From the Encyclopedia of Medicine:
April 7th, 2008 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lunadelcorvoAmerican Psychiatric Association Definition of "Delusion"
A delusion is an unshakable belief in something untrue. These irrational beliefs defy normal reasoning, and remain firm even when overwhelming proof is presented to dispute them. Delusions are often accompanied by hallucinations and/or feelings of paranoia, which act to strengthen confidence in the delusion. (*Key phrase deleted here. I'll come back to it in a minute*)
Wow. Am I the only one who sees that as a pretty spot-on definition of the kind of religiosity we see rampant today? I am referring here, to the Creationists (7 days? Talking snake? Really?) the Millenialists (Rapture? Dragons? Really?) and their ilk.
A delusion is an unshakable belief in something untrue. These irrational beliefs defy normal reasoning, and remain firm even when overwhelming proof is presented to dispute them. Delusions are often accompanied by hallucinations and/or feelings of paranoia, which act to strengthen confidence in the delusion. (*Key phrase deleted here. I'll come back to it in a minute*)
Wow. Am I the only one who sees that as a pretty spot-on definition of the kind of religiosity we see rampant today? I am referring here, to the Creationists (7 days? Talking snake? Really?) the Millenialists (Rapture? Dragons? Really?) and their ilk.
| Description Delusions are a common symptom of several mood and personality-related mental illnesses, including schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, shared psychotic disorder, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder. They are also the major feature of delusional disorder. Individuals with delusional disorder suffer from long-term, complex delusions that fall into one of six categories: persecutory, grandiose, jealousy, erotomanic, somatic, or mixed. There are also delusional disorders such as dementia that clearly have organic or physical causes. OK, this seems pretty straightforward. Read on. |
| Persecutory Individuals with persecutory delusional disorder are plagued by feelings of paranoia and an irrational yet unshakable belief that someone is plotting against them, or out to harm them. War on Christmas? Christians are 'persecuted?' "Watchers on the Walls?" |
| Grandiose Individuals with grandiose delusional disorder have an over-inflated sense of self-worth. Their delusions center on their own importance, such as believing that they have done or created something of extreme value or have a "special mission." The God that created and controls the WHOLE universe gives a hoot about you personally? You are a 'Warrior of God?' Save the children the unborn, the gays, etc., etc. |
| Jealousy Jealous delusions are unjustified and irrational beliefs that an individual's spouse or significant other has been unfaithful. Or perhaps that others are trying to undermine your 'eternal soul?' Or that your children are not faithful enough or obedient enough or are full of sin, which is why you have to beat them? |
| Erotomanic Individuals with erotomanic delusional disorder believe that another person, often a stranger, is in love with them. The object of their affection is typically of a higher social status, sometimes a celebrity. This type of delusional disorder may lead to stalking or other potentially dangerous behavior. Once again, the supposedly) infinite, all-powerful God od everything is interested in you? You pester this entity *constantly* in prayer, and develop obbsessive behaviors centered around that entity? You become convinced that you, personally, know that entity's wishes, and are prepared to fight and kill to carry out those wishes, by say, killing an abortion clinic doctor, or a gay man? |
Somatic Somatic delusions involve the belief that something is physically wrong with the individual. The delusion may involve a medical condition or illness or a perceived deformity. This condition differs from hypochondriasis in that the deformity is perceived as a fixed condition not a temporary illness. Such as 'original sin?' |
Mixed Mixed delusions are those characterized by two or more of persecutory, grandiose, jealousy, erotomanic, or somatic themes. |
Now, what did I leave out? The 'get out of jail free card' given to religion: Delusions are distinct from culturally or religiously based beliefs that may be seen as untrue by outsiders. Yes, you read that correctly. In other words, it's NOT A DELUSION IF ENOUGH OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE IT, TOO!!!! Kinda makes ya wonder if there is any hope for us at all, if we excuse behavior A in Person A because they do it in the name of religion, but if Person B exhibits the exact same behavior, we medicate them or lock them up... Thoughts? |
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good stuff
Date: April 7th, 2008 06:19 am (UTC)Spot on, I say!
Most folks who have the gumption to maintain a non-private on-line journal have at least a sliver of the Grandiose affliction, so we're all delusional--er, eccentric--in our own way. >;-)
I have my own particular outlook, which some would deem peculiar. I consider magic real, yet I believe in a different sort than the popularized Hollywood-whiz BANG-in your face-irrational kind. If I have a 'religion', it's nature and all of the lessons of the seasons and the wild kingdom.
In line with your excellent post, have you seen the documentary Jesus Camp? Watch it sometime if you've yet to see it. It's utterly disturbing and disgusting the way the children are indoctrinated into the really nutty Evangelical right-wing branch of Christianity.
*Hugs*
Re: Spot on, I say!
Date: April 7th, 2008 09:58 pm (UTC)Re: Spot on, I say!
Date: April 8th, 2008 04:46 pm (UTC)