2007-01-30 07:46:08 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it's a mental illness for extremists and those who use it as an excuse to kill others.
2007-01-30 07:52:01 · answer #1 · answered by Dirty 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but at its extreme, it can certainly appear as one.
I can give hundreds of examples of otherwise decent people just losing all connection with what we'd call simple common sense and kindness.
How about a "charismatic" couple that's all wound up into some prayer and worship, and their young child is in the bathroom, getting into the medicine cabinet?
I aint making this stuff up, folks, believe me.
Same couple, the mother is motoring down the street, listening to a religious audio tape, and the child is hanging out the rider side window, not belted in.
Yah, I know......incredible. But true.
Self-ordained ministers just getting up in people's faces for no good reason other than their own zeal and prejudice, just being totally provocational and ugly - the kind of behavior that would get anyone's butt kicked under any other circumstances.
Well, one guy got taken to court for it, and here's a responsible circuit court judge, explaining to thie "minister" where the "line" was between freedom of speech (or "witnessing") and harrassment. I mean, the minister, in his religious zeal, had just lost all concept of reality, and figured that Jesus was blessing his disgusting behavior.
So, yes....it can seem like a "mental illness."
2007-01-30 16:40:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes I wonder... and I have spiritual beliefs that would constitute as a religion.... but some of these other people, wow! I think when you leave behind reason/logic completely and turn to blind faith alone, then it becomes a mental illness. Then you are at the mercy of whatever "teacher" you have placed your trust in... whether it's merely reading the bible or those fruitcakes on the tv.
2007-01-30 16:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by Kithy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No more then atheism. To some it can be a way to rationalize certain behavior and find peace in uncontrollable situations, but to others it is more of a vehicle, which in essence sets them free. Religion is not the end all and shouldn't be, but can be a place to understand yourself. Whatever makes the world make more sense is fine by me, whether it's believing or not. I respect them all.
2007-01-30 16:43:03 · answer #4 · answered by straightup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is not a mental illness. It is a spiritual cure.
2007-01-30 15:50:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mary W 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In fact, religions are manifestation of human extra-ordinary skills for how beautifully they have created different Gods and how smartly they have set communities against each other !
2007-01-30 15:53:06 · answer #6 · answered by Cyphor 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it isn't. It is a spiritual faith in believing in something that we can't see. Some people may think we are crazy, but we know better.
2007-01-30 15:56:14 · answer #7 · answered by NSnoekums 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“When one person suffers from a delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion”. (Robert Pirsig)
2007-01-30 15:52:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
dude how many times can you possibly ask this question anyway leave these people alone and maybe they will leave you alone did you ever stop to think about that for a minute
2007-01-30 16:22:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only for those who don't have it
2007-01-30 15:51:04 · answer #10 · answered by Michelle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋