Is it not true that society has become so accepting of religion, we don't classify these beliefs as insane?

Question

What about the mental disorders religious faiths cause (i.e., manic-depression, bipolar disorder, delusions, schizophrenia, etc.) ?
believing in something illogical and irrational (official definition), shouldn't faith itself be classified as a disorder?
And if this seems like an absurd gesture, is it because we're so used to religion in our lives that we can't possibly imagine 1/6th of the entire world is in fact insane?

How unfortunate for the sane, logical free thinkers of the world

Answer 1

C'est possible.... The half of my family that is devoutly religious suffers from various forms of mental illness.. I stay away from them they are so crazy.. In fact their children have gone through hell and back because of their parents religion, most of them are eccentric to say the least.. they weren't even allowed to watch TV or anything when they were young I remember thinking they were so quiet and sad seeming all the time so different compared to my upbringing. I would definitely agree that fundamentalist beliefs are detrimental to mental health and that they have negative effects on the development of children especially. My family members that were born again Christian fundamentalists are just wacky.. I cant even convey to you the repulsion I feel for them because of their mental dispositions. Thankfully their children escaped.. funny how all of their kids turned from religion, its pretty bad when the parents beliefs drive their children away..

Answer 2

Obviously a religion becomes mythology after it dies out. The form religion takes is largely dependent on the shape of society. E.g. the more centralised the political system is, the more structured and centralised religion will tend to be. Pre christian religion which has become largely mythology now, has been rooted out over a period of about 200 years by the RCC. They first grabbed the power and then started taking posession of the temples and their wealth. The process was finalised when in many bishopries in the 6th and 7th century heathens got the choice: get baptised or we confiscate everything you have in the name of god and our own purse. The jewel of the crown came when the pope presented himself to the king of the Franks with a few fake documents so called written by Constantine the Great and Saint Peter himself in which the pope was given whole Italy and western europe. Since he was a modest person (popes are always modest when they try to get something) he took only a large part of Italy. From then on people had to believe what their lords believed. Of course christianism, islam and hinduism are not eternal. They will be replaced by beliefs that fit better with society. One could say we already see several elements of new religion, while at the same time elements of the old religions are becoming mythology already. New elements: celebrities, the need for expensive items promising status, the two tier society (rich and poor) for which religion will find a justification. Old elements: X-mas, processions, many rituals.

Answer 3

‘What about the mental disorders religious faiths cause (i.e., manic-depression, bipolar disorder, delusions, schizophrenia, etc.) ?

What? Come on people! I have absolutely no problem with exploring the idea that the manifestation of my Faith is of some yet undetermined mental disorder, the ‘god part of the brain’, if you will. But can we at least do it in a ‘logical and rational’ method instead of pop psych 101.

A delusion is defined as a false personal belief based on incorrect inference about external reality and firmly sustained despite of what everyone else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary (DSM-IV, p. 765).

Taken from
http://exchristian.net/exchristian/2003/04/religion-is-mental-illness.php

Despite what everyone else believes (lol- Religious are in the majority, 2+2=5) but…

An incorrect inference about external reality….despite…incontrovertible and obvious truth…

See, now we are backed into a corner, if you want to prove religion is a mental illness, you will have to prove there is no God, or at least one which does not communicate to people. That is, and I am sorry, but the burden of proof shifts if that is your goal.

Answer 4

Religion has always been around. If anything, it is now more tolerant and less destructive than earlier.

All the disorders that you've mentioned happen among Atheists as well. Faith itself is just a word. It's official definition shouldn't be confused with its necessity. An atheist also needs faith. He/She needs faith in people, in scientists and in its system of peer review to trust that whatever comes out of it will be scientifically correct. I can cite at least 2 examples off the top of my head where this system has failed and false findings have been published in major scientific journals.

Religious people are just as sane/insane as us atheists. They are just sane/insane about something else.

Answer 5

Luckily 25% of young people between the ages of 15 - 28 are Atheist. Up 257% from previous decades.

Religion is on its way out. Just a matter of a few generations dying off.

Answer 6

Homosexuality was once classified as a mental disorder. Then it was an alternate lifestyle. Now we have totally flipped out and call homosexuality something people are born with.

Answer 7

It's a form of self delusion and the ultimate expression is the suicide bomber.
Religion can be very dangerous. Perhaps it needs to be licensed.

Answer 8

Why is it unfortunate for YOU?
Believe as you please. Let others believe as they please.
No, your little theory is not true. It is merely an opinion.
Society has ALWAYS been accepting of religion.

What is truly unfortunate is that YOU want everyone else to think the same way that you do. That indicates closed-mindedness and immaturity.

Answer 9

hahha..1 think i love about yahoo answer is, the varieties of mindset, ideologies, perceptions that we can find here. The world is never a narrow place.

Answer 10

Very interesting, your way of thinking...I like that. I think that many people put too much stock in "religion" and not enough faith in themselves. I firmly believe that if we believe in OURSELVES, we can do anything!