Is religion a psychological disorder?

Answer 1

Yes. And the holy Eastern Orthodox Church is the answer to that sickness.

This may come off as shocking but please give it a little looking into first.

Answer 2

I think religion was invented by people to explain what they didn't understand. It grew out of superstition. Though the current state of religion in the world does go a long way to create serious disorders. People are taught from a very young age that they need to accept a god so they do not understand when they become adults that they really never had a choice. They do it not because they want to but because of a deep seated cultural bias that tells them they must. Is that a psychological disorder? I don't know.

Answer 3

Psychological disorders are borne in the mind. Religion is a privilege in society. It's a teaching. Religion has depth and clarity for an individual that practices a faith. I'm an American, the American laws set limits to help citizens identify religion as it contrasts with cult behaviors. Cults might be the product and culminator of psychological disorder--these are known for illicit behavior; sex with children, counterculturing, etc. Cults are often a deviant of the recognized faith.

Answer 4

Religion is defined as the "Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship."

Psychological disorder is otherwise known as mental illness.

So if your question is that to believe in God is some form of mental illness, then your are wrong from a majority viewpoint as most people who profess religious affiliation are simply the ordinary person of sound mind you meet on the street. Sure, religious nuts do exist but they do not define the whole. Some of the religious folks we know of are the founders of modern science. Some are noted academics and some are noted politicians. The person who holds the view that these religious folks have mental illnesses may be the one afflicted with it instead!

Answer 5

yes, religion does relate to the mind.

However you've created a paradox with your question:

in order for religion ( belief in a creator) to be a disorder then there would have to be no such thing as a creator. However if there is no creator how can we have a particular function if a disorder is an ailment of a function ( witch we wouldn't have if we weren't created) then in order to have a disorder we'd have to have a function.


definitions.

psychological :Of, relating to, or arising from the mind or emotions.

disorder: An ailment that affects the function of mind or body

function: The action for which a person or thing is particularly fitted or employed.

Religion:Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

Answer 6

Religion is a natural organization of belief systems of mankind when exploring the untestable and unrepeatable.

Philosophy is the natural organization of thought about things that are testable OR repeatable, but NOT BOTH.

Science is the natural organization of thought about things that are testable AND repeatable (both have to apply).

If the standard religions were removed, there would still, very quickly, be standard religions. Even Wicca, which often had very vocal complaints about religion now considers itself nearly mainstream. It is a natural tendency to complain about the competition when it on the top.

Religion, particularly those that have been through reformation and no longer take their holy texts as absolutely literally true, like much of Christianity, and unlike Islam, are very helpful to the world. They grow with scientific discover (they struggle, but they come along), they seek to change and branch into many branches to meet the needs of multitudes of people, and often, like Christianity, specifically Catholicism, become sources of great good, as Catholicism is the largest, greatest source of charity in the world. No one speaks of it, nor do they complain when governments are rated by how much they donate while the church remains unnoticed.

It that's a psychological disorder, we need more of them.

Imagine a world where one wasn't allowed to organize with others about ideas about the universe that can't be tested or repeated? All thought in this area banned, or must remain disorganized? What do you think science fiction and fantasy are? How many of those have turned out to be true in one way or another?

No, best to leave them to their thing and watch them grow and evolve. Good for all of us.

Answer 7

Disorder? No. Because while we cannot possible know for sure what the truth is (or that's my assumption as an agnostic) for it to be a disorder, it must be inheritly damaging from a societal standpoint for a person to be religious. And while certain aspects of religion certainly fall into that category, admittedly religion can serve a multitude of valid purposes even in the event that athiesm is correct.

Perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that religion is an "inaccurate set of beliefs that have arisen from an imperfect psyche."

Of course, I'm agnostic, so what do I know?

Answer 8

NO. Religion is a belief. You religion (belief) is different than mine. Would you say that You are experiencing a psychological disorder? People who believe nothing are dead from the neck up, and just as well be from the neck down.

Answer 9

closer to a virus....lol

CHRISTIANITY= VIRUS OF THE MIND


Christianity is basically nothing more than an extremely efficient virus of the mind.

Since they emanate from humans and therefore have an organic component, all ideas have a survival instinct just like their human progenitors, and will seek to propagate themselves into as many human hosts as possible. Now of course some ideas are beneficial to their human hosts, but not all.

Christianity is one of those malignant versions. Of course, the long-term life expectancy of its human hosts is beneficial to the Christian mind virus since it allows more propagation, but ultimately the survival of its human hosts is irrelevant, as demonstrated throughout history in wars with competing religious viral "memes" (ideas).

Need proof? Just look at the evangelical nature of Christianity. Christianity drives its adherents to "spread the word" through human-to-human contact...just like a virus spreads.

And what is a "word" anyway? Nothing more than the spoken or written expression of an IDEA. The Christian Bible even ADMITS that God is nothing more than an IDEA..."In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD WAS GOD", remember?

Need more proof? Ever wonder why the Catholic Church opposes birth control and abortion? It's not because abortion is murder, because throughout history the Catholic Church has either endorsed murder (Crusades, Inquisition) or turned a blind eye to it (Holocaust). No, it's because THE MORE UNEDUCATED, POOR, IGNORANT SOULS THAT ARE BORN INTO POVERTY AND MISERY ON THIS PLANET, THE GREATER THE CHRISTIAN MIND VIRUS' CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.

Have a wonderfull free thinking day

Answer 10

No. A psychological disorder would render you unable to be completely functional in everyday life. Religion has helped millions regain their ability to function. It's more of a remedy or cure.

And if you're talking about Christianity, it's not a religion. We consider it a relationship. Either you have one with God, or you choose not to. There's nothing religious about it.

Answer 11

wow Bearable has your answer.

as a psychologist, i can say that the disorders in the DSM IV TR are there partly because they do not frequently occur in the general population

therefore, in a way, the definition of a mental disorder is somewhat dependent on its conforming to social norms

so atheists need to work a little harder before, as bearable points out so well, the authors of the DSM include religion as a disorder

to me, it is valuable as a coping mechanism

however, this is just like people who have delusions need them to cope, to make sense of their world that has been ruined by drug abuse for example

but i think the function that religion can perform, to help people cope with life's struggles, is done better by a bit of mental resilience. this is a more important thing to develop in someone than religious belief, as it makes them a more self-reliant person.

we need more of these types of people.

atheism supports such an approach to life.

so if religion were to go in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for mental disorders) i think it might go under schizophrenia or something to do with delusions

i don't know, i wasn't that interested in abnormal psychology

but i can say that boosting one's emotional intelligence, which is what i am doing my honours project in, might help you to increase your mental resilience and fend of all these emotionally arrogant religious leaders.