It is easy to feel that people who are different from us are a potential threat. However, when we treat people differently or less than us, it can cause problems for them. This often happens in religions when there are rules or expectations of the members.
Religion is something people hold in a sensitive part of their heart. When people experience judgment in a place they once felt safe, or when people are excluded from a group they once belonged to, it can lead to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety and cause mental anguish.
When you think about how closely some people hold religion, you can understand why people are sensitive when something offensive happens. If you were told that you don’t belong, or that God won’t accept you because you have “sinned” according to a religion’s expectations (whether they be official rules or social norms), it can lead to feeling depressed or even anxious.
Depression is increasing in those who are a part of a religion and feel that they don’t belong. You can see more people are turning to other sources for peace and hope than to religion. When people feel inadequate in a group, it is natural for them to want to leave.
Scott Morley, St. George