Bobzammel

I've noticed that many mentally ill(mainly autistic) or schizophrenic people have made themselves homeless after being given Jesus's "Cost of discipleship". Others have apparentally murdered their families, and many have commited suicide rather than live in a demon-controlled world. Many go into manic fits when reading the bible because of the emotional toll it has taken on them.

Anybody else observed this?

seesaw

Nope. I have never observed, and I don't think I know anyone that has.

never been there

Well, since my father-in-law stepped in front of a train our family is pretty convinced that conservative christianity is not helpful to the depressed. His pastor wasn't a problem, he was a close friend and an educated man; but the old ways certainly dominated his town and he would get a lot of "you need to deepen your faith" (like trying to get out of a hole by digging harder).

Here's the link to the biography my sister-in-law wrote. it gives our take on things.

Amie

I have never observed this however *anything* can have devastating effects on mental illness. I do not necessarily think that Christianity makes an individual's mental illness more severe, I just think that the person is ill and that particular belief is manifesting itself in an emotionally damaging way. That term could apply to anyone though not just the mentally ill. A leaf can have devastating affects on someone if one has Phyllophobia...

Vorkosigan

I cannot agree, Amie. If you look at people like Susan Smith, and that poor nut down in Texas who drowned her family, and the phenomenon of "family killers" -- men who are generally conservative in religious background, who whack their whole family and then disappear -- or child abuse and molestation....you always find the conservative religious angle. I wouldn't say that it is responsible, but certainly religion exacerbates and channels such negative behavior. Look at how that woman in Texas was controlled by her husband -- who really ought to be doing time -- and her religion. When I saw the list that woman's childrens' names, I knew instantly what a major factor in the tragedy was.

Vorkosigan

suat kelem

Well, my uncle is schizophrenic. When he first began showing signs of schizophrenia, someone convinced him to convert to some strain of born again Christianity (he was previously Catholic). At this point he refused to seek any type of psychological or medical help for his schizophrenia, disowned the family, told us we deserved to burn in hell for being Catholic, became homeless, and went traversing around the country carrying a cross. He did all of this because he was convince that it was Jesus‘ will. I do not know whether or not his actions would have been drastically different if not for Christianity.

Amie

Hi suat kelem
yes he may have been a very different path had he sought psychological help and medical treatment...

Hi Vorkosigan
I certainly understand what you are saying however I just do not feel that Christianity itself makes their illness more severe. They were ill to begin with and now they are taking a belief and turning it into something potentially very dangerous. Anytime someones belief propels them to harm another individual in any way, emotionally or physically it is time to abandon that belief or at minimum reevaluate that belief and the meaning of that belief in ones life. I understand with mental illness this may not be so easy since their perceptions and understanding may be compromised due to their illness.

Amos

Very well put.

This is tragic and will remain deeply entrenched in your family. It is really sad and you have my sympathy. I would turn this around and say that conservative Christianity was the cause of his depression.

Opposite this I would ike to present the view that historically there was always a bar (or two) built next to the Catholic church.

Also, my best line in "Karamozov" was "you're a brick, Mitja" after a brawl in some bar. Beautiful line.

Undercurrent

A lot of things can have a devistating effect on the mentally ill. Religion is up there, but not exclusively. This gives (amoung other things) a report of a mentally ill man driven to suicide by a "clinical ecologist" diagnosing him with multiple chemical sensitivity.

Mental illness responds moderatly well to scientific treatment. It responds poorly to things that inhibit or try to replace scientific treatment, whatever their reason for doing so.

Amos

Very typical and he got 'zapped' by a born again evangelist. When he first began showing signs of what you call schitzophrenia he should have been diagnosed with "involutional melancholy" and could have been given hormone therapy to balance his condition.

Had the evangelist left him alone he would have been OK in the end . . . and might still be in his own way.

He actually was the living example of "where the carcass lies the vultures will gather."