Religions Are Exempt From Psychiatric Evaluation

[Heyo]

Do you think Christians that believe Christ rose from the dead, is in Heaven now with God, will return to Judge the earth and then brings forth a new earth and heaven with his father, are mentally ill? If so, then why? If not, why so?

1. Psychological deviation is only pathological when it negatively influenced the patient or others.
2. Delusion is a false fixed belief that is not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.
2a. Religious beliefs are exempted from diagnosed as delusion.

In that light, I see nothing wrong with the above belief. It is most likely false, but the evidence against it is, while compelling to me, not conclusive. Furthermore, the belief in itself is not harmful.

But that is not the only thing that Christians believe. There are "false fixed belief that [are] not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence", that can lead, and frequently have led, to unethical behaviour. But I'm supposed to not call those beliefs delusional, just because they are religious. That's hypocrisy.

 

[osgart]

Delusion is not mental illness. It may lead to unhealthy and horrible outcomes and I would say often does, but delusional people can function very well in society. I know fundamentalist Christians who are engineers, and technical laborers and are highly productive in their fields. Delusion is often conscientious choice, or it is cultural upbringing, or unaware ignorance.

Delusion can be a form of hope dope, or it can be a coping strategy, or completely benign. For some it's an obsession that leads to feelings of grandeur, but that doesn't make it mental illness.

 

[LuisDantas]

Do you think Christians that believe Christ rose from the dead, is in Heaven now with God, will return to Judge the earth and then brings forth a new earth and heaven with his father, are mentally ill? If so, then why? If not, why so?

A good question.

It hints of a perhaps better one: "Is it correct to call god-belief belief, when so often it is mostly obliging to peer pressure?"

 

[George-ananda]

Do you think Christians that believe Christ rose from the dead, is in Heaven now with God, will return to Judge the earth and then brings forth a new earth and heaven with his father, are mentally ill? If so, then why? If not, why so?

No, they are not necessarily mentally ill as all of that is possible. As long as they conduct their affairs rationally I would not call them mentally ill.

 

[firedragon]

Do you think Christians that believe Christ rose from the dead, is in Heaven now with God, will return to Judge the earth and then brings forth a new earth and heaven with his father, are mentally ill? If so, then why? If not, why so?

Personally, I do not believe they are mentally ill, and I believe to think so or even consider it is bigotry of the highest order.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Do you think Christians that believe Christ rose from the dead, is in Heaven now with God, will return to Judge the earth and then brings forth a new earth and heaven with his father, are mentally ill? If so, then why? If not, why so?

Not at all. They just have an interpretation which is very literal and have difficulty seeing it from different perspectives such as symbolical in some passages and literal in others. In other words, a lack of discernment. So sure Christ will return as the Father in human form but not in a supernatural or superstitious manner. The new heaven, a new religion and a new earth of knowledge and sciences will evolve over time.