Do you think Hyper-Religiosity Is A Serious Problem?

Question

Religious beliefs serve an important function in the daily lives and attitudes of most of us...Religion helps people to be centered and grounded.

However, a person’s fervent religious practices can signify other, darker aspects of his or her mental health. For example, if someone’s faith is used to mask or avoid psychological problems, or if their religious inclinations are taken to extremes, there is an excellent possibility that the person is suffering from a psychiatric disorder.

One term used to describe such a case is “hyper-religiosity.” A “hyper” condition of any sort—e.g. hyperactivity, hyperglycemia, etc.—simply means too much of something. In the case of religious beliefs, the question of having too much becomes a factor when the religion starts adversely affecting people’s social behavior, their ability to function rationally, and even their own physical health.

-Uzma Mazhar: www.crescentlife.com

http://www.crescentlife.com/spirituality/religious_addiction.htm

Answer 1

I would say that it can be a serious problem with individuals like Fred Phelps or a Extremist Muslim cleric or (for polytheists) one of the members of the Thugee in 19th century India.

Generally, there is not a problem in society as a whole with hyper-religiosity, but unfortunately the people who display this trait tend to be very vocal and give all of the people with the same "faith tag" a bad name.....

Answer 2

It's not often I stumble across someone who's looking at things in such an intelligent manner. I agree with you from a perspective of Buddhist and Western psychology... psychological pathologies play a huge part in people's religious choices and behaviors once they "claim" a religion. These are the types of things that give rise to using religion as a basis for terrorism, like bombing abortion clinics, gay bashings and attacks, 9/11, etc.

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Answer 3

Yes. I do think that hyper religiousity aka Fundamentalism is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. When somebody has to use religion to mask other problems then that is a bad thing as well. As for me personally I don't care that people are religious, just like I don't care that people are non religious. Nor do I try to make people try to believ as I do. I would never try to convert people to Agnosticism or make them be Agnostic as that is a personal choice. All I am trying to do is get people to understand that just because I am non religious that I am not an evil person.

Answer 4

I'm singularly unimpressed with your definitions. Just what does "centered and grounded" mean? Those phrases didn't exist when I began my college courses in psychology and psychiatry. They began to be bandied about amongst freshman and sophomore students in California in the late nineteen-seventies and early nineteen-eighties, as pop psychology began to stumble and trip over itsself in local, and soon after, national "advice" columns in newspapers.
So far, nobody's been able to explain just what those phrases mean. So if one is to claim that religion helps people to be "centered and grounded", thinking people simply have to ask "so what?" I'm sorry, but to free-thinking people, there's nothing rational whatsoever about religion.

Answer 5

Yes, to name a few, you have: the religious zealots who try to shove their fire and brimstone down your throat, you have some holier-than-thou Christian hypocrites who would put you down in a minute, and the Jehovah's Witnesses who have no respect for personal property and will come a-knockin' at your door in your private residence anytime, trying like robots to force what THEY needed to learn into YOUR soul. And then there's the atheists who angrily deny anything religious at all, even going to the extent of stealing a baby Jesus from a creche, who always look for arguments against God. (Well, they'll be the ones who don't make it through the Pearly Gates.) Whew! I never spoke my mind about this before---that felt G-O-O-D!!!

Answer 6

Utoh.........I guess you should've locked up the 12 disciples before Christianity spread throughout the then known world. I'm glad you weren't alive 2,000 years ago.

Answer 7

Yes, it is. Sometimes such people seem to be paranoic and they disturb the persons around them...They should get help.

Answer 8

Phillipians 4:5-Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Answer 9

we are commanded to present our bodies as a holy sacrifice unto the lord, we are commanded even to lay our very life's down for the sake of the lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ.. two thing we cannot change is the weather and the word of God to please our will. let face it God demands all of us not just a part .. this is where many fail to do is Give God their whole lives and keeping back something for ones self. every word of the inspired word of God is blunt and not wavering.. God don't chance his commandment for nobody.. he is a just and honest and loving God who only ask for all of us to obey him, and love him, and keep his commandments

Answer 10

yes the are a lot off nutts out there that think thay are god and say god told me to do it