Why do religious themes run rampant in serious mental illness?
818607
It is actually quite simple.  Grandiosity is a symptom of "mania" (often accompanied with psychosis) and believing one's self to be God is the fullest expression of it.  If religion or theism were not part of the cultural vocabulary, such a person might claim to be immortal, a prize fighter, etc.
1134227
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.
689283
I agree with you, and Rain, Psychology, A. Mann, tls.bhaskar, milo, azmurath, Sue Namie, babyarnie, and d_waddell2001. Religion is a system of understanding, so the religion itself, being a belief or pattern of thoughts, is not the act of violence or war (effect), but does prompt it and promote it indirectly (cause), while preaching exactly the opposite (defence). Many (others who have answered) have come to trust religion because of the good things it promotes, like purpose, goodwill, communication with spirit, respect for other belivers (sometimes), and feelings of belonging, among others.\nWhen a person trusts another person over their own feelings and intuition, they become a slave to be controlled. There are millions of people around the world who exist as robots to be ordered by the people in their lives. The boss, priest, trainer, teacher, commanding officer, whoever. These slaves are the ones who fight wars, even the ones at salvation army.\nWhat is advised is a detachment from organised religion, and to establish a relationship with self, life, love and nature. By feeling your personal interpretation of what matters, and, the most important thing, to keep the most important things the most important things, one can carve their groove in history exactly the way they choose. Total responsibility, total spiritual freedom. By standing up and saying "I made that mistake, and I'm damn proud of it because I've learnt from the experience," a person's character gains courage, humility and wisdom, just to name a few. By choosing to allow blame, guilt, fear, and hate to fill one's thoughtful life, one commits to living with stress, health problems, depression, detachment from self, immature and irresposible behaviour like terrorism, and extreme anxiety. Ever noticed how dedicated religious followers are, even though they may have only joined weeks ago? Thats an observable symptom. All external success begins with internal success, so peace must be made within first, followed by those around you (your world). When critical mass is reached, your world will become our world. If you do not go within you go without!!!
489931
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.
198093
The World Health Organization has identified Schizophrenia as one of the ten most debilitating diseases affecting human beings. \n\nSchizophrenia is a devastating brain disorder that affects approximately 2.2 million American adults, or 1.1 percent of the population age 18 and older. Schizophrenia interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, to distinguish reality from fantasy, to manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others.\n\nAnother serious thought disorder is Schizoaffective Disorder. The symptoms of Schizoaffective Disorder look like a mixture of two kinds of major mental illnesses - mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder) and schizophrenia.\n\nWhile there is no cure for Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder, they are highly treatable and manageable illnesses. However, people may stop treatment because of medication side effects, disorganized thinking, or because they feel the medication is no longer working.\n\nStigma is another major problem facing both the sufferer and family members. Those involved with schizophrenia are concerned about the dozens of misconceptions about the illness. Many believe that people with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous, which is not true. One parent stated that he was often accused of abandoning his daughter when he took her to the hospital. Another parent said that clerks in stores ignored her son when he asked for help or tried to make a purchase. Some religious groups hold the view that the illness is one of God's punishments.\n\nIf you think you or a family member have a thought disorder, you should seek information and treatment. At HealthyPlace.com, we believe that the more you understand about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder and issues like antipsychotic medications, the more likely you are to get the full benefit of treatment. We want to help you learn as much as you can about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder and to offer you support in your or your loved one's recovery.
329504
It usually is due to religious beliefs or arbitrary prejudices.
317952
No, it is there for a good reason because christian fundamentalist are mental!!
70180
That's the million dollar question isn't it.  In my experience, the people who don't have logical issues with their beliefs are believing in certain abstract aspects of the religion.  if you take any given part literally, your beliefs will come under attack all the time, because of different interpretations of that aspect.
1056425
Sounds like a pastor you should run from. I constantly am sitting down with my disciples and going over personal problems. I would never refer them to a psychiatrist or recommend drugs. A man of God is to help and guide his flock, not send them elsewhere or dope them up. God is the answer to our problems not the ways of man. This is just one of the many reasons that true Christians should not be a part of organized denominationalized religion.
321318
There is more than one stigma attached to mental health conditions. Yes it is uncomfortable, and the stigma most attached that troubles me the worst, is that because the person can't see what is wrong with you, it's as if you are just making it up. If you walk in on crutches, people are much more empathetic, than if they see someone having a panic attack. Terms like "unbalanced, mentally ill" are tossed around pretty freely, without really understanding what is going on. I have a friend who suffers from severe depression and a very severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and her own family thinks that she could change this, if she would just fight it, get a job, get up in the morning, take a shower, etc... and everything will fall back into place.  I know that mental conditions can do a lot of damage to the person with the illness, but it hurts to have other people trying to diagnose you, and tell you how to get over it, when they really do not have a clue as to what the person with the illness is facing. If you would like to know more info. about a particular illness, or talk about it in greater detail, or if you have more questions, please feel free to e-mail me at brew40fw@msn.com, I hope this helps, and I wish you the best
432562
You and some other idiots around here need real psychiatric help, just go for it before it is too late.\n\n\nJay:\nThanks, you are a real polite and educated Christian.
1131559
No. Insane people often can't help their mental imbalance. Christians are lunatics by choice.
70375
Religion and Relationships are big topics
920958
All religions have an end-of-the-world myth. And in every religion there are a limited number of people who become mesmerized by this imagery. They usually are persons with morbid preoccupations and control issues.
1107651
Because its one of those incurable illnesses\n\nCHRISTIANITY= VIRUS OF THE MIND\n \n  \n Christianity is basically nothing more than an extremely efficient virus of the mind.\n\nSince they emanate from humans and therefore have an organic component, all ideas have a survival instinct just like their human progenitors, and will seek to propagate themselves into as many human hosts as possible. Now of course some ideas are beneficial to their human hosts, but not all.\n\nChristianity is one of those malignant versions. Of course, the long-term life expectancy of its human hosts is beneficial to the Christian mind virus since it allows more propagation, but ultimately the survival of its human hosts is irrelevant, as demonstrated throughout history in wars with competing religious viral "memes" (ideas).\n\nNeed proof? Just look at the evangelical nature of Christianity. Christianity drives its adherents to "spread the word" through human-to-human contact...just like a virus spreads.\n\nAnd what is a "word" anyway? Nothing more than the spoken or written expression of an IDEA. The Christian Bible even ADMITS that God is nothing more than an IDEA..."In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD WAS GOD", remember?\n\nNeed more proof? Ever wonder why the Catholic Church opposes birth control and abortion? It's not because abortion is murder, because throughout history the Catholic Church has either endorsed murder (Crusades, Inquisition) or turned a blind eye to it (Holocaust). No, it's because THE MORE UNEDUCATED, POOR, IGNORANT SOULS THAT ARE BORN INTO POVERTY AND MISERY ON THIS PLANET, THE GREATER THE CHRISTIAN MIND VIRUS' CHANCES OF SURVIVAL.
468951
I think it is because they see them as a stand-in for God.  They want so hard to believe in anything beyond themselves and yet they can't see God as anything beyond human like themselves.  \n\nI also think the pastors that allow this to happen may have a God complex and relish the power over the people.
1001239
Because they have mental problems