🚀 go-pugleaf

I think it is the other way around. Religeon can create a sense of 
community and answers that contribute to peace of mind. It stores wisdom 
sorted out by centuries of thought for future generations. Sure - 
evolution and science has replaced many of the answers, and much of the 
older texts are out of date. But I think the one thing that has not 
changed over the centuries is human nature. This is the one area that 
religeon can still hold some answers.

Ghost of IT wrote:

>First off I am not saying that all religious people are crazy. But here
>are some things worth considering in this on going argument.
>
>To equate mental health issues with religion is considered taboo, but
>there are a lot of similiarities. 
>
>1) OCD is a compulsion to think that if something is not done a particular
>way or in a particular order, then it is wrong for the universe and 
>the person cannot have justification for their actions otherwise. 
>Hence they are compelled towards their behavior. 
>
>A religious person on the other hand often sees that for something in the
>universe to have a particular order to it that we are some how compelled
>to believe in a higher power, else the universe has no justification.
>Hence they are also compelled to "spread the word" else they feel guilt,
>just as OCD people are compelled to put controls on others to suit their
>own beliefs.
>
>People from both camps practice irrational thought in order to justify
>their existence. Insofar as that is concerned the behaviors and goals 
>are the same even if the causes differ. All the education or positive
>social behavior in the world (aka do good too others) cannot be used
>as curtain behind which to hide issues of mental illness.
>
>2) Christianity existed before the bible. Much about the bible is
>clearly irrational and contradictory, however people still believe
>in it. The bible was not the origin of Christian thought, only a
>collection of writings associated with it.
>
>The way that modern religions cling to biblical text is wrongful. 
>The translation issue, the lack of proper canonization, the amount
>of evidence that exists in dispute, the lack of physical evidence
>to support the bible historically, and most of all the forgotten
>fact that some of the old text was written in code to purposefully
>decieve enemies reading it -- are all forgotten as they counter
>delusional thoughts. And many religious zealots and leaders get
>that way from having delusional ideals of grandour because they
>believe they have divine right.
>
>This is more a testament to how many people are irrational in their
>behavior out of a need for faith and some degree of order. That does
>not make them mentally ill. However delusions and deception are the
>tools of people who seek to control others, and the bible is a 
>perfect example of that. God tends to show people the meaning
>of his existence in other ways, and the bible is not the last 
>world on that. If you have ever had such an experience then you
>would understand this better. 
>
>Religious people are often the last to recognize that, and the
>first to misinterpret such events when they occur.  
>
>3) There is little doubt that religion is a haven for the mentally
>ill to hide within, but that does not mean people searching for
>the meaning of the universe or a justification in a higher power
>are ill. The need to distinguish the wack jobs from those simply
>trying to be pious is important. Wack jobs on the other hand only
>distinguish so as to justify persecution of the heretics. They
>are clearly deluded, even if they act in the name of god or not.
>
>To qualify spiritual belief as a mental illness is wrong, because
>it is a quest for knowledge. Religion on the other hand deals mostly
>with blind faith, obedience, guilt, persecution, and hellfire so 
>that it can warp the minds of its followers and create a cult or
>occultic mentality. This latter practice is called brainwashing.
>People who are brainwashed are considered mentally ill.
>
>Humanism is a logical and compassionate spiritual outlook, therefore
>it has little place in religious evangelical organizations -- as the
>practice of being "decent" goes against religious dogma and "faith".
>But people blinded by religious hypnosis are conditioned to follow
>only the "irrational logic" of the Bible or Quran. Humanism counters
>the actions of dictators and tyrants, so therefore a humanist is
>labelled as the "common enemy".
>
>When all is said and done, using god or religion as justification to
>kill innocent people or those who dont believe what you believe is 
>a wrongful basis of rational thought. Chances are high that if you
>disagree with that line of reasoning, then you are most likely one
>of those borderline wack jobs and you just dont realize it yet.
>
>Time to put the matter to rest and acknowledge that the first 
>priority is decency and compassion, regardless of what god we 
>come from. Otherwise the battles will never end, and the suffering
>caused by wack jobs will never cease, and the mentally ill that
>follow religion will never be cured.
>
>Just a few thoughts.......
>
>"Religion is like Alcohol. Everyone thinks you should have some, but
>no one is willing to say anything when you have too much."
>RSC
>  
>