Do religions, specifically Christianity, foster or make acceptable mental conditions like Schizophrenia?

Question

The crazy guy who lives on the street in my town is convinced that there is monster who lives on the streets with him whom he is always talking to and trying to convince not to kill him....

My mom is convinced that God & Jesus & the holy spirit exist and are her salvation or something....

There's absolutley no proof of either, and the mythologies behind both invisible antagonists in both of these cases are utterly ridiculous....

When Morris (the homeless guy) talks to the monster, he is laughed at or felt bad for but always seen as a crazy-a$$ schizo...

My mom kneels down in a building full of other people and talks to god about ridiculous stuff and people think she's a moral, valued member of society...

Is there really a difference betweent these two people? I sure as hell don't see it. Are they both equally as crazy? Or is my mom worse cause at least the homeless man has a condition and can't help himself?

Answer 1

Not much of a difference, no.

Historically, the mentally ill have been highly-valued as "special" people in touch with the gods. Usually, they are appointed to a Shaman or religious authority position.

Your mom has been socialized to think this behavior is Okay (it's really not), so to society, she is better off.

For those of us who are not tainted by the delusion of religion, the religiously deluded are the worst. As you said, Morris has a biological excuse. Believers have a sociological excuse at best.

Both my mom and my dad are Schizophrenic, and both are devout Christians ;)

Answer 2

1. The homeless guy you called: Morris. May be able to see what others can not see. Only he knows.

2.Maybe your mother is....crazy for thinking that a building full of others, will change her life.

Here's an interesting quote found in the Christian NIV, Bible.
It says that where 2 or more pray, there prays will be answered, well....that sucks. Why do we need 2 other fricken people to make something come true.

If you are alone in the desert, where are these other 2 people going to come from.....Crap!

Answer 3

There is a real difference in the brain chemistry of a schizophrenic and a healthy person regardless of their faith. PET scans have been done to show that the flow of blood and locations of brain activity are altered in the schizophrenic. Now during prayer there is brain activity that is different, it is similar to activity observed during relaxation and meditation. Both activities of which are very healthy. And one more thing, you should be a little more respectful of Morris's condition. It is not something to insult or make fun of. I have a close family member who suffers from schizophrenia and it is a difficult disease. I don't know how old you are but it can start in early adulthood. You could become the disrespected crazy*** schizo.

*To clarify a misconception about schizophrenia, it is not caused by drug abuse. Drug abuse is a symptom of the patient attempting to find some sort of normalcy to the out of wack brain chemistry and to calm themselves. It is a form of self medication. It has been shown that the likely culprit for the origin of schizophrenia is toxoplasmosis. This is a parasite that lives in the litter boxes of cats. When rats are infected with this, it makes cats more attractive to them. This allows the parasite to continue its life cycle once the cat eats the rat but it alters the brain chemistry in order to alter the behavior of the rat. In humans it seems to manifest itself as schizophrenia.

The third link is for the suicidal rat. :)

Answer 4

Hi Dude. I totally understand your doubt. In your place, I might have been wondering the same thing. See we have to try to know. And have you veen tried God, to know if He exsists or not? I did. That try was faith. I said I believe and went and just accepted Him and , He has been saving me out of every mess I have put myself into. He is good , and yes He does exsist because I have seen Him helping me in so many ways. The difference between God , Jesus and the Holy Spirit and Schizophrenia is, that God asks us to love ourselves, and take care of ourselves, and be good to ourselves. To love others and help them and forgive them and be kind to them. And when we fall, and come to Him He lifts ous spirits and we feel strong and fresh again.

On the other hand Schizophrenia is (in my opinion), the result of abusing our minds. It maybe by drugs, alchohol, and perverted thinking or even leaving your brain dead. In all this, our brain becomes weak. When our brains become weak, we are no longer independant of our thoughts. We go along with whatever. This is when satan takes the opportunity in controlling and brainwashing the person. He brings visions and really uses the situation (in the mind) to make the person listen to him and do as he says. If you study a person with schizophernia, you would realise that most of what is told to him, is of evil. The thoughts are bad. It is all negative and against love. The voice tells him to hate, tells him many things dont exsist, that the world is false, that this person or that person is wrong....etc...

There are only two. The right and the wrong. We can laugh at it all we want, but the fact will remain. And because we have tried to twist the wrong , and tried to make it right, we suffer many consequences in the world today.

Be clear in mind. Be good to all. Love and let be. Its simple.
Thats all God asks of us.

About the Bible saying when two or more pray, someone said it sucks....I would like you to understand the meaning of that. It is only to encourage Christians to bring epople together in prayer. It doesnt mean that if you pray alone nothing will happen. Dont missenterpret the Bible. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. And you will understand the Bible correctly.

We should help schizophrenics everywhere. It is a horrible way to suffer and I have a freind who went through that, due to abuse of drugs. With alot of Patience through prayer and support, they all can be healed.

After all God is stronger than that stupid devil.

Answer 5

When you say your mom talks to God about ridiculous stuff I feel that you have already judged her and found her wanting. We can't start a serious conversation when you have already made you mind up. I feel sorry for her.
How does your mom treat you? Does she love you? Does she do things for you? Her faith in Jesus might be leading her to do things which other mothers with kids like you wouldn't do.
I'll pray for you both but I guess that this will annoy you!
Have a good day!

Answer 6

It's because, if your delusions happen to line up with other people's own delusions, you are accepted as sane and observing something real. If you are in the minority in your delusions, you are insane as far as the public can see. But, I might I just add, that it is awful that anyone would laugh at schizophrenic like that. It is just terrible...

Answer 7

i think of a few people refer to faith as "brainwashing" because of the fact they individually sense they have been inspired by ability of kin and society (predominately from an early age) to have self belief in a faith they might no longer thoroughly have self belief in. subsequently, those everybody is left with a feeling of being wrongly inspired by ability of the very comparable people they have confidence. The term "brainwashing" is obviously an exceptionally unfavourable term to throw around, and can desire to be incredibly of an over-exaggeration, yet people to that end are often describing the term from a private point.

Answer 8

There's a long history of psychosis in the Christian church.
It fits well in most, though not all, religions.

Answer 9

Sure there's a difference. One's beliefs are more common...and that makes it ok! ....didn't buy that, huh? That's ok; just means you're paying attention.

Answer 10

Anyone who actually has any experience with the mentally ill knows that a religious believer and a schizophrenic are NOT the same.