Decreasing anxiety through training in spiritual warfare

Scope and method of study. This project addressed the problem that many believers experience continued or increased anxiety despite having Scripture as a guide, and a community of faith around them. The research questions were two: (1) Is there any correlation between a believer's engagement in certain spiritual practices and their level of anxiety? (2) Will specific instruction in spiritual warfare principles increase the believer's motivation and interest in applying these principles in their daily spiritual life? The theological foundation for this project addressed the worldview of the kingdom of God and Satan's kingdom of darkness in Scripture, church history, and more contemporary theological writers, emphasizing Christ's victory in this conflict. A teaching program on these ideas was developed incorporating concepts of religious orientation, religious coping style, and religious attributions. The teaching program was presented at Believer's Christian Center, San Antonio, Texas, over three consecutive evening sessions. A questionnaire on the initial evening assessed participants' level of anxiety and of generalized psychological distress (using the BSI-18, the Brief Symptom Inventory-18), and their involvement in various spiritual practices. A final questionnaire at the conclusion of the last session assessed the participants' anticipated level of engaging in the same spiritual practices in the future. Correlation was looked for between the levels of psychological distress and the degree of engagement in spiritual practices on the initial questionnaire. Finally, changes were looked for between the initial levels of engagement in spiritual practices prior to the teaching sessions, and the levels of engagement in those same spiritual practices after the sessions.;Findings and conclusions. Fifty-eight initial and thirty final usable questionnaires were returned by participants. The mean of the GSI (Global Severity Index) scores on the BSI-18 among participants was 54.1, above the community norm of 50. The mean of the scores for anxiety was 51.5, for depression was 52 0, and for somatization was 55.4. Nineteen percent of participants demonstrated a GSI above 63, or above the 90th percentile for psychological distress compared to community norms. Statistically significant correlations were found between some but not all of the spiritual practices listed, and GSI scores and each of its three dimensions. Conclusions include: (1) Many believers, in particular those in a community of faith that is focused on an interventionist God and with regular prayer for healing, may often suffer from a high level of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and associated physical symptoms. (2) General levels of involvement in spiritual practices were not associated with decreased symptoms of anxiety or of generalized psychological distress. (3) Specific frequent thoughts (worries) about Satan and demons causing problems were associated with increased levels of psychological distress in general, and anxiety and depression in particular. (4) There is evidence for an association between praying or speaking in tongues and decreased levels of psychological distress. (5) Evidence also demonstrates that praying with others and watching religious television is associated with decreased levels of psychological distress. (6) Participating in a teaching program focusing on the practical application of principles of spiritual warfare and experiencing Christ's victory lead participants to anticipate increased levels of involvement in certain spiritual practices in their daily lives. (7) Participating in such a teaching program lead participants to anticipate decreased levels of thinking (worrying) about Satan and demons causing them problems. (8) Spiritual warfare principles can be presented to believers in a way that helps them feel empowered to experience Christ's victory, and less anxious over the enemy's activities.