I think so too. In a way, they are like paranoid schizophrenics. Think about it. They spleep, think and eat religion and much much more. If you don't know I can't explain it, but, if you live with some then you'll know what I'm talking about. They are much more than obssesed and they FORCE you to be part of their fantasy. Specially those sects, they are terrible. I think they need medical help.
200681
I totally agree. Some people take it way too far..I mean if that's what they like then fine but don't push it on others, you know? Especially when you see people falling over in church (the few times i've gone to church with a friend of mine)..and people start moaning and crying..I just don't get it. Snap out of it. hehe
233856
Well I think they are so blind - cited with their own righteousness and holier than thou Bull that they forget the true meaning of their religion. The problem is ignorance breads ignorance, and for the most part they are caught up in the passing down this ignorance.\n\nThey also fear what is different from them. And it makes them feel good to consider themselves messengers of God, when they are really just spreading ignorance, closed-mindedness, and fear.
317389
Part of the problem is that certain forms of mental disease produce hallucinations, and aliens are among the things these people hallucinate.  I have seen recurrent visits by aliens stopped by proper medication...\n\nPeople tend to assume that if some of the insane see aliens, then all who see aliens are insane.  That is not, however, as yet proven to be true.\n\nAlthough I'm most definitely an earthling, I'm often accused of being an alien...  Does that count????
471430
Yeah I've heard of this and I think it's disgusting. Free will is one thing, but there's such a thing as taking it too far. Men and women each need some privacy.
479002
It isn't that they tend to believe they are religious figures exactly, they often have delusions about their own importance, their significance in the world, therefore being Jesus or whoever would make you incredibly important.  Also, if someone thinks the CIA is after them or satelites are spying on them, that too would make them a very important person.
644913
The 'god' of whacko cultists.\n\nIf you look at the Koran, it calls for peace and love, and it also calls for killing and death. It is schizophrenia itself. Paranoid schizophrenia, at that. It calls the faithful to love and hate. To peace and war.\n\nNo wonder they're so FUBAR.
177361
They're just wannabes, I doubt highly any of them here are real wiccans or even satanists. Right now Wicca is a big fad because of the goth look and publicity about "witches" \n\nMost here are just teenagers trying to upset their parents and scare their friends... been there, done that... wised up
321784
as an atheist (former catholic) i think. and my thoughts lead me to the conclusion that they are all misled children who choose to believe in some sky-king instead of empirical evidence. their ignorance facilitates all of the social injustices you have listed and many others. their religions are just tools of social control. they are blinded by their righteous vanity and ignorance. people of sense and intelligence need to appeal to the children of these misled people in hopes of breaking this cycle of ignorance.
99637
It depends on the sect.  Some still don't believe it and chalk it up to demonic possession.  But most see it for what it is, an illness that needs proper treatment.
274062
That might be one possible answer, but not the only one. There is plenty about this on the internet. Some people who had schizophrenia and epileptic seizures used to be thought of as being possessed by the divine force. The gods helped explain things that people didn't understand, and religion helped to unity people. There are a hundred answers to this question. Google it.
184889
"Do they not see that their position is untenable?"\n\nThey don't allow themselves to see. You have to remember you're talking about a group of people who believe that even thinking a thought that could, possibly, lead them into thinking about things other then what they've been told is the truth, is bad. \n\nThey believe that even their THOUGHTS are being monitored 24/7/365 for any "bad" thoughts. They live believing any a very super-1984'sih existence. It's kinda sad. \n\nDon't get angry at them, it's not their fault for the most part. They are scared of everything. Of death, of God, of eternal damnation, etc, etc. Just remember, it's their supposed mission to "convert" people, not yours. They try to force people into believing what they do, be better then they are.
198158
yes Christianity made me very depressed as well. whats with these people? are the mindless zombies or what? scary! and i thought zombies were not real until i meet chat Christians *shudders* no telling what they will do. they might attack or try to convert me which is just as bad
223624
that's fascinating and couldn't be truer. you're right when you mention its focus on the obvious fanatics. i've seen plenty of "lesser" fundies that behave that way, and i've never quite figured out why. i've wondered if it's a pattern of behavior continued as a normal routine simply out of fear; be it socially-based of religious-based or both. that's the simplest explanation to  me, at least. who knows though.. maybe there really is something in the water. which is why i drink only bottled water.\n\nif you haven't already seen some of the other responses here, you'll be amused. you paste a link to an article/essay on theistic neurosis and bam, some of the first answers are "we are not crazy UR GOING 2 H3LL!!11" \n\nit'd be hilarious if it wasn't so expected.
613834
They have been brained washed from birth just like people from many other religions.  I think it takes a certian amount of IQ to step back and see these things for what they really are.  They are a growing number of people however that can keep there faith but at the same time remain open minded about other posssibilities.  OH yea the bible quoteing thing ......... thats really annoying
259125
Here's the issue: Some worldviews are clearly out of step with reality. This includes, most notably, schizophrenia and fundamentalist faith. \n\nThe schizophrenic hears voices. He is unable to accept that he is mentally ill and searches for an explanation for what he hears. He lives near a radio tower. Obviously this is the source of the voices. The radio-station is broadcasting into his head. He has effectively kept his worldview, but he has required the world itself to change shape to conform with what he thinks. The other option, acceptance of his mental illness, is too much to bear.\n\nDitto fundamentalists. Rather than adapt their worldviews to fit our rapidly growing knowledge base and understanding of the universe, they need to deny, deny, deny what we know, so as to keep reality from creeping in and disturbing their tightly held beliefs.\n\nObviously not all of the faithful do this to the same degree. Even the Catholic church has accepted evolution, as per Pope John Paul II's statments that it is likely the truth and certainly the best theory we have yet heard. So, it is possible to bring certain segments of the faithful around to reason, but it will happen very, very slowly. The fact is (and I believe that the Catholics realize this) that if they do not start to accept reasonable explanations for things people will leave their churches in droves, searching for places that will combine faith and rationality in better ways.\n\nYou can only ignore the facts for so long.
566560
I go to a church where they cast out demons. It's called a "deliverance ministry". Just last week, there was a woman there, who had about 12 different demons expelled from her.  I think maybe people have been desensitized to the reality of demonic spirits by all the horror movies they've seen over the years.  They've come to believe that they're just a part of sensationalized fiction, rather then reality.  But in fact, there are probably thousands of people in America right now, that are possessed by evil spirits, and they don't even know it.  They've opened the doorway to darkness by getting involved in occult practices, such as witchcraft and satanism.  T.V. Shows like "Charmed", have made witchcraft look like harmless fun, when in fact, it is a very dangerous practice.  It's all a part of Satan's plan to destroy the minds of our youth, and send them to hell.  That's because the Devil is already doomed to spend an eternity there, and he wants to take as many young people along with him as he possibly can.
447720
They call themselves Christian, but they deny the deity of Jesus.\n\nThat all by itself makes them a cult.\nAnd Jesus and Satan were not brothers, either.\n\n(Besides, I don't want a heaven that is merely another planet from which I will start another human race. That's just too creepy to me.)