is religious belief a form of mental illness?

Question

so a delusion is the belief that somethings exists or is a certain way even when there is no evidence outside of one's own mind to support this claim.

how is this different from religious belief?

and don't cloak it in terms of faith - faith is an artsy way of saying you know something that can't be known. sounds like delusion to me!!!!

if i said that my cat was god, you would call me crazy, but you can't prove that he is not god anymore than you can prove that your god even exists. at least we have evidence my cat exists.

Answer 1

I totally agree, although it is a bit deeper than that.

Psychological research shows that Religious faith is actually essential to some people. Plus it can do incredible things. People live longer, and Faith can get people through things better than anything else. It's a bit like a comfort blanket for adults.

Unfortunately some people go too far with it, that's when Religion becomes a problem. At the moment I believe it is doing more harm than good.

Answer 2

To the unenlightened thought, religion is definitely a form of mental illness. Human belief is the most stubborn element one will ever encounter. To come out of this miasma, one must be visited (spiritually) and accept (that is the leap). Until this happens, the defense for darkness holds strong.
You “are” what you think you are, and suffer the “laws” originating from the basis of thought. When you have had enough, you change, and see that you are what you are not.
So in the end, you will defend until you tire.

Answer 3

Again, other sorry person calling a great many people a disparaging name, mentally ill. There is no point in even trying to answer your question because you are blind and hard hearted to the things of God. The more you hear the harder you get. If you want to believe your kitty is god, go for it. Christianity has stood the test of time, people have died to protect it. Fables die out after a time, and atheists don't fight them so hard. God says if you say there is no God that you are a fool. What can I say.

Answer 4

Another delusion is to believe something does not exist that does. How is that different from Athiesm? If someone insisted there was no air, or no love or no pain because none of them are visible, this would be delusional even if they themselves never experienced love, which caused them to believe there was really no such thing, the shrinks would be breaking out the meds faster than you could say quick.

It seems that any argument Atheists have against Christians can be used on themselves as well.

Answer 5

You are very confused

Religion (along with most of our life) is a process for developing the mind. Yes, some religions do this using myths, allegory and Gods, but the basic goal is to develop the mind toward love, compassion and some interpretation (even if it is through myth) of reality.

'Faith' is a way for us to reach mental plateaus in this development. A developing mind *inherently* does not understand reality so it needs processes and the plateaus in order to grow.

Answer 6

It's more about tradition than mental illness. Consider that atheism is a faith too and it's much easier and more natural to believe in something than to believe in nothing.

Answer 7

No. some varieties of psychological ailment in somebody must be vitriol and uncontrollable rage and fury spat at somebody who in basic terms mentions the two faith, some thing approximately gods, the lack of ability of perception in a god/s, or a perception in a single.

Answer 8

You stand pretty bold to insult the Christians who come here. The only mental illiness I is your ignorance towards the Almighty God who have up His one and only son Jesus so people like you and me can have our sins forgiven.

You cat is not god, because it's is a cat. God made man is His image after His likeness. A cat is an animal and we are not.

Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

God created man to have dominion over all the animals and that included your cat!

Answer 9

You are a god. You can show them. Quick, run to the neighbor with your cat and show it. Tell them the truth. It is their hope.

Answer 10

thats about half the planet have the hospitals got enough rubber rooms to keep them in