is christian a form of mental illness?

Question

if so, what type of mental illness may result from long term prctice of such religion? e.g. OCD compulsive praying, Psychosis, or mental numbness etc

Answer 1

I mean, think about it. Here we have a faith – a belief system, if you will – that presumes not merely the non-existence of a creative deity but that what we commonly call the “mind” is nothing more than neurological impulses in physical tissue. Yet at the same time, this very organ – the same instrument that generates the impulses – is supposed to be able to independently verify those signals. They adopt a belief system which effectively prevents them from validly separating reality from a dream, and then claim that they can. This certainly suggests a significant cognitive dissonance worthy of concern!

Answer 2

I think there are certain people who have OCD who are involved in organized religions, particularly Catholic practices.

I wouldn't say that religion causes mental illness, rather, that people with certain types of mental illness are attracted to it, because it becomes something "normal" that satisfies the need to participate in certain behaviors.

I know several "mentally healthy" Christians. And many of those with religious mania/psychoses do not actually believe in God or religion. It isn't until they "snap" that religion becomes a huge deal.

I'm a psychology major, and I am almost done with my schooling. I've done a lot of independent study on abnormal psychology.

Answer 3

Actually, I became mentally ill when I lost my contact with God and religion. So to answer your question no it is not a form of mental illness. Just ask the orderlies here in the asylum they are very religious too.

Answer 4

Yes it is...I've had it for many years...not as bad as Muslim, or as devoted as Buddhist...nor as object oriented as Judaism...but it gets worse every minute...

It would be considered a socio-psychological disorder that forces me to be considerate of other people, pray forgiveness for doing the things I know are morally wrong, pray for help when I need it (sometimes even causes me to see those prayers answered in strange ways), I'm compelled to help people who are in danger or hurt, even prevents me from killing total idiots whose selfishness endangers the health and safety of other people including my loved ones...and I'm sometimes compelled to address completely ignorant questions based on a lack of breast milk at birth in a polite manner rather than stooping to the same level as the person who posed the question.

Answer 5

its nothing like the paranoia that atheist have that were out to get them and take over the US gov't.

Answer 6

unfortunately, current diagnostic manuals do not consider christianity a mental illness solely because it is a delusian shared by a large cohort. however, were it not a popular belief, they would definitely call it schizophrenia, or schizotypal personality disorder. even some bipolar types would hallucinate and claim they saw jesus or some other deity, in which they would quickly be committed.

Answer 7

Quite possibly so.

I need to start praying that I never am healed of my Chistianillness.

Answer 8

Use to be christian. So I know exactly what you're talking about. If I had to give it a label I'd personally call it dependent child syndrome. No matter how old you are you'd have to have serious dependency issues if you believe that all the work saving your soul and everything you will ever need in life is already done for you.

Answer 9

Atheists also can suffer from maladies like those as well. Mainly from being worried all the time that religion is affecting them somehow all the time.

Answer 10

your question has the distinct aroma of sustained idiocy.

Ath