Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

[amariselle]

Did I suggest delusion was contagious
?

It would have to be if Christianity is a delusion.

 

[amariselle]

So those men claim. Again, the words of men.

It is of course your choice to believe that.

 

[Robert Palase]

It is of course your choice to believe that.

Did men write the Bible or did your God write the Bible?
Perhaps you believe that men wrote the Bible then someone said that God had told them to write it, is that what you believe?
if it's not what you believe then please tell us what it is you do believe.

 

[SteveB28]

It is of course your choice to believe that.

I don't "choose" to make things a fact. Is it not a fact that those scriptures were written down by men? Is it not a fact that those men claim to have been divinely inspired to write?

 

[amariselle]

Did men write the Bible or did your God write the Bible?
Perhaps you believe that men wrote the Bible then someone said that God had told them to write it, is that what you believe?
if it's not what you believe then please tell us what it is you do believe.

I have told you what I believe. The Bible is the inspired word of God. It came to man from God.

The evidence for this is in its history and in how it has continues to exist after all this time, and the change it has brought to many people. It has not faded away as many other ancient and historic writings have and it has found a valuable and treasured place around the world, on every continent and among diverse people, cultures and societies.

It has also been attacked and questioned more than and other book. And still it exists and God continues to change lives through it.

He did say His words will never pass away, and they won't.

 

[SteveB28]

It would have to be if Christianity is a delusion.

Why? Because of the numbers involved? Billions believe that Mohammed flew to heaven on his horse?

Are they correct or deluded?

 

[SteveB28]

I have told you what I believe. The Bible is the inspired word of God. It came to man from God.

The evidence for this is in its history and in how it has continues to exist after all this time, and the change it has brought to many people. It has not faded away as many other ancient and historic writings have and it has found a valuable and treasured place around the world, on every continent and among diverse people, cultures and societies.

It has also been attacked and questioned more than and other book. And still it exists and God continues to change lives through it.

Ditto the Gita.
Ditto the Q'ran.

They can't all be true.

 

[amariselle]

Why? Because of the numbers involved? Billions believe that Mohammed flew to heaven on his horse?

Are they correct or deluded?

No, not because of the numbers, but because it has spread throughout history. If it is a delusion and delusions are not contagious, then how has it spread, and why?

 

[SteveB28]

No, not because of the numbers, but because it has spread throughout history. If it is a delusion and delusions are not contagious, then how has it spread, and why?

I repeat, billions feel the same way about those other texts. They can't all be right. Some (or all) of their adherents must be believing something that is untrue.

 

[amariselle]

Ditto the Gita.
Ditto the Q'ran.

They can't all be true.

The Quran is actually not as old as the Bible. And unlike the Bible which was written by at least 40 different authors from all walks of life, on 3 continents over a period of 1,500 years, the Quran was written by ONE man over a period of 23 years.

The Gita was also apparently written by a single person, the Sage Vyasa.

And neither of these other writings have been targeted and ridiculed as the Bible has. The Quran and the Gita have not been so widely banned nor have those who hold these books sacred been as severely persecuted and killed throughout all of history, to the present day, as Christians are.

If the Bible is just another book, why not leave it alone? Why does it matter? There is far more to it than that.

 

[amariselle]

I repeat, billions feel the same way about those other texts. They can't all be right. Some (or all) of their adherents must be believing something that is untrue.

You compared Christianity to a mental illness. That is the point I was addressing, not incorrectly held belief.

 

[Robert Palase]

I have told you what I believe. The Bible is the inspired word of God. It came to man from God.

You know this because the Bible tells you that the Bible is true.

The evidence for this is in its history and in how it has continues to exist after all this time, and the change it has brought to many people.

It's existed only because it has been a useful tool for the people in power, had it not been useful it would have been replaced by something that did work.

It has not faded away as many other ancient and historic writings have and it has found a valuable and treasured place around the world, on every continent and among diverse people, cultures and societies.

It has not been allowed to fade away because it has been useful to many powers over the years, that's exactly why every culture in the world has a had a religion of some sorts.

It has also been attacked and questioned more than and other book. And still it exists and God continues to change lives through it.

There is no God but some people just feel the need to believe that there is, some people need consolation and a helping hand just to live their lives.

He did say His words will never pass away, and they won't.

HE never said a thing, men did, anyone who had the ear of a God had power over others, that's why the Christian church flourished.

 

[Robert Palase]

You compared Christianity to a mental illness.

Doesn't being delusional usually mean that there is something wrong with that person? are the people who believe in all those other religions delusional? why on earth would those people believe in such nonsense? it make one wonder just what is wrong with them.

 

[amariselle]

You know this because the Bible tells you that the Bible is true.

Not only that. It goes beyond the Bible to what I see in the world today and throughout history and to a shared Christian faith and community with other Christians who share similar experiences.

It's existed only because it has been a useful tool for the people in power, had it not been useful it would have been replaced by something that did work.

An extremely overly simplistic answer. The places where the Bible has been treasured the most is among those who have very little power or influence in a worldly sense.

It has not been allowed to fade away because it has been useful to many powers over the years, that's exactly why every culture in the world has a had a religion of some sorts.

It has not faded away because it is the word of God, and He says that it will not. The Bible and living a Christian life has actually brought more hardship and persecution on Christians. Not wealth or power.

There is no God but some people just feel the need to believe that there is, some people need consolation and a helping hand just to live their lives.

This statement has been repeated endlessly and is, quite frankly, extremely oversimplistic. It simply does not stand up to close examination. If Christianity is just a crutch, why have so many Christians given up every convenience and an easy life to become one? Many times they have even given up earthly life itself. Becoming a Christian is often a hard road, not an easy one. And why throughout history has the greatest growth in the Christian church occurred during the times of harshest persecution? It does so to this day.

HE never said a thing, men did, anyone who had the ear of a God had power over others.

I disagree. Study history. Most Christians have been ordinary, everyday people without any social standing or influence and becoming a Christian did not change that for them.

 

[amariselle]

Doesn't being delusional usually mean that there is something wrong with that person? are the people who believe in all those other religions delusional? why on earth would those people believe in such nonsense? it make one wonder just what is wrong with them.

Christianity is not a mental illness. If you believe it is you have some serious questions to ask yourself as to how a mental illness can simply be passed around and spread throughout history to every continent and diverse peoples.

There has never been ANY proof that mental illnesses are contagious in this way. They are not.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Christianity is not a mental illness. If you believe it is you have some serious questions to ask yourself as to how a mental illness can simply be passed around and spread throughout history to every continent and diverse peoples.

There has never been ANY proof that mental illnesses are contagious in this way. They are not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_à_deux

 

[amariselle]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_à_deux

Sorry, I tried the link. It just says "bad title". Also, it IS Wikipedia. If you are trying to show cases of mental illness being passed from one person to another like a cold or flu or a communicable disease, could you cite some medical or psychological sources please?

I took many Psychology classes in college, (for my B.A.) and I have never heard of such a thing, nor have I ever seen it happen in reality. If it did then entire families would get schizophrenia just because one member of the family deals with it, or all the doctors and therapists would need to be trained in precautionary measures to keep themselves from getting "infected." (And likewise I have never infected my family and friends with my anxiety disorder.

Mental illness simply does not work that way.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Sorry, I tried the link. It just says "bad title". Also, it IS Wikipedia. If you are trying to show cases of mental illness being passed from one person to another like a cold or flu or a communicable disease, could you cite some medical or psychological sources please?

how about these?

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/shared-psychotic-disorder#1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252781/

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/293107-overview

I took many Psychology classes in college, (for my B.A.) and I have never heard of such a thing, nor have I ever seen it happen in reality.

Then you didn't go to a very good college.

 

[amariselle]

how about these?

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/shared-psychotic-disorder#1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252781/

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/293107-overview

Thank you for the links. I will deal with the main points discussed in these articles and explain why Christianity does not fit the requirements of a shared psychiatric disorder like folie à deux.

"Shared psychotic disorder, also known as folie a deux ("the folly of two"), is a rare condition."

Christianity is far from rare. There are Christians all over the world, from all walks of life who have no direct links other than their faith, and nothing else in common.

"The delusions are induced in the secondary case and usually disappear when the people are separated."

This has not occurred with Christians. In fact, the opposite is often true. Even when Christians have been arrested, and put in solitary confinement (sometimes for years) tortured and mistreated, with absolutely NO other Christians or loved ones to talk to, their beliefs do not "disappear." In fact, such Christians often become even more certain of their faith.

"In most cases, the person in whom the delusions are induced is dependent on or submissive to the person with the psychotic disorder."

This is not how the Christian faith works or is shared. (Not when its shared as it should be). Christians see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and a true Christian does not demand that another Christian simply submit to their authority in all things. Interestingly enough, Christianity thrives the most in persecution, when those in power are telling Christians NOT to believe and threatening them with torture, imprisonment and even death if they don't renounce their faith.

"The people involved often are reclusive or otherwise isolated from society and have close emotional links with each other."

Christians are far from reclusive or isolated from society, quite the opposite actually. We live in the same world you do and we freely engage with those who do not share our beliefs. There are Christians in all workplaces and public spheres, we do not just hide away. (Which is why there is a site like this for example, and many Christians here who freely engage with those who do not believe as they do.)

Christianity fails to meet the specifications of folie a deux. And this is why you will not find any reputable source that says differently.

It is also why you will not find Christianity listed as a mental disorder in the DSM-5.

I stand by my position. Christianity is NOT a mental illness.

Then you didn't go to a very good college.

Actually, I did. How do you know otherwise?

 

[rjs330]

Indeed, but it is not possible to choose to believe that he exists

If course it is. If it is true that God does not exist then the Christians have chosen to believe he does. According to athiests there is no evidence that God exists. If that is true then Christians have chosen to believe he does. If that is true then you can chose to believe if you want to.

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