The community guidelines have this: Limit your direct discussion of politics and religion, as people usually hold pretty strong opinions about these topics

These forums encompass a wide array of topics under the mental health umbrella. We cannot be everything to all posters. Doc John has built quite the community over time and his numerous years of running online communities have shown him what works and what doesn't for his model of a support community.

I'm willing to bet he's watched those topics derail too many threads because of strong opinions that differed.

As someone who faces my own mental illness and disorders I know that my ability to remain calm flies out the window when a topic I feel strongly about has points that directly oppose what my beliefs are. Passionate beliefs can be discussed elsewhere if they are not within the guidlines of this site.

There are some rather wonderful sites about religion and discussion scattered about the web. Perhaps one of those sites has a mental health forum where issues around mental illness and one's personal religious beliefs can be discussed freely?

Doc John gives his reasons in the Community Guidelines. After spending several years in online support communities my experience has made me thankful for this rule here. When one watches the decline of an otherwise healthy thread into a flame war over whose religion better supports illness then one can understand why this rule exists. I've seen people who care about one another sever ties over religion entering their discussion.