Do you think religious fanatism should be clasified as a mental illness?
446496
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
82409
I think what cause our suffering is fanaticism, if we can end fanaticism with any means it will surely end up some of our suffering.\nBut do you think expressing our opinions regarding Islam will end fanaticism?\nMaybe it will lighten up some dark parts of Islam and different versions of it, Islam of Saudi Arabia and Sufi people are not comparable, I mean according to Saudi Arabian definition maybe they are atheist. Even it can show how many peaceful muslims are around the world who can't hurt an insect.\nOn the other hand it may brings more hate, you must be careful(I don't mean in this forum, this is a simple Q&A and have a certain users which are mostly open minded people) but if you want to end suffering and not more suffering you should not hurt other people feelings.
163109
I don't believe this is the work of God or Satan, but a grotesque way of rationalizing his actions.  I'd guess his motivation for this is to soothe his guilty conscience.  Unfortunately, I don't think grotesque rationalization is so unusual as to qualify as "crazy", just garden-variety despicable.
853526
I believe that can be correlated with a phrase I coined:  "As crutches are to a man with a broken leg, so is religion to the mind that is feeble."  Religion can be blamed for so many of society's ills, as well as efforts to impede progress in the sciences and societal developments.
317952
No, it is there for a good reason because christian fundamentalist are mental!!
967917
Excellent idea but we need a replacement. What do you call it Mental Religion?
320036
Absolutely not.  I honestly believe that I am not religious just for any reward of afterlife.  I believe that doing what is right is good for its own sake.  And I believe that being religious in my case helps me to be good.
776468
Your statement/question is presumptive, full of fragmented, wild-conjecture and bombast. It is also full of contradiction in its attempt to persuade, by buttressing different beliefs on your part to support your claims, in the efforts to lead to one goal.  Are you schizophrenic, or do you suffer from mania in any manner?  Please do not conclude that my views from my ANSWER, are in any way meant to demean or ridicule people suffering from these unfortunate chemical imbalances/maladies.  I was just curious.
553366
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.
715204
No it isn't wrong.  As a matter of fact, I have always said that if Jesus came back, we would think he was either insane or a magician.  We would probably lock him up in some mental ward, and claim he had one of all the new "disorders" we are coming up with these days.
520179
Hardly ... it is not religion that is to blame ... but sick individuals that cause the problems. Anyone can use any excuse they want to do bad things, but that doesn't make them a legitamate representative of the religion, philosophy, social movement ... etc, etc, etc.
667875
Yes, it is.  My religion does not preach this, and it's one of the reasons that I chose to believe what I do.  Actions have consequences.  People should be made to deal with them, even if it's just a guilty conscience.
210946
You know enly, your questions are awesome.  You really have put some thought into them.\nI also have a feeling that you know the answers to your own questions and ask them just to get people to think.\n\nI believe whole heartedly that some mental illnesses are spiritual conditions.  Have you ever wondered why more and more people are diagnosed with depression, ADD, bi polar, and other illnesses every year?\nI think it is a direct relation to the way God's influence is consistently less every year on society.  People are rejecting His laws and ways more aggressively and openly every year.\nIt's not that these people don't have the symptoms, but it is being misunderstood.\n\nNow, I do believe that some of these people really need medical help.  But many of them are in a bad spiritual state.  They lacked discipline as a child, they lacked good family upbringings, values, teachings, etc.  It all starts in the home.  And it will continue to get worse because the home is becoming more lost and wicked every year.\n\nThen you also have your bonafide posessions.  Remember that in the bible, Jesus rebuked many demons out of people who were lunatick.\nToday, those people are getting doped up instead of the demons cast out of them.  Their bodies are calm because of the drugs, but they are a spiritual mess inside.\n\nIf you look with the Spirit, you will know that some people that you meet are posessed.  I have met a few myself and have had confrontations with them spiritually.  It's not fun, let me tell you.\n\nI think the state of this world is in a mental illness.  Their logic and reason is anything but logical or reasonable.  The way society views and handles issues today is sickening.  \n\nI could go on and on about this, but I think you get the point I'm trying to make.\n\nI can guarantee you that you will never find a true Christian in a mental ward because they are not able to be posessed.  Except for real medical problems like Alzheimers and such, a true Christian is protected from spiritual illness.\n\nAs far as the chemical condition of the brain for people who are mentally ill, you have a cause and effect issue or "chicken and an egg problem".\nDid the chemicals cause the condition or did the condition cause the chemicals?  No one knows or will be ever able to answer.
1067599
I think you've correctly identified the fact that religious belief is not based on reason (since there has never been any valid argument or evidence for the existence of gods), but rather it is based largely on emotional needs, i.e. it's wishful thinking.
690205
Fanatism is in the eye of the beholder. Few people would call themselves religious or political fanatics. It is a label we attatch to those who cross boundaries we ourselves would not. In his day Jesus and his disciples were thought of as fanatics.
702940
EXCELLENT point!  Wow, I've never thought of that.\n\nReminds me of this verse that always creeped me out when I was a christian.  2 Thes. 2 :11   And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie\n\nSeems kinda odd to have god up there trying to trip us up.  The big guy needs to up his meds.  Bi-polar disease is no laughing matter god!
188556
To answer your question - of course it is inflammatory to mock religious types. Here is an example. Religion is a structure based on strong personal beliefs, right? Well, let's use a different structure based on strong personal beliefs. Let's say, your strong personal beliefs are that the Boston Celtics are your favorite basketball team. Let's say that you are a 'rabid fan'. To the extent that you would be willing to confirm this as a witness to all that will hear. To exhalt the team at every turn, hoping to gain converts. If, after revealing this, people began to mock you for your love of the team, it would inflame most people. A lot depends on how it is said, who is saying it, and what approach they use.