Religious Struggle

Despite its many benefits, religion can be a source of internal struggle. God seems to be distant or punishing. People feel anger toward God in the face of life events, particularly experiences connected with suffering, injustice, and personal disappointments. The study focuses on three types of religious struggle: guilt and fear of not being forgiven by God, negative emotions toward God, and negative social interactions related to religion. The study examines the predictors and consequences of struggle in the context of psychological well-being. The following issues are addressed: dependence of struggle from personality traits, parental attitudes, humility, and religiosity, relationships of struggles with the indicators of wellbeing in the general population, and people coping with stress.

Beata Zarzycka is an associate professor of psychology at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. Her research interests include the psychology of religion and spirituality and existential-humanistic psychotherapy.