Faith is a funny thing... Not "Funny = Ha-ha"

[evilblackrabbit]

It's really weird.  I've been extremely sick the last few weeks to the point where I've become very scared.  I've actually started thinking about "Faith", as in faith in a religion or faith in "something bigger than me, but obviously invisible, that supposedly set up rules for EVERYTHING".  Both my parents (who I'm convinced at this point are

Comments

[janscottfrazier]

Religion can be a succor for people in times of need, but like any other attachment to something that's completely subjective (in this case in one's own head) it can start to take on more meaning and more power in a person's life. Just as people can get addicted to gambling and pornography, people can get addicted to religion. It becomes an escape from reality, allowing a person to focus on things s/he controls vs. the troubles that fill his/her life. Every person's individual concept of [$deity] is different, even if they all come from the same tight group.
(On a vaguely related note, you might be interested to read about the similarities in the brain between schizophrenia and extreme religiosity. There is, of course, a correlation between religiosity and manic states and it's MUCH harder to treat and temporarily cure bipoloar and schizophrenic folks who have strong religiosity. I guess it's like the double whammy or something.)

This election will thankfully be done in a few weeks. It's been so incredibly ridiculous, especially in the last month when the lunatics revived the spirit of Joe McCarthy. I will be SO glad when it's over.
(BTW if Sen. McCain is elected do you have a closet or a woodshed that I can stay in for a few years? :D )

Be well!

[evilblackrabbit]

Do you have a link to a page on the similarities on religion and schizophrenia? That sounds fascinating!!! And of course, we have a Guest Room ready for you any time you need to hide out here for months or years at a time! Be prepared for "Addams Family" Style living, but you're always welcome!

[janscottfrazier]

The relationship between schizophrenia and religion and its implications for care

Schizophrenia, Religion and New Age

Religious delusions in patients admitted to hospital with schizophrenia.

God on the Brain (BBC) This one is particularly interesting in the case of bipolar disorder, which is related to temporal lobe epilepsy. The most effective medications for bipolar I and II tend to be anti-convulsants like Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal and Trileptal. Schizophrenia seems to be low levels of dopamine plus the aforementioned frontal lobe problems.

This is not to say that the average religious person has a serious brain disorder but at the root of all of the theater of religion is the transcendent religious experience. The ideas in the Sermon on the Mount, the Dhammapada, Sufi poems, the Tao Te Ching and so on are waaay ahead of the curve and 99.99999% of the people today don't get what those folks were talking about. They try to understand and then render it in some form - writing, song, chant - and then it's dead. it's like painting a portrait of Thomas Jefferson with the only references being the movie musical 1776 and a 1968 nickel. Then somebody takes a Polaroid of that painting and shows it to all of his friends, telling them how amazing it is. It may be a beautiful work of art One wonders if some of the transmission doesn't work because it takes a different brain for it to make sense... :)

Wow, that's rambly...

[janscottfrazier]

Thanks for the offer of space too!

[yuhi]

hey you already promised me the room!

im willing to share though :)

and actualy I dident know you where a fellow heathen, thats more reasons your awsome!