Is Bible Belief a Mental Disorder?

[Lotan]

The bible contains lots of details that we might normally expect to find in fiction; talking snakes, angels, resurrections, etc.

If someone sincerely believed, for example, that Gandalf created the universe, and that Bilbo and Frodo were prophets, and they decided, for example, to home school their children so that they would be indoctrinated in those same beliefs, wouldn't that constitute grounds for suspicion that the person suffered from a potentially harmful delusion?

I really don't see a difference between this and other forms of religious belief based on supposedly 'divinely inspired' scripture, christian or otherwise, with the exception that established religious belief enjoys the acceptance of society, more or less. Further, although irrational behavior is by no means exclusive to the religious, their beliefs are often a factor as is this recent sad case. (I don't know if this fellow is christian or muslim, or whatever, nor do I care) Or this one. An extreme case might be the Texas woman who crushed her children's skulls because she believed god wanted to test her. Hey, how about those people who think that natural disasters are god's retribution for homosexuality? The list is endless of course.

So that's the question...
Is Bible Belief a Mental Disorder?

[1John2_26]

. . . and always the ubiquitous protecting of Sodomy . . .

The bible contains lots of details that we might normally expect to find in fiction; talking snakes, angels, resurrections, etc.

Yet it protrays anatomy and physiology the way any scientists would agree.

If someone sincerely believed, for example, that Gandalf created the universe, and that Bilbo and Frodo were prophets, and they decided, for example, to home school their children so that they would be indoctrinated in those same beliefs, wouldn't that constitute grounds for suspicion that the person suffered from a potentially harmful delusion?

As long as it opposed Christians and supported the illusion that Christians are harmful to people in need of medical help, it would find a welcomed place in society. But I'm sure everyone knows the J.R.R. Tolkien was Christian so that might be a sticking point to secular club membership.

I really don't see a difference between this and other forms of religious belief based on supposedly 'divinely inspired' scripture, christian or otherwise, with the exception that established religious belief enjoys the acceptance of society, more or less.

There are beliefs systems that think something can come from nothing and those that teach this are hailed as our greatest minds in academia, where it is believed that a watch can build itself. "Someone" needs to see a doctor.

Further, although irrational behavior is by no means exclusive to the religious, their beliefs are often a factor as is this recent sad case. (I don't know if this fellow is christian or muslim, or whatever, nor do I care) Or this one. An extreme case might be the Texas woman who crushed her children's skulls because she believed god wanted to test her. Hey, how about those people who think that natural disasters are god's retribution for homosexuality? The list is endless of course.

And on that list: Survival of the fittest and the carnage it represents would be endless to even contemplate. Thank the primordial ooze that people do not run educational instutions and communists countries that believe such nonsense. The violence that would evolve in a mind that entertains such things could adapt a governmental system that could machine gun down millions of people without a thought to the immorality (that is non-existent) of killing weaker less-fit organisms.

So that's the question...
Is Bible Belief a Mental Disorder?

The "Bible" is a group of sixty-six books some people believe that God directed the writing of; and other people read to hate its adherants and proponents; or get a passing grade in a religious studies class.

A mental disorder would be shown in a person believing that biological functions such as sperm is not designed for the ovum and can somehow be justified as being deposited into a throat or waste excretion organ and violation of this natural law would not have natural consequence.

[Lotan]

. . . and always the ubiquitous protecting of Sodomy . . .

I rest my case.

[McCulloch]

The bible contains lots of details that we might normally expect to find in fiction; talking snakes, angels, resurrections, etc.

Yet it protrays anatomy and physiology the way any scientists would agree.

Like epilepsy is caused by demons and faith cures disease.

Is Bible Belief a Mental Disorder?

A mental disorder would be shown in a person believing that biological functions such as sperm is not designed for the ovum and can somehow be justified as being deposited into a throat or waste excretion organ and violation of this natural law would not have natural consequence.

This is a rather poor strawman argument against homosexuality. If you wish to argue the case for or against homosexuality, please post it in one of the debates dedicated to that purpose. It is not relevant here.

[youngborean]

Yes it isn't . Lotan is there a more civil way you can continue this discussion? If you can cite a reason for this post other than inciting people I think it should continue.

[Lotan]

Lotan is there a more civil way you can continue this discussion?

Hi youngborean,
I'm not aware that I have been uncivil.

If you can cite a reason for this post other than inciting people I think it should continue.

I'm not sure that I understand you exactly, but if you're asking whether the subject of this thread is a legitimate one, then I say emphatically, YES, of course it is. This is why I provided examples in the OP. Do you feel that this topic is too emotionally charged to be debated in this forum? Should we discontinue it in order to avoid offending anyone?

[micatala]

I will not address the extent to which the thread could be considered 'inflammatory' for now.


I would say the thread seems to make the gross overgeneralization that 'irrationality = mental disorder.'

Obviously, as we have seen, the result it that people are posting examples of what they consider to be 'irrational' and I don't see that this is going to get us very far.

I would suggest that if one uses a standard psychological definition of 'mental disorder' and not a reinterpretation that equates it with having some beliefs that might be considered by some to be irrational, then the answer to the question in the OP is clearly no.

I would be tempted to wager that (nearly??) everyone on the face of the earth behaves at times in an irrational way and harbors some ideas that could be considered irrational. To provide a silly example, how rational is it that people spend thousands of dollars and hours of their time watching over-sized men beat each other up over a pigskin oblate spheroid?

I will consult the moderating team with regards to the 'rationality' of this thread, and get back to you.

[Lotan]

I would say the thread seems to make the gross overgeneralization that 'irrationality = mental disorder.'

I agree that I probably didn't state my case as clearly as I might have. Were all human, and of course no one is entirely rational (except me and Mr. Spock ).
In any case I did include the phrase "potentially harmful", as in the case of the fellow who murdered his wife because he thought she was was Satan. It could be argued that he might not have killed her had he not been influenced by his beliefs. Then again maybe he would have. That is what I would like to explore.

[scorpia]

Is Bible Belief a Mental Disorder?

You know, it's funny, but people where burnt on a stake for translating the bible. Priests or whatever thought that people who could read the Bible were dangerous. Right now, although SOME non-christians feel self-righteous because of "1500 years of history" this thread proves that they have the same attitude as those people who burnt others on a stake. Or worse.

The bible contains lots of details that we might normally expect to find in fiction;

And some people who don't believe the bible believe in "brainwashing"

If someone sincerely believed, for example, that Gandalf created the universe, and that Bilbo and Frodo were prophets, and they decided, for example, to home school their children so that they would be indoctrinated in those same beliefs, wouldn't that constitute grounds for suspicion that the person suffered from a potentially harmful delusion?

How is it harmful? Let's say it isn't real....Unless it causes harm to others or oneself, then obviously it isn't harmful. Right now asylums have been crowded with such people and it has gotten so bad people who aren't fixed and still are a harm to others or oneself are being thrown out in the street, killing people or themselves. And now you think those already crowded asylums should be filled with so many christians, many of which wouldn't harm a fly.

And indoctrination? My parents taught me about evolution since I was small. Would this be classified as indoctrination? Would that make it immoral? Would this mean I should automatically think the opposite?

This argument is about the bible being a mental disorder. If indoctrinating people is the reason for this, and you want to indoctrinate them the other way, (if you even could) you are not any better. You would fall under your own catergory of "insane"

Or this one. An extreme case might be the Texas woman who crushed her children's skulls because she believed god wanted to test her. Hey, how about those people who think that natural disasters are god's retribution for homosexuality? The list is endless of course

Throw out all the cases you like. Because such cases aren't mtutually exclusive to religion or Christianity either.

[MrWhy]

Another way to consider the question would be to imagine what would happen if the ratio of theist to atheist were reversed. If 95% of the US population were atheist, would the minority be considered, to some degree, delusional?