Freethought & Rationalism Archive

EverLastingGodStopper · 12-14-2004, 07:13 AM

Actually, the AP worded it differently: Zwire: "Religiosity Common Among Mothers Who Kill Their Children"

Quote:

... Women who kill their children commonly cite God, the devil and other religious influences for their actions. Although the mothers are also often found to be severely mentally ill or psychotic, the recurring theme of religiosity begs the question: Is religion to blame?

Theologians, sociologists and psychiatrists generally say no. They say religiosity is a common theme among psychotics because hallucinations and delusions usually take familiar forms.

... some experts suggest mental illness is harder to detect and treat in faiths more inclined to attribute odd behavior to Satan and trust prayer over medicine.

"They're not seeing this as a mental illness. They're seeing it as the person having demons, perhaps, or a sin problem or not being spiritually fulfilled," said Roger Olson, a theology professor at Baylor's Truett Seminary.

... Olson said that while religion doesn't cause mental illness, he believes existing conditions can be inflamed by religious environments where leaders demand absolute obedience and claim to speak for God.

There are some items in the story about the popularity of fundamentalist religion amongst women who kill their kids. It's a real shame that stories like this are so frequent. This is just the latest report from the Associated Press on something that we pretty much already knew.

The story does put the issue in context:

Quote:

"Most of the people in nut houses are religious because most Americans are religious," said Rodney Stark, a social sciences professor at Baylor University. "We know what causes schizophrenia and it isn't going to church. It's biochemical."

It's just a shame that some people have mental health issues that are masked by their own religious fervor. Their extreme beliefs make it harder for society to help them and their children.

Capn_Danger · 12-14-2004, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EverLastingGodStopper

Actually, the AP worded it differently: Zwire: "Religiosity Common Among Mothers Who Kill Their Children"

There are some items in the story about the popularity of fundamentalist religion amongst women who kill their kids. It's a real shame that stories like this are so frequent. This is just the latest report from the Associated Press on something that we pretty much already knew.

The story does put the issue in context:

It's just a shame that some people have mental health issues that are masked by their own religious fervor. Their extreme beliefs make it harder for society to help them and their children.

I agree. Of course, people tend to have a problem working out cause and effect, in general. It's easy to see connections when they confirm your biases.
I bet that a greater number of women who kill their kids are poorer than average, as well. Also, they're likely less educated. They tend to have more substance addictions. More teenage pregnancies. They tend to have bad credit. And, as was said, tend to be more religious, and conservatively religious.

There's a whole bunch of things that going along with low socioeconomic status (I use that word hesitantly, for dread of soundling like a member of the P.C. goon squad), and the relationships between them all aren't simple. People who think they are simple need to do some reading and educate themselves before jumping to such sweeping conclusions.

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