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Atheists & Agnostics

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)

29. I'm not convinced "you choose your religion" is accurate for ~90% of the population.

Reply to Lordquinton (Reply #22)

Tue Apr 29, 2014, 02:55 PM

Apr 2014

But I agree that having religious beliefs is not in and of itself a mental illness, but in part because these beliefs are popular. Uncommon religious beliefs can be and frequently are considered symptoms of mental illness. The DSM just goes in circles regarding the distinction between a psychotic delusion and a deeply held religious belief, and the gyrations change with each new version. Our friends might think the distinction is obvious, but it really isn't.

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Can the mentally ill hold religious beliefs? [View all] Lordquinton Apr 2014 OP

Gods, devils, angels and demons Warpy Apr 2014 #1

And yet plenty of people who are not mentally ill... trotsky Apr 2014 #2

And non religious delusional people Warpy Apr 2014 #4

as they stray from reality in their delusions. AlbertCat Apr 2014 #26

Most people don't go about their days in a delusional state Warpy Apr 2014 #27

Yes. LiberalAndProud Apr 2014 #3

Help me understand libodem Apr 2014 #6

I would say it's because the term mentally ill is very broad. Neoma Apr 2014 #7

I'm certainly not saying people are not individuals libodem Apr 2014 #8

I think you simply phrased it badly. Neoma Apr 2014 #9

I wonder if anyone has tried to send it to a jury? libodem Apr 2014 #10

My worst crime: poor phraseing Lordquinton Apr 2014 #13

If my family is an example... yellerpup Apr 2014 #5

I think a better title would be "why don't we allow the mentally ill to hold religious beliefs like Heddi Apr 2014 #11

Religion involves a great deal of behavior skepticscott Apr 2014 #12

From a clinical perspective, it is more about social norms than belief in god... Act_of_Reparation Apr 2014 #24

Well, to me, it would be the teeth part skepticscott Apr 2014 #25

The frightening part is that's essentially par for the course in Orthodox communities... Act_of_Reparation Apr 2014 #28

Great post, Heddi. trotsky Apr 2014 #14

Stop making sense. Iggo Apr 2014 #15

What if Religion amuse bouche Apr 2014 #16

Sure they can, EvilAL Apr 2014 #17

MIRACLE!!! onager Apr 2014 #18

Yeah, it's never the religious beliefs causing the problem, just the mental illness..... Manifestor_of_Light Apr 2014 #20

Well, that becomes a very sticky issue when the distinction between psychotic religious delusion Warren Stupidity Apr 2014 #19

I have found that faith and belief Lordquinton Apr 2014 #22

I'm not convinced "you choose your religion" is accurate for ~90% of the population. Warren Stupidity Apr 2014 #29

So very true Lordquinton Apr 2014 #30

Well I did... nt uriel1972 Apr 2014 #21

Yes. Iggo Apr 2014 #23