(August 23, 2015 at 12:16 pm)Alex K Wrote: I would interject though that joining in a ubiquitous, traditional and socially accepted far-out belief is much less a sign of mental illness than being the only believer, because the genesis of the belief is usually very different. You can grow up in catholic society, learn to truly believe in the virgin mary and be a perfectly functioning member of that society. With that, the usual definition of a mental illness is afaik not met. If someone spontaneously starts to believe things of that type, there is usually something not quite right with that person a priori.
Yes, RedRod . . . I have been known to say that I would love to see religious belief categorized as a mental illness sometime before I die. But I agree with Alex . . . this is a function of upbringing (a person almost always has the same religion as their parents unless rebelling . . . or enlightened . . . ) so this is an educational and cultural function. Religious practice, therefore, is not a mental illness. The system is working just fine.
ALTHOUGH . . . I was raised by individuals so consumed with their religion that they chose to distance themselves from society and distrust anyone who was not in their church. They refused to allow television and newspapers in the house and sent us to Xtian schools. The house radio played the Xtian station from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. They followed extremist preachers with the fervor of cult members.
When a person chooses to live with a truly warped worldview, a "respectable" religion can easily become a cult. That IS mental illness.
"The family that prays together...is brainwashing their children."- Albert Einstein
