Religious perspectives on mental illness

Dr Chapman believes that modern secular psychology as founded by Freud made a mistake by treating the mind as a collection or traumas. “They have forgotten the significance of treating the whole, and the role of spirituality in mental health” said Dr Chapman.

“Although religion is increasingly understood to be a positive force for mental health, the old Freudian doctrines still influence the secular outlook that religion is a form of mental illness – an idea much heralded by atheists such as Richard Dawkins”

During his seminar Dr Chapman will challenge this approach to mental health by looking at Christian perspectives on the understanding and treatment of mental illness during the period 1650 – 1850.

Dr Chapman is a historian of Science at the Modern History Faculty, University of Oxford. He specialises in scientific autobiography and astronomy and has written several books including ‘England’s Leonardo: Robert Hooke and the Seventeenth-century Scientific Revolution’ (2004) and ‘Gods in the Sky: Astronomy for the Ancients to the Enlightenment’ (2002).

The Faraday Institute of Science and Religion is an academic research enterprise based at St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge. The Institute has several aims: The first is to conduct scholarly research into and publish research on the subject of science and religion along with invited groups of experts. They also aim to provide short-term courses and organise seminars and lectures on science and religion.

The seminar is free and open to the general public; it is taking place tomorrow (3 February) and starts at 1pm in the Garden Room, St Edmund’s College. Lunch is available in the Garden Room from 12.30 until the start of the seminar.