American Psychological Association To Classify Belief in God As a Mental Illness

[JLM]

Twila, I'm a deist not a theist. I don't follow a religion but I believe in God.

Yeah, it's quite compelling isn't it? I just can't dismiss the results of things like people beating alcoholism because they were able to draw strength from a high power. If you read the story of Bill Wilson, it's pretty well impossible not to believe in a God. Anyway as it's been stated on here at least once, whose business is it what someone else believes in?

 

[Twila]

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?

right, you stated your opinion and i stated mine. That's how it goes. Where's the confusion?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Yeah, it's quite compelling isn't it? I just can't dismiss the results of things like people beating alcoholism because they were able to draw strength from a high power. If you read the story of Bill Wilson, it's pretty well impossible not to believe in a God. Anyway as it's been stated on here at least once, whose business is it what someone else believes in?

When you read about children born with crippling, painful, life-threatening defects, what do you believe?

 

[captain morgan]

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.

The fly in the ointment here is that the various mental health organizations can not define what is 'normal'.... On that note, if the majority of the globe's population maintain some kind of faith in some kind of religion, one has to really wonder if those that identify as atheist, agnostic, etc aren't really the abnormal ones.

84 percent of the world population has faith; a third are Christian - Washington Times

 

[Twila]

The fly in the ointment here is that the various mental health organizations can not define what is 'normal'.... On that note, if the majority of the globe's population maintain some kind of faith in some kind of religion, one has to really wonder if those that identify as atheist, agnostic, etc aren't really the abnormal ones.

84 percent of the world population has faith; a third are Christian - Washington Times

Yes, we are, currently the abnormal ones by that measure. But then the Maori ate their captives so I guess for them, that was their normal right?

 

[captain morgan]

Yes, we are, currently the abnormal ones by that measure. But then the Maori ate their captives so I guess for them, that was their normal right?

I guess for that culture, it is normal.

Thank goodness that 84% of the globe aren't Maori

 

[Kreskin]

What bearded guy? Energy has beards?

The father of the hippee from San Francisco.

 

[JLM]

When you read about children born with crippling, painful, life-threatening defects, what do you believe?

That there is still a need for more progress in finding a solution to these debilitating conditions - we've already come a long way in dealing with things like spinal meningitis.

 

[petros]

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"

Did you bother to look up deism or theism?

When you read about children born with crippling, painful, life-threatening defects, what do you believe?

Ah ha!!!! Gotcha!

 

[Walter]

I still can't understand why it is such a big deal to other people what someone else believes in.

This is why.

 

[petros]

That was personal not Religion.

 

[SLM]

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.

Precisely, except when you mock all those who have a belief with one singular brush, even those who do not impose their beliefs as a way of explaining away not providing rights to other people, those who do not demand respect or that anyone abide by their code of conduct, even those people are being broadsided by the mockery.

Do you not see this?

If one brings up their beliefs in a discussion then it's fine to discuss it, right?

Absolutley. But nobody did, at least not before you opened the discussion with an insult. Or are you denying that?

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.

You made a pre-emptive strike my dear and, may I add, one that is very, very broad in it's scope.

right, you stated your opinion and i stated mine. That's how it goes. Where's the confusion?

I'm not confused, never have been. I am a little annoyed that you will not even address the statements I've made regarding the wide brush generalizations though.


Okay, let's try another tactic, please tell me as much as you can about the mental illnesses of Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King.

This is why.

Still an action, not a belief.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

That there is still a need for more progress in finding a solution to these debilitating conditions - we've already come a long way in dealing with things like spinal meningitis.

OK, so god gets the credit for somebody kicking the booze, but no blame for birth defects?

 

[petros]

OK, so god gets the credit for somebody kicking the booze, but no blame for birth defects?

You deny God of the good but blame for the bad? Like I said, gotcha!!!

 

[JLM]

OK, so god gets the credit for somebody kicking the booze, but no blame for birth defects?

Ask the guy that kicked the booze, I just know what I read. Are imperfections blameworthy?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

You deny God of the good but blame for the bad? Like I said, gotcha!!!

Yes, dear. Go tell Mommy what a clever boy you are.

 

[petros]

If I plant a tomato seed and 1 out of 10 tomatoes on the plant grows out of shape is it my fault or is it just nature doing what nature does?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Ask the guy that kicked the booze, I just know what I read. Are imperfections blameworthy?

Well, if god has the power to allow the guy to kick booze, surely god has the power to cure the baby. So why doesn't god do that?

As far as "imperfections," I can only conclude you've never heard of the horrible conditions that condemn some babies to lives measured in months or weeks and filled with pain, and you are therefore ignorant, or you are choosing to characterize them as "imperfections," and are therefore dishonest.

Or possibly both.

 

[petros]

Did God give the guy the same opportunity to drink as given to sober up?

 

[Twila]

Precisely, except when you mock all those who have a belief with one singular brush, even those who do not impose their beliefs as a way of explaining away not providing rights to other people, those who do not demand respect or that anyone abide by their code of conduct, even those people are being broadsided by the mockery.

Do you not see this?

I think you’re overly sensitive to this. If that’s what you feel, that’s fine. But that’s what you choose to feel.

If I stated that I was a fan of the Green Party and I was mocked for believing in them, would you be saying what you’re saying now about people mocking that?

[/B]Absolutley. But nobody did, at least not before you opened the discussion with an insult. Or are you denying that?

Where did I open the discussion with an insult?

Okay, let's try another tactic, please tell me as much as you can about the mental illnesses of Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King.

The article was not my writing. It was satire as was pointed out. I neglected to post the link. Not intentionally, accidentally. I always post the link.

If they believed in pink unicorns that farted glitter, what would you say about their mental state?

Still an action, not a belief.

An action taken BECAUSE of belief.