Places of worship: an agnostic love affair. - What should we talk about today?

An agnostic walks into a church sounds like the commencement of a joke, yet the funny thing is this describes my not so guilty pleasure. I guess initially I was drawn to the architectural splendour of these symbols of faith as my rejection of the central tenet of religion remains steadfast. Yet, one day in December 2018 as I sat in serene silence in the wonderous Liverpool Cathedral, the penny finally dropped.

I was negotiating a particularly harrowing episode of my life and whilst visiting the great city I happened upon the stunning Knife Angel (displayed at the Cathedral until January 31st 2019) made entirely of bladed weapons collected from amnesties and police confiscations. Before I knew it, I was inside the hallowed walls that spoke to me with a welcome and bestowed an incredible moment of stillness and solitude. I think I must have spent an hour or so just sitting there. Thinking. I didn’t even feel compelled to use my mobile phone to check in; I do have a habit of recording my escapades on social media! Modernity is flooded with noise, disruption, and diversion. Immersing myself in silence was just the therapy I needed.

So, what exactly happened to me and why was quiet, coupled with isolation, having such a calming and therapeutic effect? Having experienced this positivity time and again within the walls of many other sacred buildings it was time to investigate.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology explores how silence activates the brain’s default mode network, which is associated with self-reflection, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation. Silence is linked to reduced stress, improved cognitive function, and enhanced well-being. Strikingly, the Wilderness Solo Experience, captured in the same research, found that extended periods of silence and solitude in nature led to profound personal growth, reduced anxiety, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Research from the University of Reading tracked adults over 21 days and found that intentional solitude – as opposed to enforced isolation – was associated with reduced stress and increased autonomy. People felt freer to be themselves and reported lower stress levels on days they spent more time alone.

A 2024 article in Industrial and Organizational Psychology theorises that silence can act as an emotion regulator. In quiet environments, individuals experience improved decision-making and emotional clarity. Silence helps people process complex thoughts without external noise, fostering inner calm.

Tantamount to the almost permanently switched on nature of contemporary living was a compelling narrative, and I wondered if refraining from using my mobile phone also had an influence on my personal time out.

A review published by Open Access Government highlights how our ‘always-on’ digital culture – where devices demand constant attention – has disrupted healthy routines and contributed to rising stress levels. The article notes that technology is often the first and last thing we engage with each day, leading to overstimulation and reduced capacity for emotional regulation.

A study in JAMA Paediatrics found that frequent use of mobile devices to calm children was associated with increased emotional reactivity over time. In boys and children with high temperamental surgency (a personality trait that reflects a person’s tendency toward high energy, sociability, impulsivity, and positive emotional expression), reliance on screens displaced opportunities to develop independent self-regulation strategies. While the study focused on children, it raises broader concerns about how habitual device use may hinder emotional resilience across age groups.

A systematic review in JMIR Mental Health examined randomised controlled trials of popular apps like Headspace and Calm. While some studies showed improvements in stress and depressive symptoms, the review flagged concerns about conflicts of interest and the limited scope of most trials (often involving nonclinical populations). In other words, while these apps can help, they’re not a panacea, and their effectiveness may depend on how they are used.

The Oxford Academic journal Translational Behavioural Medicine discusses how technology-supported interventions must contend with the cognitive burden of constant connectivity. The CALM system, designed to help clinicians manage anxiety disorders, illustrates how even therapeutic technology must be carefully structured to avoid overwhelming users.

A seemingly random event in Liverpool some years ago had inadvertently placed me in the space needed to temporarily take my foot off the accelerator of life that had been manifestly turbo-charged by handheld technology.

Since Liverpool, I’ve continued to escape in similar surroundings. In addition to the eureka moment in the birthplace of the Beetles, here are a few more of my favourite religious retreats where stupendous solitude knows no bounds:

The Sagrada Família, Barcelona – the largest uncompleted Catholic church in the world. However, the closer I got, the more unsettled I felt. This place of worship – consecrated by the late Pope Benedict XVI on 7th November 2010 – was, in my opinion, like a tribute to a tacky souvenir piece, more usually found in a gaudy (not to be confused with the chief architect Antoni Gaudí) snow globe! Having said that, the interior is simply stunning. Strikingly coloured stained glass contours the natural light ─ amplifying the utter glory of this controversial and contradictory architectural accomplishment. As I later discovered, many Catalonians share this paradoxical position. It shouts gothic, and in places is reminiscent of Bruce Wayne’s Batcave. I sat for ages and simply breathed it all in.