I still can't understand why it is such a big deal to other people what someone else believes in.
American Psychological Association To Classify Belief in God As a Mental Illness
- Thread starter Twila
- Start date
I guess this was inevitable after the APA defined homosexuality as natural, healthy and genetically determined. Anything that denied their competence and motives in defining this state of 'health' must be a mental illness. :roll:
Indeed. Live and let live or mock them all.
Be consistent though.
Invisible spirits, people seeing Jesus in toast, 'virgin birth', 'healing lodges'and magic tobacco, 'mother theresa' saints, popes, goddesses, medicine men, holy men etc.
Let 'em all at it or let's make fun of the whole lot. No one gets reverential treatment or we just stfu.
Atheism is not a religion. The word is defined as the dis belief of religions.
Although I'm sure there are elements of extremist or fundamentalist if you will factions of atheism. Those would be folks who find it necessary to concern themselves with what others believe and feel compelled to tear their foundation down so as to promote their own view point. Ego can be found in many schools of thought.
To me there a huge difference between someone who's "putting it all out there" by proselytizing in public or talking ad nauseum about that tortilla with a Jesus face or whatever and people that just quietly hold a belief. So when one starts talking about how having a belief is mentally ill, that's just taking your back hand to a hell of a lot of people who've never done an ounce of harm to them or anyone else.
Is it just me? If you're going to judge someone, judge them on their behavior, the things they say and actions they undertake. Not on what they think.
If they don't use their believes as a way of explaining away not providing rights to other people, or demanding respect for their believes and everyone abide by their code of conduct then it's no big deal.
If one brings up their beliefs in a discussion then it's fine to discuss it, right? Everybody demands to be heard. And by heard they mean respected because of their beliefs. It don't work that way.
People seem to get extremely bent when it comes to religion. But throw out derogatory comments about their political ideology and it's just par for the course.
All due respect to you Twila, but just who brought up beliefs in this thread? And this is not about religion, this is about beliefs, something that most people hold deeply and dearly in their hearts. Beliefs are deeply, deeply personal. How exactly are people not supposed to get "bent out of shape" when you open the conversation by telling them that this thing that is so deeply personal and important to them makes them "mentally ill".... Oh just joking, ha, ha.
re·li·gion
rəˈlijən/
noun
the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
"ideas about the relationship between science and religion"
synonyms: faith, belief, worship, creed; More
a particular system of faith and worship.
plural noun: religions
"the world's great religions"
a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.
"consumerism is the new religion"
The title of this thread is "American Psychological Association to Classify Belief in God as a Mental Illness. Belief, not religion.
Before we even get to where anyone has shared beliefs and therefore left themselves vulnerable to having their statement questioned, which I do not disagree with, question away. But before we even get there the OP is an opening shot at mockery towards those who have beliefs, is it not? At that point no one had shared anything, am I right?
Further, am I not simply questioning your opinion on the subject? I'm pretty sure no on forced you to share your thoughts, opinions or beliefs in this thread, right?