I’m in therapy specifically for my schizophrenia. A focus of the therapy is going to be my religious thoughts and beliefs, as they are labeled as “delusional“. I do wonder what the difference is between my beliefs and say that of a run of the mill Christian church pastor. Like, how come the pastor isn’t in therapy but I am. Rather, the pastor is encouraged in his beliefs and even paid to spread them. He is labeled as an earnest righteous man, while I am labeled as delusional. I want to understand what the difference is. It seems to be that you have to believe in an already culturally established religious system or else you are “delusional”.
I was called by God to spread the message. The pastor has the same back story. He was “called“ by God to spread the message. He is praised and I am a cause of concern. I do not understand.
Christians talk to God all the time. Sheesh they speak in tongues (complete gibberish imo) and I’m the crazy one!?
I do truly feel for you here
@an anarchist, because your confusion about delusion vs faith is neither strange/uncommon nor unwarranted in context of what you are going through and you should openly talk of your reflections about it with your therapist.
Also; there is certainly nothing preventing
actual church pastors too from exhibiting delusions in relation to their faith at times. After all, delusion itself is not a constant state of mind that only certain people can find themselves in. Indeed; most of us will at times have delusions - whether about ourselves, others or systems in general (self-purpose, relationships, governments, matters of faith, etc).
In regards to
clinical delusion, however, I used to say that it is less important to agree/disagree on how to label the situation, than it is to accurately address what it is that it is doing; both to you and to those close to you.
I’ll give no view on whether good or bad, but can certainly share that when your current “conviction” -shall we say- prevents you from responsibly partaking in society (I know; it’s not pleasant to think in this manner but it is nonetheless so), as in financially supporting yourself, paying taxes and remaining a lawful, contributing citizen in general; at best, it is considered problematically incompatible with the norm and a matter of concern. When you current “conviction” leads to conduct of danger, either to yourself or others; with or without your consent, it shall be “dealt with”.
Put bluntly: clinically speaking, it’s seldom a question of whether your convictions are “true” or not. What matters is what these convictions lead to - especially in regards to you as a fellow citizen in general.
In short: if you clearly can show that your state of delusion has made you a more harmonious member of society, what your delusion actually consist of, will no longer matter too much.
Humbly,
Hermit