Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ex-idaho · 09-12-2002, 09:18 PM

I was listening to a episode of This American Life last weekend. They were discussing testosterone and its impact on people. The first person they spoke with was a young man who through some fluke had suffered a dramatic drop in testosterone to near zero levels. This had a dramatic effect on his personality and his view of the world around him.

This got me to thinking about the "soul" and mental illness. I am not a person that has ever believed in a soul and I admit that I am not particularly well versed in the Xian belief when it comes to the soul and it's properties. But I have always heard that your soul is what makes up your personality. If this is true how do Xians explain personality disorders, chemical imbalances and the like?<a href="http://www.thislife.org/" target="_blank">This American Life</a>

Cappy · 09-13-2002, 06:08 AM

A defective soul!

sakrilege · 09-13-2002, 06:53 AM

Many xtians still believe in demon possesian. I have one sister who claims to be a medium and talks to the dead. I think it is all hooey. My other sister who is a fundamentalist actually believes my medium sister is for real and is getting her powers from demons. So I assume she would credit demons with causing mental illness.

[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: sakrilege ]

Kosh · 09-13-2002, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sakrilege:
Many xtians still believe in demon possesian. I have one sister who claims to be a medium and talks to the dead. I think it is all hooey. My other sister who is a fundamentalist actually believes my medium sister is for real and is getting her powers from demons. So I assume she would credit demons with causing mental illness.

[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: sakrilege ]

The potential for playing pranks on your sisters must be incredible...

I ate Pascal's Wafer · 09-13-2002, 11:15 AM

Quote:

The potential for playing pranks on your sisters must be incredible...

LOL

sakrilege · 09-13-2002, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kosh:


The potential for playing pranks on your sisters must be incredible...

Hey, I'm slow, give me sone ideas! Besides they live in different states and don't talk to each other. But whatever ideas you have, I'll listen.

Susan

ex-idaho · 09-13-2002, 11:36 AM

Quote:

I have one sister who claims to be a medium and talks to the dead. I think it is all hooey. My other sister who is a fundamentalist

Your parents must be at their wits end. A medium, a Fundy and an athiest. Sounds like a bad sit-com on Fox.

sakrilege · 09-13-2002, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by idaho:


Your parents must be at their wits end. A medium, a Fundy and an athiest. Sounds like a bad sit-com on Fox.

I hope this isn't considered hijacking your thead!

I have another atheist sister & two agnostic brothers. My dad wasn't too thrilled but he's dead now. My mom is still a practicing catholic but couldn't care less what we believe as long as we call & visit her often enough. In reality I think she's deist. She's cool.

Getting back on topic, have you ever read any Oliver Sacks books like The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat or Awakenings? I found these very thought provoking in what determines a person's personality.

09-12-2002, 09:18 PM	#1
ex-idaho Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Spudtopia, ID Posts: 5,315	When is it the "soul" and when is it an illness I was listening to a episode of This American Life last weekend. They were discussing testosterone and its impact on people. The first person they spoke with was a young man who through some fluke had suffered a dramatic drop in testosterone to near zero levels. This had a dramatic effect on his personality and his view of the world around him. This got me to thinking about the "soul" and mental illness. I am not a person that has ever believed in a soul and I admit that I am not particularly well versed in the Xian belief when it comes to the soul and it's properties. But I have always heard that your soul is what makes up your personality. If this is true how do Xians explain personality disorders, chemical imbalances and the like?<a href="http://www.thislife.org/" target="_blank">This American Life</a>

09-13-2002, 06:53 AM	#3
sakrilege Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, OH, USA Folding@Home Godless Team Posts: 6,211	Many xtians still believe in demon possesian. I have one sister who claims to be a medium and talks to the dead. I think it is all hooey. My other sister who is a fundamentalist actually believes my medium sister is for real and is getting her powers from demons. So I assume she would credit demons with causing mental illness. [ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: sakrilege ]</p>

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09-13-2002, 06:08 AM	#2
Cappy Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Minnesota Posts: 39	A defective soul!

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