do you consider fundamentalist christianity a mental health problem? why or why not?

Answer 1

no know

Answer 2

I think fundamentalism of any kind shuts your mind off to any other alternative - and leads to people doing extreme things in the name of their religion. Look at muslim fundamentalists, and the extremes they will go to ensure the creation of an Islamic State in the middle east. There have been many suicidal religious cults in the past that took things to the extreme when they listened to the preaching of one person, no matter how outlandish (read about the Jamestown suicide cult, Waco Branch Dividians, or the San Diego based Heaven's Gate Cult). I am sure if you asked people that are a member of those religions - Muslim Fundamentalists, Christian Fundamentalists - they wouldn't think they were a member of a cult. However, when you can ignore hard scientific fact, and instead blindly and completely follow words written 2000 years ago, I would say you are a member of a close minded fundamentalist cult. When the bible was written, people thought epilepsy meant a person was possessed by the devil. We have now learned it is caused by a imbalance of the control sectors of the brain. Should we unlearn those facts, stop the medical treatments, and go back to just doing exorcisms? Even the Vatican has shied away from using exorcisms, or validating their need. I do think the bible had a lot of good advice about how to co-exist with our fellow man, but we need to keep it in perspective. It is not without fault, and it is not the only answer, and it should not stop us from seeking to answer questions about things we don't currently understand.

Answer 3

You have asked a good but incomplete question, in my opinion. If there are people out there who are going to label Christianity a mental health problem, they should label all organized religion a mental health problem. I don't believe any one religion is better than any other personally. I was raised a Christian and still believe in Jesus, although I do not any longer practice any organized religion. To say one religion or faith is a mental health problem while another is not seems to me to be hypocritical. Although your question does not say or ask about other religions, it is my perception that you excluded other faiths because you do not see them as a mental health problem. I hope I am wrong. To answer your question, I do not think that Christianity is a mental health problem. I think Christianity and the other faiths of the world prevent several of us from developing mental health issues. If for no other reason than just being able to release some of the pressures and stresses of everyday life through prayer. The people who keep it all bottled up inside are the folks we see on the water towers with rifles, or high on the grassy knolls. You get the picture. Even if there is no one or nothing listening to our prayers, to believe someone or something is listening is enough to keep a lot of us out of the psyche ward. Good question.

Answer 4

Brianna, why are you in this forum? Fundamentalism exists in every belief. Not just within Christianity. Every organization has them. Think of it this way. You may have two politicians. One democrat and one republican. If both are great Americans, they may debate taxing, spending, foreign policy, etc.... However, being great Americans they would never debate freedom of speech, religion, the right to vote, etc..... You see child, fundamentals are the core to any means of getting along. I am a fundamental Christian. If we are going to fellowship then we may debate whether or not the tribulation lasts 7 years, if the rapture takes place before, mid, or after the tribulation, or even that the Apostle Paul was married or a single man. But, we cannot debate divine creation, the virgin birth of Christ, His deity, His substitutionary atonement, His resurrection from the dead, his coming again, and a literal Heaven and Hell. I know that you are young. Maybe when you turn 12 or so you may understand. I pray that you do. In the mean time go to the website listed in the sources. He was an evolutionist for 20 years. He actually made it passed the 3rd grade into college and received his PhD. Wow, an intelligent man who was an evolutionist atheist for 20 years and now is a follower of Jesus Christ. Do you think he instantly became insane and still continues his education and association with fine moral people?

Answer 5

Based on what I know about fundamentalists, I think that it's genesis sprung from either a group of men sitting around talking and seeing how a situation they were familiar with could be more optimally satisfying. There were legal issues to consider, subordination, allocation of funds, ethical questions and future memberships. With all things considered, they came up with a means to put this plan in action and Fundamentalism is the result. I don't consider this possibility Christianity. I would call it, controlling people to serve your need.
However, proud that I have another perspective on this matter, It could be that this devout christian had divine inspiration of how to assist mankind in their evolution and the fundamentalism approach is in it's infancy, yet to realize the more interdependent synchronicity it had hoped for.
A mental problem? Not because of the fact they choose to pursue their fulfillment in this manner. Greed, and abuse of power are close but then that would be saying that most of us are mentally ill.
I strongly feel that if you are not trying to solve, at all times, what the best thing is for you, your family and your happiness, then you will become mentally ill.

Answer 6

I would love to blame mental health for the existence of the fundamentalists but unfortunately I cannot. While I do agree that there seems to be some interlinking thought malfunctions within the group, I think it is just a side effect to the conscious decision to become a fundamentalist......but hey, I'm no doctor.

Answer 7

Christianity is not a mental problem. A RELIGION, that is man made, sometimes can be a mentally health problem when it is operated like a worldly corporation instead of a Godly creation for people to turn to for His Peace and to learn more about Him and to fellowship with others of faith. Yes, there are hipocrites in church but there are lots outside of the church also! I don't consider Christianity a mental health problem but if you do not believe in God you will have a defficient heart problem that can and will lead to many other problems. His power gives us the strength to work out problems and have Peace of mind, body, and spirit!

Answer 8

I wasn't born a Christian.
I chose to become a Christian.
I was a pagan before I became a follower of Jesus Christ.
If Christianity was a 'mental health problem' how could I just develop it one day? Does it just develop by opening your heart?

Answer 9

Yes, because it forms opinions which divide people, create wars and makes one group "think" it is superior over another, when in truth we are all just people. I believe in God because of science, not because of the Bible. After all who could of created the laws of physics to be so precise? What else could of created life?

I believe in God, I don't believe in things that man has writen about God and that includes all other organized religions also, not just Christianity. I think God is more and better than the Bible (or any form of organized religion once again), which teaches us to judge, condemn and separate instead of working together to be the best we can be!

Answer 10

Yes, after years of being brain washed into religion of any sort , the idea is streamed into you conscious and subconscious. it is hard to remove the ideas that have been set in because the idea what if , leaves the person , wondering what if she or he is wrong. there by setting up a mental health issue .

Answer 11

absolutely not. The bible commands us to be born again. Being born again isn`t always a super miracle. Being born again can be beleiving in faith, because with out it is impossible to please God,the bible says so you have to beleive in the impossible yes, but it works and i bet my life on it and i can prove it.Send me your im if you want a challenge, but if you want to hide like a coward and talk about christians like were doormats go right ahead.