Religious Belief = Mental Illness: A More Venomous Response

[Brettongarcia]

464. So what is the bottom line on the phrase "RELIGIOUS DELUSIONS"?

What are “religious delusions” and what do they do? From the weak to the strong thesis....

Some confusion might exist as to what we mean by “religious delusions,” and how influential we feel they are. Basically, “religious delusions” would be broadly, simply, religious ideas that seem demonstrably false. While regarding their importance, we might trace a graduated series of progressively stronger and stronger hypothesis. As follows: first, 1) can we say informally, that there seem to be false ideas, delusions, in some religions? (Like say, promises of physical miracles, “all” and “whatever” we “ask.” Cf. the Bible itself warning about religious “delusions,” and “false” things.) Then 2) does say Psychology suggest formally that there are such things as religious delusions? (As it does in fact; ref. Wiki). Then 3) are these religious delusions related to mental illness, psychological delusions proper? Do they come from some prior mental illness? Or even 4) do religious delusions occur apart from, 5) or even prior to, mental illness? And finally: 6) do religious delusions even CAUSE some mental illness? And/or 7) is all religion essentially delusional?

Here, hypothetically, we have been mostly defending the stronger statements. But in any case, even the weaker theses are significant. If all we can say is merely, informally, that there seem to be many false things or delusions in most religions, even that of course is extremely important.

Proving that essentially all of religion is delusion, and that it causes mental illness and poverty and dysfunctionality, will take a great deal of work to be sure. But it is hoped that our present discussion has begun to show some ways that this might be eventually more firmly demonstrated.

Our present finding? At a bare minimum, the Bible itself acknowledges “delusion”s in religious things (Ps. 62.9; Isa. 41.29; Jer. 10.15; Ezk. 13.8; 2 Thess. 2.11). While the term “religious delusions” is explicitly embraced by major figures in formal academic Psychology; which relates them to mental illness. Furthermore, though the current DSM sidesteps this, major figures like Freud and many since, have even said that all religion is a delusion (Dr. Pierre, Jour. Psych. Prac., 2001).

Therefore the phrase “RELIGIOUS DELUSIONS” has formal standing in Psychology - and should be allowed in (DU and other) public discussion. Even the notion that even "all" religion is delusional seems supported by key elements in Psychology as well.