“Religion is not a form of medicine and it sails under false and dangerous colors when it neglects this truth. By its nature, however, it does offer man a faith by which he can stand up to life with more confidence and less anxiety.”

On January 22, 1961 Rabbi Olan discussed how faith in God can support good mental health. However, he also emphasized that religion is no replacement for professional medical and psychological care.

Click Here to Read the Sermon

“The Biblical faith declares that there is a source of help in God who is a light and can be a salvation so that men need not fear.”

Rabbi Olan was deeply concerned about the welfare of persons struggling with mental illness. One of the practical expressions of that concern was his work helping to establish the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in 1966 while serving as a regent of the University of Texas at Austin.