If someone comes to you and claims he has conversations with aliens, claims he sees aliens and one day, when he dies he wants to board an alien ship to go to another galaxy. You will diagnose this guy as a Schizo and will force drugs, electric shocks and lock up this guy in an attempt to force those crazy beliefs out of his head.
But how come you leave alone people who claim to talk to God (prayer) and who want to go to heaven after they die.
Those are crazy beliefs too. Are you just too chicken to attack a well accepted belief and prefer to attack less accepted ones because they are more easily depicted as crazy ?
2006-07-02 02:45:21 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
People are considered "normal" if they are the norm in a society, i.e., religious people are the majority. Everyone may be insane in their thinking, but if everyone is as insane as they are, it's 'normal' to be that way.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the APA call fundamentalism a defect soon though.
2006-07-02 03:47:07 · answer #1 · answered by American Spirit 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It is not a matter if it is "schizo" behavior, it is whether the behavior negatively or positively impacts the individuals functionality in society.
People who talk to, hear from God, Jesus, Allah etc. tend to be caring giving contributing memers of society.
People who talk to, hear from Satan, Aliens etc. tend to be negative, dangerous individuals who no longer function or contribute to society.
Then you need to address the issue of norms. There is no flawless/perfect human to study and set as a benchmark as normal (for the Christians...yes, Jesus but modern science can not run a brain scan on him to create the norm.) The norm bench mark is reached by majority of accepted/functional behavior for the period that a person lives in. It is a range of behaviors that un-less a specific behavior is excessively out of range or the person truly is not functional they are considered normal. possibly excentric but not insane.
Many people within the normal range, do still seek counseling or medication to heighten their functionality. Generally because they personally feel off/out of it. Religious and spiritual practices have a calming effect on the human psyche and are actually a commonaly used treatment for depression, social disorders, anexiety etc.
Alcohol, tobacco, herbs, and chemical/drugs are ways that people try to self-treat these same disorders. Choosing to following a moderate religion that is based on love, hope, peace and happiness is a much healthier way to address the psycological issues humankind faces than persuing chemical or invasive means such as electro-shock or a lobotomy.
2006-07-02 03:05:34 · answer #2 · answered by mike g 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If psychiatrists are like other scientists (including other physicians), then at least some of them are also religious.
As for the rest, they surely know a hopeless cause when they see it. It would not be helpful to start a religious argument with their patients.
T.S. Eliot said mankind cannot bear very much reality. Psychiatrists undoubtedly understand that better than anyone else.
2006-07-02 02:53:44 · answer #3 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were at loss with the missing x-files and could not solve the problems with science and mathematic.
When living human kind is not the the creator of living human kind on planet earth.
So someone has to be the looney and someone has to be the smart guy on planet earth.
2006-07-02 02:54:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No they are smart enough to know where the power of healing really is. And most have encountered some one with the Holy spirit and know they are out ranked.
2006-07-02 02:51:17 · answer #5 · answered by kritikos43 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are very ignorant if you think doctors cant tell the difference between someone who prays and someone who talks to aliens.
2006-07-02 02:50:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thousands and thousands of psychiatrists and psychologists ARE Christians. You question shows that you really don't understand the differences between religion and science.
2006-07-02 02:51:39 · answer #7 · answered by lampoilman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of us believe in God, In our own ways and its called faith. Faith is usually belief only in the unseen. And God is Unseen, so for the people living today, Jesus and Mohammed and Moses are unseen as God himself, God for us is in our culture and lives and more a reality by its sheer faith. We are born with it, Live by it and die by it, People who claim they are from God or talking to God is not believable, yet faith dictates that they be left alone, for the fear of our own guilt and possible vengance from God if they are disturbed. You have a valid point. God is reasonable, Faith is not reasonable. these people who take advantage of this belief and take others for a ride using these fears have to be dealt with firmly and decicively. these are as much crackpots as the fellow who claims to see UFOs and who claim to be kidnapped by them.
2006-07-02 02:59:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My understanding of the DSM4 is they are required to remain neutral about God
2006-07-02 02:47:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well God in a proper dose is good .. but if one become addicted, it's unhealthy..
2006-07-02 02:59:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋