Religious Belief is Not a Mental Illness

[rug]

March 12, 2014
vjack

I read Chris Stedman's post for Religion News Service, "5 reasons atheists shouldn't call religion a mental illness" and some of the reactions to it with interest. Stedman receives quite a bit of criticism in the atheist community for being overly accomodationist at times; however, this does not mean that much of his work is not still worthwhile.

I think he raised some good points in this post, and I agree with his conclusion that we atheists probably shouldn't call religion a mental illness or label all religious believers as mentally ill. My reasons for doing so overlap with his but are a bit simpler.

After consulting with "two atheist activists," Stedman offers the five reasons listed below:

1.Even if well-intended, the equation fails
2.Mental illness is not an insult
3.Religion is often associated with wellbeing
4.This parallel distracts us from trying to understand and learn from religion
5.Atheists and theists share in the challenge of being human

If Stedman writes more on this subject in the future (and I hope he does because I enjoy his work), I'd recommend that he try consulting mental health professionals instead of atheist activists. I imagine that he'd find that more useful if the goal is to understand mental illness, how it is defined, and the process through which mental disorders are diagnosed.

http://www.atheistrev.com/2014/03/religious-belief-is-not-mental-illness.html

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/02/24/5-reasons-atheists-shouldnt-call-religion-mental-illness/

Somebody's trolling. Repeatedly.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. As an atheist...

I agree with 1, 2, and 5.

3 is a red herring. Non-religious philosophical systems can provide the same level of emotional and physical wellbeing.

4 merely provides a different framework from which to 'understand and learn from' religion. I don't know that it's any better or worse in terms of 'learning from it', but would lead to different lessons.

Mental illness can create delusions and ideations that certainly sound like some of the things reported as 'miracles' by various religions over the years, but simply holding to irrational (supernatural? Choose whatever word you want.) beliefs does not rise to the level of 'illness'. Indeed, it's basic human nature. We seek to impose patterns onto random events, to 'interpret' nature in ways that seem understandable or 'reasonable' to us, even before we have the tools to understand the phenomena with which we deal daily as humans. Some source of 'outside' instigator of events is a perfectly natural human reaction to anything we are unable to comprehend. And, of course, you 'can't prove a negative', so simply not having ever seen a purple unicorn, or any evidence for one, does not 'prove' that they don't exist, and you simply haven't encountered one.

The place of science is to examine the universe and ever expand our ability to understand it, thus shrinking the need for 'external' factors to explain the unknown. Deliberately insulting the religious does not aid in that goal.

[cbayer]

4. The whole point of the article is that #2-5 are irrelevant.

Only #1 is necessary and the fact is that religion is not a psychiatric illness.

Period.

[el_bryanto]

2. I think that some will disagree with #3 and 4

5 strikes me as irrelevant - Liberals and Conservatives share in the challenge of being human, but that doesn't change the essential disagreement.

Bryant

[cbayer]

3. Delusion - firmly holding on to an untrue belief despite clear evidence to the contrary.

So, what should we label people who continue to maintain that religion is a psychiatric disorder despite clear evidence to the contrary?

I can think of a few things, actually.

It's a lame and juvenile argument used only to make one feel superior in some way.

I am very glad to see thoughtful and articulate non-believers pushing back against this with sound arguments based on facts.

There are many legitimate complaints about religion. This is not one of them.

[MellowDem]

5. So, what makes religious beliefs not a mental illness again?

The five "reasons" given don't address that question or claim.

Do some mental health professionals diagnose religious beliefs as mental illnesses? Why? Do others not? Why? Are they good reasons or the widespread belief among a profession in one country where religion is socially normative on a subjective and has an ever-changing definition?

I'd like to see why believing in an invisible place of eternal torture if you don't follow the arbitrary commands of an invisible force is not considered a form of mental illness. I'd like to see what reasons are given.

[rug]

6. Sorry you're having trouble grasping it.

Wander over to one of cleanhippie's trainwreck threads to find it explained a few dozen times. Or just wait for the next one.

[MellowDem]

7. Grasping what?

You haven't provided any reasons to grasp with. And this is a thread on whether religion is a mental illness, started by you, and now you're pointing me elsewhere? And again with the digs at other DUers....

Religious beliefs fit the definitions of numerous types of mental illness. So why shouldn't they be labelled as such?

[hrmjustin]

8. Am I as a believer mentally ill?

[MellowDem]

9. What do you believe?

[hrmjustin]

10. I am a Christian.

[MellowDem]

12. There are many claims in the Bible...

which if a person were to believe were true I think fit the definition of delusion. If I remember correctly, you think parts of the Bible are false though, so I have no idea what you believe when you say you are a Christian.

Until you state a specific belief, I'll start with one example. The Pope thinks an invisible, evil force is behind the push for marriage equality. The basis of this belief is his religion. I think that is a delusion and a mental illness.

But here's another. The Pope thinks that an invisible force tells him that economic equality is good, and therefore promotes progressive economic policies. I think that is a delusion and a mental illness.

Here's another. The Pope thinks there is an invisible being that is all-knowing, perfectly good, and all-powerful, that watches over everyone every second of the day. That is a delusion and a mental illness IMHO.

I think most everyone suffers from mental illness at some point in life. I have. I don't consider it an insult to point out mental illness. I consider it a tragedy to ignore mental illness to protect people's feelings.

[hrmjustin]

13. I believe there is a God and Jesus is his son.

I believe in Jesus's death and ressurection. I believe in heaven but no hell. I think those destined not for heaven do not exist after death. I think that there is a devil character but his role is more of an accuser than a guy who makes yiu do bad things.

I believe much of the beginning of the OT is allegory. I believe most of the NT.

[MellowDem]

14. Then that's a mental illness IMHO...

Of course, some delusions are much more harmful than others, but they're all maladaptive to me.

The belief that a man rose from the dead 2,000 years ago and is also an invisible being that exists to this day is delusional to me. I think it fits the definition well. I don't know what good reason could be given for it that would make it not delusional. That lots of people believe it? That's not a reason.

That's what I'm looking for. Good reasons that beliefs that are delusional and also religious should be classified some other way. That most American psychologists think so isn't a reason either. I want to know why they think so, if they do.

[hrmjustin]

15. Well I asked.

[rug]

11. "And again with the digs at other DUers.... "

Priceless.