Good article on why religious fundalmentalism is a mental illness

[ladyinred]

http://www.sullivan-county.com/nf0/y2k/illness.htm

[BruceChris]

I would point out that a rigid biblical literalism is a form of mental illness AND a form of idolatry, but I rather doubt that someone in that position would be open to discussing it.

Edit: - Many people refer to this as Bibliolatry

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Blossom]

I would point out that a rigid biblical literalism is a form of mental illness AND a form of idolatry, but I rather doubt that someone in that position would be open to discussing it.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

I wonder if the founders of Soulforce would support the use of the term "mental illness" as an attack against fundamentalists, especially since this violent language has been used against homosexuals.

[dewdrop_world]

Personally I disagree that it's a mental illness... but I do believe that the most public biblical literalists are under the control of some negative mental impulses that they are pretty much unaware of. Emproph has begun to discuss some of those under the rubric of "right-wing authoritarian" and "social dominant" orientations. If one reads between the lines about these concepts, sloughing off ideological components and examining what they mean in terms of human relationships and sociopolitical arrangements, one gets a picture of a type of human behavior that is diametrically opposed to Jesus' example -- but which is now being celebrated as the purest form of Christianity.

David Kuo's revelations are also important re: the Republican Party's seduction of religious conservatives.

The most extreme and public liberals are sometimes in the sway of quite different mental impulses that also demand attention. I think there are a lot of liberals who do try to pay attention to these and act from a place of wholeness rather than ideological coercion. Just as there are some conservatives (such as, I believe, yourself) who seem pretty well able to express their views with calm, abiding respect for others.

What we really need is for everybody to drop the attitude and help each other out (instead of clawing for positions of authority like your colleagues mell2005 and pastorsteve over on the umc boards).

James

PS I deplore the way your name was used to title another thread on this board. I apologize that I've been too busy of late to register my objection to it.

[BruceChris]

But I guess now that I think about it, I have seen your postings occasionally. I definitely believe that having a fear-based and rigid way of thinking shows a serious lack of spiritual growth, and emotional maturity. I chose to believe that the two are really the same thing. And I WILL insist that it IS a form of idolatry. As it says in the bible, "But if ye have not love, you've totally missed the boat", or something like that.

I believe that the Biblical statement that "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom" has done an enormous amount of damage to far too many people. It is un-loving, un-Christian, and un-Godly. The orthodox can call me a heretic, but I will always believe that that statement, taken out of context, is blasphemy. We may forget that "Perfect love casteth out all fear". Only the Trinity have perfect love, which is why we need them.

I apologize for offending you, I do not need to call it mental illness, except in extreme cases, or when it leads to someone getting hurt. (And I know immediately, there will be many here who will say that it DOES lead to just that)

I continue to believe that we ALL have belief systems that are partly love- based, and partly-fear based. That spiritual and emotional growth consists of learning to move from a fear-based system, to a love-based belief system, and love-based personal emotional health.

And if you ask me, when I may see a calm, loving, gay Christian trying to talk to a red faced, blustering, angry conservative Christian, I'm pretty sure that you know where I will come down, on the question of mental health, or the lack there of. (O.K., O.K., I'm dealing in stereotypes here, but the question of love-based verses fear-based still rules, for me. And of course, if there are a LOT of like minded conservatives together, they're not blustery, just smarmy.)

Blossom, I'm glad to be able to talk to you again, and I hope that our paths cross again.

I wish you God's Peace and God's Love, Bruce Chris

[ladyinred]

I have to agree with your position on the bible and what you say to move beyond the fear based to the loved based. If we look at Jesus himself , he was more progressive in his thinking than the traditional religious leaders of his time who confronted him.

[ladyinred]

And I will take what Taro Gold says from his book,that we are either forces for the creative collective good of society or the dark destructive forces that help undermine it and destroy it. I'd also like to add that the religious right many times thinks it nothing to heap violence and abuse on the glbt community and the suffering it causes. Many of us are struggling with self image problems and self acceptance as well. If someone you loved were being abused and violated in this way, would you tolerate it or turn a blind eye to it? Of course not.While I'm not advocating fighting hatred with hatred, I don't advocate passive acceptance of being the brunt of other's hatred either. But I know of cases where gay people went to a church that taught them they were bad and needed to change their orientation to be right with God.. it caused a friend's , friend to go into a deep depression and almost contemplate suicide.. Fortunately she snapped out of it ,probably with help and told them ,if they couldn't accept her the way she was , that it was too bad. She changed churches by the way and is going to the Cathedral of Hope church. I was reading an article on a lesbian who was raised in one of these fundalmentalist churches and she said she had tried to change for so many years and became mentally and emotionally distraught as a result. She finally was able to find a church who accepted her sexual orientation and became happy again ,being relieved of years of struggling with emotional and mental anguish over her sexuality,on top of all the guilt trips dumped on her for being who she is. Now this might not be intentional or malicious on these church's part but it still has affected the lives of glbt people who are uncertain with themselves and think the only way to be right with God is to change their idenity.

[ladyinred]

I will say when I have talked to religious right people in the past of stories of the mental anguish of many gay people who feel like they are bad and are struggling with their idenity , and the suffering and anguish they went through and even the suicides,their response was pretty callous. They said God was convicting gays of their sin and guilt (Yeah and to the point of mental instability and suicide?) How would you treat a loved one who was suffering or contemplating suicide? you would go out of your way to help and support them. I think any responsible caring person would at least.The people I talked to, showed no compassion or remorse for these incidences. It was just indifference and callous like I said.

[ladyinred]

My advice to any gay person attending one of these churches , run like hell out the door, the minute they start in on you. They will destroy you , your mental and emotional stability and you spiritually. There is no reason to put up with or tolerate that from a church you are going to,period. It is spiritual abuse at it's worst.:injured: :sick:

[ladyinred]

I learned alot from my mother growing up , but I could never understand why she was so vehemently against some of the churches I attended when I was a teen. She did not believe in the hellfire and brimstone teachings of these churches, she always said she thought God was a God of love and mercy and she felt like they were trying to scare the heck out of me.... and I was having some emotional problems with their teachings (although at the time it had nothing to do with my sexual orientation, because I was still confused at the time ) But after attending those churches I was even more confused and bewildered.. I almost acted like I was catatonic when I sat in the pews.... So I'm thankful now my mother was trying to protect me.... back then I didn't get it , but I do now.:love:

[ladyinred]

Here is something I hope will uplift the people on this forum. It is taken from the book,"Feeling Good." The new mood therapy by Dr. David Burns. It has to do with dealing with the disapproval of others.. It states , "Did it ever occur to you that if someone disapproves of you, it might be his or her problem?Disapproval often reflects other people's irrational beliefs, To take an extreme example. Hitler's hateful doctrine that Jews were inferior did not reflect anything about the inner worth of the people he intended to destroy. And it goes on to state that there were the jews who refused to buy into the persecutions of their captors and even in extreme and realistic situations of deprivation , actually experienced a spiritual awakening and an enhancement of their self esteem. This is an excellent book that deals with many issues on self esteem from dealing with rejection, a personal sense of self worth, guilt among other things. I have a copy of it and I keep it in my bookcase and reread it frequently. Perhaps our "enemies" have something to teach us about ourselves.... how to become stronger for one, and perhaps has helped us on the road to our own development and spirituality as well. They are teaching us also what we would not want to be... intolerant,cruel, mean -spirited, hateful, bigoted... because when we see the impact of that on our own lives and how it affects our wellbeing , we learn that we can grow as people to be more compassionate and understanding of others. You determine whether your experiences make you bitter or better. Even the negative ones can teach you much about human nature...what brings out the worst in each of us ,or the best. Here is another one, taken from a book by Wayne Dyer... "The story is told of the enlightened master who always responded to outbursts of criticism,judgment,and ridicule with love,kindness,and peace. One of his devotees asked him how he could possibly be so kind and peaceful in the face of such disparaging invective. He responded to the devotee with this question:"If someone offers you a gift, and you do not accept that gift, to whom does the gift belong?" The answer leads you to the extra mile..... Ask yourself,"Why would I allow something that belongs to someone else to be the source of my resentment?" As the title of a popular book says,"What you think of me is none of my business." Taken from his book 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace. I recommend it to anyone who is struggling with self esteem as well.

[mtatum4496]

I would point out that a rigid biblical literalism is a form of mental illness AND a form of idolatry, but I rather doubt that someone in that position would be open to discussing it.

Edit: - Many people refer to this as Bibliolatry

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

LOL. Bruce, I have gotten some mighty hateful stares from some folks by claiming I worship God and not a book about God. But I feel exactly that way. To my way of thinking, the Gospel of John is very clear about who is afforded the status of being "The Word" - and it gets under my skin to see someone waving a Bible around and refering to it as if the text were God personally.

I find a great deal of truth in the written word, but I am ever mindful that scriptures are records of humankind's attempt to document two things: first, a people's best understandings of God, and second their best understandings of what God has taught them. Humans being humans, I find that while scripture is helpful in my walk with God, nothing can replace seeking understanding directly from God. Guess you could say I have a little bit of Quaker in me.

[ladyinred]

I agree.;)