(August 25, 2015 at 2:12 am)robvalue Wrote: I've heard many people say they literally see supernatural things regularly, such as God, Angels, whatever. How many of these are people with mental illnesses who got drawn to religion? How many are otherwise mentally well people who have convinced themselves they are seeing such things? How do you tell the difference...As to how many, we may never know. I think you'd have to take that on a case by case basis, The same for how do you tell.
For the mentally ill, if it reinforces their particular illness or delusion they will be drawn to religion. For the non mentally ill, if the reward or reinforcement for them personally is great enough, they become willing to accept, maybe even create, the supernatural or delusion. Example: People physically demonstrating/acting out when the power of god is upon them (seizure like writhing, speaking in tongues, fainting....). I believe that the vast majority, if not all, are doing it for show, reinforcement and acceptance.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
