I was watching a show where a strange sect of Christians whip themselves 40 times to symbolize the torture of Christ. The annoucer said they do this in order to feel the same pain as Christ did, but I think pain inflicted on yourself doesn't feel as bad.
My reasoning for this is that since you know exactly when it is going to happen you are able to "brace" for it better, lessening the pain. Am I wrong?
2006-09-15 02:21:21 · 9 answers · asked by butnozzle 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
You are right.When people starve deliberately they survive for many days. But in a famine people die very soon.
2006-09-15 02:27:14 · answer #1 · answered by Padmini Gopalan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, they're inflicting pain for what they think is a really good reason. I don't think it hurts any less, but they say that pain is cleansing to the soul.. and if I could wrap my mind around that.. and could believe it, then the pain might seem less in comparison to the fact that I am saving my soul. . who knows.
There is actually a study.. more than one, but they say that a person cannot inflict any real amount of pain on themselves without there being something misfiring in their brain.
A person could not throw themselves out a window, or down stairs, or break their fingers.. a person that does not NEED to, can't do any of those things to themselves. Their brain and their bodies won't allow it.
2006-09-15 10:12:32 · answer #2 · answered by Imani 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pain is pain. An electrical pulse sent from the nerves to the brain. It doesn't matter who damages the nerve, but it does matter how severely the nerve is damaged. For instance, severe burns destroy the nerves to the point of interrupting the signal so pain is not felt until the nerves start to heal, while minor burns are extremely painful. As far as self inflicted pain goes, it's not such a matter of expecting the pain as it is the brains function of limiting the pain, for example your brain would limit the strength of a blow from your own hand and arm, but your brain couldn't limit the strength of a blow from another person's hand and arm. Your brain has a natural aversion to pain and will try to avoid it.
2006-09-15 11:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are right in a way. Having someone else inflict pain includes the fear of the other person going too far and that makes it worse. It's pretty sick either way.
I mean that in a non-judgmental way of course.
I get half a dozen partially-formed thoughts here. Dominatrixes. Catholic girls who like to get spanked. Beating "the hell" out of themselves. The triumph of making it out of the other side of "Christianity" with love for God, respect for Jesus and no major psychological wounds.
What does it really take to be right with God? I think not this.
2006-09-15 09:57:26 · answer #4 · answered by anyone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The last time I heard, actions like such were classified as self mutilation. You are correct about how it can be less painfull having someone else inflict the wounds, but still does not make the situation at hand correct.
2006-09-15 09:27:23 · answer #5 · answered by Mitchell B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are wrong.Because if it is self inflicted you know it is coming, you anticipate it. But when it is out of the blue it is over before you have a chance to think about it. Speaking from experience!
2006-09-15 19:25:19 · answer #6 · answered by dancinintherain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no way of objectively measuring pain, so your question is moot. It DOES seem to be true that people can endure self-inflicted pain and pain they know is coming better than pain that comes on them unaware. As to self flagellation, you can't get enough leverage to do to yourself what was done to Jesus.
2006-09-15 09:38:19 · answer #7 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u r right
2006-09-15 09:57:46 · answer #8 · answered by MONA 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you.
2006-09-15 09:29:26 · answer #9 · answered by bluedog25123 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋