I think it is, in effect, delusion ... a flaw with the way someone sees the universe around them.
I'm not going to go into detail but I think it is generally accepted by neuroscientists and psychologists that we have an internal map of our universe and navigate our way through that ... certainly I haven't heard a more logically appealing one. IOW we don't navigate directly through the real universe.
If this is true then it's easy to see how, if the internal map falls out of synch with the real universe, problems can result and can easily explain hallucinations, visions, god experiences and so on with the person experiencing it utterly unable to tell that what they are experiencing is, in effect, a mental breakdown.
It also. of course, falls in line with my view that religion (especially when visions are experienced) are the first step into mental illness ... when people have invisible friends they are treated for mental psychosis, people who believe they have a "personal" relationship with their god aren't treated in that way but on the face of it it's hard to see why.
Kyu
I'm not going to go into detail but I think it is generally accepted by neuroscientists and psychologists that we have an internal map of our universe and navigate our way through that ... certainly I haven't heard a more logically appealing one. IOW we don't navigate directly through the real universe.
If this is true then it's easy to see how, if the internal map falls out of synch with the real universe, problems can result and can easily explain hallucinations, visions, god experiences and so on with the person experiencing it utterly unable to tell that what they are experiencing is, in effect, a mental breakdown.
It also. of course, falls in line with my view that religion (especially when visions are experienced) are the first step into mental illness ... when people have invisible friends they are treated for mental psychosis, people who believe they have a "personal" relationship with their god aren't treated in that way but on the face of it it's hard to see why.
Kyu
Angry Atheism
Where those who are hacked off with the stupidity of irrational belief can vent their feelings!
Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!
Kyuuketsuki, AngryAtheism Owner & Administrator
Where those who are hacked off with the stupidity of irrational belief can vent their feelings!
Come over to the dark side, we have cookies!
Kyuuketsuki, AngryAtheism Owner & Administrator
