Good, that was the point. Another thing about crutches is that they are usually temporary -- they are discarded when the injury is cured. (If the injury is uncurable, then the permanent tool used isn't usually called a crutch)
It is also worth noting that the usefulness of such a crutch is limited if the user becomes addicted to it. Then one simply replaces one disability with another.
You are arguing from the assumption that religion's *only* role is to be a crutch. Religion's "crutch effect" in regards to depression is most likely simply a side effect of "intrinsically motivated religiousness," and is certainly not the main reason people have spiritual beliefs.
In fact, according to the article, if you try to become religious just to fight depression, the study would define you as having "extrinsically motivated religiousness," which was defined in part as "This is what this religion can do for me."
That isn't to say, of course, that depression can't lead people to "intrinsically motivated religiousness," or following a set of spiritual or religious beliefs "because of a sincere belief that doing so is correct" as the article puts it.
Reggie Bautista
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