If we're REALLY going to combat religious fanaticism, do we have to take mental illness more seriously?

Question

Because that's exactly what it is with nearly all religions but Buddhism. Respecting mental injuries might also do a lot to help our returning soldiers.

Answer 1

Swampthing, you're comparing apples to oranges. Not all mentally ill people are religious, and not all religious people are mentally ill. It might look like that in isolated cases, but it is not always true. The only way to combat religious fanaticism is with LOVE for one another. That one word that is so difficult for us. It is too hard to love, it's easier to hate, and that's the road we take most often, unfortunately. Do you see how easy it is to incite hostility and aggression in a mob? Do you ever wonder why mobs of people go out into the streets and flip cars over and break windows and loot merchants after a sporting event? It doesn't matter if their team wins or loses, like it's the fault of the car owners either. Sure, Buddhism is cool because it's all about chillin' out and taking time to sort through your thoughts, it's very healthy and relaxing and takes discipline. Dicipline is not easy, coming full cirlce to what I said before about it being easier to hate than it is to love. Every image I have seen of Buddah is a jolly person, with a laugh that looks intoxicating, like he's the guy that you can never be in a bad mood if you're around him. Respect period will do a lot to help with our returning soldiers. Sometimes we fail to realize that during war, troops are no longer civillians, and life and the rules are different. They go through plenty just to be able to qualify to serve, we can't judge them or turn away from them for what they do in war time. There are always those who do inhumane acts, and if you want to single those jokers out, fine, I agree, they should be punished - like those crazy MFs who rape and all that, that's uncalled for. I hope that I have enlightened you and answered your questions and helped you understand. Good luck to you.

Answer 2

I don't think that religious belief in itself is necessarily an indicator of mental illness, because many religious believers are able to function (have good reality testing, don't hallucinate, etc.) That said, I think that religion can become an addiction for some people. People can get addicted to any substance or any process - alcohol, drugs (including nicotine), food, sex, the approval of other people, gambling, work, shopping, the Internet.....and religious activities. See a book called "When God Becomes a Drug" by Leo Booth, for more information, or "Toxic Faith" by Stephen Arterburn. Also check out the links below.

Answer 3

It is humane to take care of the people who got mental illness. People, who are faithful and merciful, can do everything to help the others. Respecting mental injuries of our troops is our duty since they fight for our safety. But fanaticism is not mental illness. It is the mind of people trust that Gods will reward them if they follow the path they recognize as the only truth in the holy book. Fanaticism occurs in the uneducated class of people or the people who posses a terrible desire of power.

Answer 4

hehe and anyone who is a buddhist knows that the religion itself denies being a religion

could ya imagine if in thousands of years someone picked up the philosophers stone, translated into a legible language for the time and created a religion worshipping Harry Potter?
the lightning slash on the forehead would be like the new crucifix dogma?!?!

Answer 5

We need to take mental illness more seriously anyway, especially for those in situations like our returning soldiers. (Who needs terrorists to attack us, when we can torture our own soldiers ourselves by sending them into a useless "war"?)

A lot of people need help - anorexia from our obsession with appearance, suicidal gay teens from religious fanatics telling them they are sinners and going to hell, OCD from parents making their kids think they have to be perfect, the list goes on. We create monsters. We should do what we can to help them regain the freedom of a healthy life.

Answer 6

I always like it when Bill Maher describes religion as a neurological disorder.

But as accurate as that may be in practice, it's nonetheless pointless to deny that the religious impulse is a fundamental aspect of the human psyche. We can, and should, go back and analyze - and destructively criticize - the ways in which we've arrived at our various belief systems, and we should not be afraid of discovering that, e.g., Christianity is based on outright fraud, as it is; but that doesn't in and of itself invalidate the basic impulse to "believe," to experience "Truths" beyond those of materialism and intellectuality - truths we've traditionally referred to as "spiritual."

As for the people who believe in religious dogma in the vulgar, crass, "literal" sense - people who believe the earth is 6,000 years old or that mass executions of infidels earn them 72 virgins in Paradise - such people are obviously, clearly, manifestly insane, and should be dealt with accordingly. As long as there are people walking around outside the bug-house who think The Rapture is happening within their lifetimes, we ALL have cause to be afraid.

Answer 7

it's intriguing how u all mock religion. Dare i say this sort of self-assuredness is supreme and shows your cognitive brilliance. I often wonder what sort of characters you ppl really are if there is a need to "combat" someone's decision to worship freely, i wonder. Oh, is this meant to be a joke? Why not go fly a plane into a tower of choice?

Answer 8

No, because sanity is subjective. You're only insane if you're not in the same frame of mind as everyone else.

Answer 9

hmmmm, mental illness should always be taken seriously, are you trying to infer that religious people are mentally ill?

Answer 10

yes thay brainwash them to be killers