I am taking a Psychology course at a SECULAR university. The TEXTBOOK states that studies show the reason for the sharp rise in mental disorders are a combination of the breakdown of the family unit and the decline in society’s religious beliefs. The two groups of disorders most closely associated with this are mood and anxiety disorders.
2006-09-25 08:53:05 · 14 answers · asked by Quantrill 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Myers, David. Psychology, Seventh Edition in Modules
2006-09-25 09:01:56 · update #1
While I agree somewhat with what your saying, isn't the real cause your postulating, the breakdown of tight nit social groups? I think it a real stretch to make the statement you did.
2006-09-25 08:58:58 · answer #1 · answered by trouthunter 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think they are failing to take into account several things.
1. There has been dramatic change in diet. We eat more chemicals and highly processed foods than ever before. This can definitly account for mental illness because our bodies are malnourished and full of poisons.
2. People throughout history have always said there is a "Decline in religious beliefs". Its sort of that "every generation is worse than the previous" type of mentality. People always want to go back to the good old days without thinking of the positive changes that have occured.
3. Anxiety disorders also go along with the rise in population and the amount of people living in cities - - Is your book implying that there are absolutely no Christian families that have anxiety or mood disorders?
Overall the logic of the textbook is faulty and circular.
*** I have that book - David Meyers, 7th edition , I don't see where it says that in there?
2006-09-25 15:59:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Which textbook said that? And was the author quoting someone else?
It could be that religion provided a bit of a safety net and church provides community.
Or it could simply be that there isn't actually a rise in mental disorders, but in *detection* and *diagnosis* of mental disorders. (The same holds for cancer--that there isn't more cancer, but more early detection and greater ability to treat it.) In which case, the "breakdown of the family unit" and "the decline in society's religious beliefs" are coincidental.
2006-09-25 16:02:50 · answer #3 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well the textbook certainly isn't secular. Might I ask it's title and authors? These are the typical sweeping generalizations of religious ppl. Do they site where they get their info from? What census info did they use to come to their conclusions? What demographic regions are being scrutinized? Basically, what do they have to back up this claim? Anything? Or are they simply trying to get the readers to agree without thought?
However, they may be right in some way, as there are many who just can't make it without the crutch of religion.
2006-09-25 16:00:40 · answer #4 · answered by Medusa 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe when religious believers are faced with questions about their religion/god.....they seek the answer. They find the answer and it shatters their beliefs and reduces their religion to nothing more than a stone-aged superstition.
They realize that everything they learned, everything they were taught, everything they believed in, every important decision...they made in their life was based on a SHAM...A FRAUD.
That would be enough to make ANYONE CRAZY.
2006-09-25 16:01:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is the misuse of religion that causes breakdown of society.yes it is the breakdown of the family unit that is really crippling society.atheism does not cause mental illness.if religion were true and a "god" existed,then people would truly know how to exercise it and benefit from it.
2006-09-25 16:04:31 · answer #6 · answered by jen 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Could be that the persons mental disorders are
coming from Battlefield of the mind syndrom.
Maybe this person is trying to get through to see
if there is a God or not.
Satan creates mental disorders through his lies
and deciet. I strongly suggest that this person
get real and find out about God before satan takes
control of his whole mind.
2006-09-25 16:05:07 · answer #7 · answered by Catswoman1 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Huh? Sorry, you're fishing at something that doesn't exist....
This goes right back to the global warming/decrease of pirates statistical proof in the Pastafarian religion...
2006-09-25 16:25:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Please cite the book so we can see in what context this claim is made. The funny thing is, my textbooks (I hold a BA in Psychology) showed pretty much the opposite.
2006-09-25 15:57:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Psychology major but I would think the opposite would be true.
Blessings )O(
2006-09-25 15:58:42 · answer #10 · answered by Epona Willow 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋