Religion and mental illness?

Question

One person claims that she hears the voice of Yahweh and that Yahweh can also hear her thoughts.

Another person claims that he can hear alien messages and these aliens can also read his mind.

How would an unbiased observer differentiate between the two claims? How could they prove their beliefs to one who heard no voices at all?

I am not implying they are the same. I do not believe they are. Just wondering if the difference should be apparent to on-lookers.

Answer 1

They aren't any different. They're both nuts.

Answer 2

An unbiased observer CAN NOT differentiate between the two. If i woke up tomorrow and started praying, worshiping, and spreading my belief that a 5 legged green and yellow yak created the world (much like religion) i would be thrown into a loony bin. At the end of the day, i feel that people who claim to hear aliens, Yahweh, Thor, Zeus, Apollo, Aphordite, God, Ba`al, Allah or any other divine force have a mental illness.

Answer 3

Ok, first I understand your delima, and say to you the fact that you ask the question suggests that you need to grow further in knowledge of the word of God both written (the bible) and receiving the Holy Spirit. This is not an attempt to hurtful, but a mere observation. I find that the truth stands alone and comfirms itself. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all who have receive him according to their measure. Often so called christian make claims which may be true, but are meant for themselves and not others. They say and do things to be seen as righteous when they need to be quiet and let
God be God. As difficult as it is sometimes, truth can always be proven. Even if someone claims to be christian that doesn't mean they are telling the truth. Many priest, pastors, church leaders and congregational christians lie to themselves and have alterior motives for being seen as someone who is a good person. I rely on what God has led me to learn. Many good people have been a part of my spiritual education, but there have been a few who tried to steer me wrong and I learned better later in life. So I say for you to disregard both persons in your question and go with what YOU know as you grow...

Answer 4

Religion is not a mental illness simply because it isn't abnormal. Illnesses, and especially mental illnesses, are defined relative to what is considered normality. Hearing aliens isn't normal, hearing gods unfortunately is. Or at least claiming to communicate with gods is normal, I don't suppose there's any way of knowing objectively how many of these people honestly hear a voice they attribute to a god.

Answer 5

I think you would have to judge by looking at the rest of their life. Are they otherwise balanced and completely functional human beings, or do they show other signs of instability?

Chances are that if they ARE mentally ill to the point of hearing voices (which is a sign of psychosis to one degree or another, and which can be brought on by many different illnesses, including severe lack of sleep) , you will see other very obvious signs of imbalance. Paranoia, aggitation, difficulty interacting appropriately in social/public situations, etc.

If otherwise they are completely normal and high-functioning, then you have quite a riddle on your hands. You can either choose to let them have their belief as long as it is not hurting them or anyone else(which is the high road), you could ask respectful questions to try and figure out what exactly the context and content of these communications are (which is cool if you're not going to judge them or harass them), or you can berate them with questions which really try to disprove them (which is just rude really).

Answer 6

Worse case scenario seems to occur in America:
Medical experts say, in Harvard Medical Journal,
that over 25% of Americans are mentally ill,
already diagnosed and being treated for it,
and also say perhaps another 30% more,
are not yet diagnosed nor being treated.

So then, over 50% of America is mentally ill.
Some belief GWB, and some belief other wise.
But Law vs Law is as Loser vs Loser either way.

GWB? his rod of iron rule of law?
It's destructive, not constructive;
both at home and abroad.

Grace is constructive, not destructive.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 7

God communicates 26 ways and one of them is a still small voice and the other 25 ways have nothign to do with a voice.
1. circumstances
2.secular TV
3. Other's people conversation
4. The bible- Rhema, look up the meaning of Rhema in wikea
5. dreams
6. thru prophecy
to name a few.

Answer 8

I'm not sure if this answers your actual question, but...

When I hear those two scenarios I think:
1. She doesn't REALLY hear a voice - it's a more figurative idea.
2. The guy probably really does "hear" voices and thinks some ETs are listening in.

That's my differentiation.

Answer 9

This is an excellent question...

In medicine, there are PLENTY of people who have auditory hallucinations. They are almost required for a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and they are very common in Bipolar patients who have very severe manic episodes. Furthermore, auditory hallucinations commonly occur in severely demented patients, such as those with severe alzheimer's.

But, auditory hallucinations are also very common in patients that have NO mental illness at all. Particularly, elderly patients who are sick and in the hospital and on several medications very frequently suffer from "delirium". Many times, this can mistaken for dementia, but in the medical profession, it is well known that waxing and waning periods for brief times of "psychosis" can occur in physically sick patients who do not suffer from any mental illness. But it can also happen in younger patients, waking up from anesthesia after a surgery or after being in the intensive care unit for an extended length of time (so-called "ICU psychosis").

I once encountered a lady who had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia because of her auditory hallucinations. Labwork showed that she had a hemoglobin that was EXTREMELY high. This, in turn, caused her blood to be extremely viscous...or thick. And, it turns out, there is a phenomena known in medicine as "Hyperviscosity Syndrome"...in which a patient with extremely thick blood is known to have auditory hallucinations. Such is the case in blood disorders that lead to overproduction of red blood cells. In any event, it was proven that she did NOT have schizophrenia...and therefore, was a candidate for a lung and heart transplantation - which would have cured her completely.

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In any event, back to your question:
It turns out that VAST majority of patients with auditory hallucinations...have many other symptoms or behaviors that make it QUITE evident that "they are missing a few marbles in their head". That is, it is evident that they suffer from a psychiatric disorder...or are temporary "delirious"...

For instance, they run around in public naked...or speak so fast and jarbled you can't even understand them...or they make such outlandish claims that are readily refutable...or they are swinging and trying to hit or injure their own spouse or loved ones...

AND, the ones who have a psychiatric disorder have these problems for extended periods of time and directly or indirectly interfere with their ability to work, have friends, stay out of trouble with the law, or otherwise live a normal, healthy life.

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As for your two comparisons...one hearing the voice of God...and another hearing alien messages...

The latter often lives a reclusive life, is socially isolated, and likely holds no credible job for an extended period of time.

BUT...there are millions of Christians who claim that God hears and understand them...and speaks to them, personally. (Though, never in the same fashion as a "auditory hallucination", which is intrusive) And they live completely normal and healthy lives, from a social, medical, and physical point of view.

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If you try to "force" this situation to be two otherwise completely "normal" people - one claiming to commune with God...and the other claiming to commune with aliens...

Well, then...an unbiased observer would not be able to differentiate between the two claims...and neither could "prove" they heard anything.

...but truth is proven by her actions.

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This goes back to the whole argument:
If you consider the man Jesus...and his life....

By REASON and LOGIC, you are only left 1 of three possible conclusions:
Jesus was mentally ill.
Jesus was a liar.
Jesus was and is God.

Being a medical professional, I think there are only 2 viable conclusions:
Jesus was mentally ill.
Jesus was and is God.

...although, even the first choice is not actually "viable", as it turns out...

Which only leaves ONE choice:
Jesus was and is God.

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Answer 10

religion presumes regular people. Regular people sometimes are mentally ill. Religious people and non religious people can be mentally ill. Mental illness is better diagnosed by professionals.
A religious person can be quite holy, and very spiritual, and also mentally ill. Just like a non-believer can be very logical, and very insane.

Answer 11

If God speaks to a person, it will be in accordance with known "revelation", ie the Bible. It will neither contradict the Bible, nor will it try to re-define the Bible or re-define what the Bible says.

That is why Joseph Smith's visions were not truly of God, because they contradicted the clear and concise Word of God.

Others, likewise, have claimed to have heard from God. Some have, some have not. You shall know them by their fruit. Do they claim private or secret interpretation of Scriptures? The Bible states that there is NO private interpretations. You need to compare what is being said with what the Bible already said. That is the final authority.