Freethought & Rationalism Archive

chekmate · 04-12-2003, 09:15 PM

I have no idea if I spelled Skitzophrenic right, but that's how I'm going to tell this story.

My Sociology Professor, with a Ph.D in Psychology was talking about mental disorders, to a class of about 50 students, and all of a sudden, he spouts his belief that Jesus Christ was a Paraniod Skitzophrenic. Now, this initiated quite a few vocal objections, but he continued with his reasoning:

He talked to people and things nobody else could see
He had illusions of granduer (Son of God, King of Jews)
He planned his own death (Crucifixtion)

Now, while 95% of the class was pissing and moaning about this I was busy commiting his reasons to memory, and thinking about them. He did talk to himself, he did think he was the son of god, and he did get himself killed in an elaborate manner, all three of these traits of Paraniod Skitzophrenics, right? Makes sense to me.

Then he went on to talking about how the mentally ill were revered in the old days for being able to see things, and hear things that others could not.

So, is there any other historical backup to Jesus Christ beign a Paranoid Skitzophrenic? Does this sound feasable to you? If so... cool

rubbercok3000 · 04-12-2003, 10:01 PM

Or maybe he just did too much acid.

winstonjen · 04-12-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rubbercok3000
Or maybe he just did too much acid.

LOL! :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

Too bad he didn't take a dive into a vat of acid.

Godot · 04-13-2003, 12:53 AM

I guess smoking dried goat dung will fuck you up pretty good.

Jinto · 04-13-2003, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Godot
I guess smoking dried goat dung will fuck you up pretty good.

I don't even want to know...

echidna · 04-13-2003, 06:17 PM

Haven't seen so much about JC, but his dad definitely suffered from metal illness.

http://www.theonion.com/onion3716/go...d_bipolar.html

BTW, schizophrenic.

christ-on-a-stick · 04-13-2003, 09:15 PM

If one were to believe that Jesus was a real historical person *as detailed and the Bible* and that his words and deeds are recorded accurately in the Bible (a huge if that I do not find plausible but for the sake of argument) - then an objective view of his behavior would certainly fall in line with what we see in paranoid schizophrenics.

Which is why when presented with the (false) Trilemma "Lord, Liar or Lunatic" I always pick lunatic.

thebeave · 04-13-2003, 09:39 PM

A few weeks ago, I was actually thinking the same thing. What triggered the thought was the guy who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart. Obviously, he was mentally ill, and believed he was a prophet, and of a divine nature. He apparantly was successful in getting a few people to believe that themselves too (given more time, even Elizabeth herself). If he was in the midst of a primitive, destitute, uneducated society it's not too far fetched to think that he could gain a rather large following and a lasting legacy. Throw in a few exaggerations, (and outright lies) and you got yourselves the makings of a new religion. Perhaps that's how Jesus got his start.

BTW, Jesus also advocated plucking out your eyeball and cutting off your hand if they cause you to sin. And also he cursed a fig tree for not producing figs (reminds me of when I saw a homeless, mentally ill guy the other day curse a dumpster for not containing any edible food). If those aren't signs of mental illness, I don't know what is!

04-12-2003, 09:15 PM	#1
chekmate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Downriver Detroit Posts: 1,961	Jesus Christ: Paranoid Skitzophrenic? I have no idea if I spelled Skitzophrenic right, but that's how I'm going to tell this story. My Sociology Professor, with a Ph.D in Psychology was talking about mental disorders, to a class of about 50 students, and all of a sudden, he spouts his belief that Jesus Christ was a Paraniod Skitzophrenic. Now, this initiated quite a few vocal objections, but he continued with his reasoning: He talked to people and things nobody else could see He had illusions of granduer (Son of God, King of Jews) He planned his own death (Crucifixtion) Now, while 95% of the class was pissing and moaning about this I was busy commiting his reasons to memory, and thinking about them. He did talk to himself, he did think he was the son of god, and he did get himself killed in an elaborate manner, all three of these traits of Paraniod Skitzophrenics, right? Makes sense to me. Then he went on to talking about how the mentally ill were revered in the old days for being able to see things, and hear things that others could not. So, is there any other historical backup to Jesus Christ beign a Paranoid Skitzophrenic? Does this sound feasable to you? If so... cool

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04-12-2003, 10:01 PM	#2
rubbercok3000 Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 119	Or maybe he just did too much acid.

04-13-2003, 12:53 AM	#4
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	I guess smoking dried goat dung will fuck you up pretty good.

04-13-2003, 06:17 PM	#6
echidna Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 2,832	Haven't seen so much about JC, but his dad definitely suffered from metal illness. http://www.theonion.com/onion3716/go...d_bipolar.html BTW, schizophrenic.

04-13-2003, 09:15 PM	#7
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	If one were to believe that Jesus was a real historical person as detailed and the Bible and that his words and deeds are recorded accurately in the Bible (a huge if that I do not find plausible but for the sake of argument) - then an objective view of his behavior would certainly fall in line with what we see in paranoid schizophrenics. Which is why when presented with the (false) Trilemma "Lord, Liar or Lunatic" I always pick lunatic.

04-13-2003, 09:39 PM	#8
thebeave Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 4,183	A few weeks ago, I was actually thinking the same thing. What triggered the thought was the guy who kidnapped Elizabeth Smart. Obviously, he was mentally ill, and believed he was a prophet, and of a divine nature. He apparantly was successful in getting a few people to believe that themselves too (given more time, even Elizabeth herself). If he was in the midst of a primitive, destitute, uneducated society it's not too far fetched to think that he could gain a rather large following and a lasting legacy. Throw in a few exaggerations, (and outright lies) and you got yourselves the makings of a new religion. Perhaps that's how Jesus got his start. BTW, Jesus also advocated plucking out your eyeball and cutting off your hand if they cause you to sin. And also he cursed a fig tree for not producing figs (reminds me of when I saw a homeless, mentally ill guy the other day curse a dumpster for not containing any edible food). If those aren't signs of mental illness, I don't know what is!

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