — do valuable work in this regard. They create spaces for dialogue, counselling, and support for those seeking to free themselves from destructive belief systems.

Conclusion: Between Meaning and Manipulation — Religion Requires Responsibility

Werner Gross succeeds in neither idealising nor demonising religion. Instead, he illuminates how ambivalent its effects can be — depending on whether it serves the individual or dominates them: Does one flourish within religion, or does one perish beneath it? Faith can be a source of strength and orientation — or an instrument of oppression and disempowerment.

The lecture made clear: religion is no relic of the past, but a highly relevant topic today — especially in the tension between individual freedom, collective identity, and social pluralism. Engaging with its "two-faced nature" remains not only an academic task, but a profoundly practical and human one.

For further reading, see Werner Gross's book: Don’t Believe, What You Think Sense and Nonsense of Religion and Religiosity