IamMoose

I watched a documentary about the snake handlers of wherever they were from and yes, several did get bitten and at least one died, the silly chump. Doesn't it say something in the bible about not putting God to the test anyway??

Obviously, these churches are rare, but I would submit that the belief that mental illness is really possession is more common. I have a friend from a Pentecostal church who quite plainly believes that (which makes it a bit awkward, as a medicated depressive, for me to be around her), and I have encountered many other Christians would take the slightly less extreme but still IMO damaging line that people with mental illness just need to pray a bit harder and God will heal them. Not all Christians think this, of course, but in my experience enough do.

Vorkosigan

Off to GRD

IamMoose

BTW, in response to someone up there (sorry am too lazy to find the exact quote, tsk tsk), I know a Christian who does not believe that any Christians should use non believing psychiatrists, general practitioners etc, because 'they will start from the presumption that your religion is a mental illness and try to eradicate it.'

I have sometimes wondered whether religion was simply collective mental illness but then decided it would be patronising of me to advance that theory to the Christians that I know.. one could certainly understand them not being very thrilled at the idea . But I feel that in some senses religion is 'catching;' ie if you spend long enough round people with a certain set of beliefs, no matter how outlandish those beliefs are, you will eventually come either to accept them wholly, or at the least to see them as less 'far out' than you used to do. Ultimately, noone ever spontaneously became religious - except perhaps Saul - so there has to be an element of contagiousness about it.

Sorry, I am waffling aren't I?

Clivedurdle

We must be very careful about assuming a scientific basis to psychiatry.

We really are still very ignorant of how this extremely complex organ, the brain, constructs these concepts 'mind" and "consciousness" and how masses of brains socially construct societies, beliefs and all.

We have defined some forms of hallucination and "interesting" behaviours as "mental ilnesses" but you will find the definitions are very related to "treatments" available.

Some items have not been defined as "mad" for basically political reasons, although other psychiatries - Soviet is an example - did attempt this with religion.

Courts spend a huge amount of time differentiating "mad" and "bad". Depending on a decision, an individual may follow two different career paths - "asylums" or prisons.

We do know we are very frightened of madness, and many societies have used all sorts of ways to cope with it, witch doctors, exorcism, electro shock therapy. lobotomies and drugs come to "mind". There's gold in them thar hills as well, ritalin for children makes loadsamoney!

I read that Byzantines treated the mad by putting them in very beautiful buildings overlooking the sea, with food, rest and calming influences.

Sounds a little bit more humane than "modecate pushers" or praying for God to heal you!

Angyson

Medical researchers are on the hunt for the repressed homosexual gene to add to the DMZ.

Angyson

I became a Christian in the wilderness reading the bible cover to cover.

Cynthia of Syracuse

I assume you mean DSM?

DougP

OdysseusTheInnkeeper

The primary Operative Archetype or subconscious personality is usually female in the physical male, and vice versa, and become flipped for some, so close are they entertwined and enfolded. Most of the split personality business is a natural part of the subconscious superplex of any individual, such as badgering parents or teachers.
Under stress, this subconscious complex can surface and manifest itself as the original schizophrenic definition. Oddly enough, one can actually choose which personalities, from any story or personal experience, are prime in the dynamic hierarchy- anything from Gandolf to Mhoram to Prince Tigana to Jfk to penelope to Leonardo Devinci to Horton to Kath to living people you admire- all playing a game of boids- automatically, optimally changing places in a way that will make your life a great book!
Last Week I felt my Odysseus' drop down into my subconscious, and feel a great friendship+ for the living now, and have this tremendous need now to re-establish childhood friendships and lost loves. And one thing I've noticed is that my personal drama has left me much too nice for my own good.
Although changes are taking place in my nearby environment, I've begun to feel claustrophobic even outside in my 33 year old D.C. Metro environment.It's time for a change!
&namaste all
P.S. I know I've just had something pulled down by subconscious that I wanted to say, but- that's all for the better- off topic for this thread.
Otik the Jungian AKA(?) neil

IamMoose

Then you were being influenced by other Christians, even if they weren't there in person . You think you'd have converted if you HADN'T had a bible with you?

Okay that's maybe a bit of an unfair question .. I suppose there's nothing wrong with converting after reading the bible. What specifically made you convert?