Debate:Is Christianity a mental illness?

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This article will no doubt create controversy. YAY!!!! Lets piss some people off. It is essentially a response of this bullshit.

http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservapedia:Is_homosexuality_a_mental_illness?

My basis for it is this - On conservapedia, if you beleive in flying monkeys that inhabit the moon which is made of cheese, you are certifiably cookoo. But, if you DONT think that a big flying guy made the world in exactly 168 hours you're also cookoo. Conservapedia's basis for their argument....A two thousand year old book. So. Is Christianity a mental illness? In my oh so humble opinion - Exactly as much as homosexuality.

(Not really a serious debate but a question of opinion in relation to the conservapedia article)

No, not really

At least, not as such. If you believe that your own beliefs are correct, and everyone else is wrong, and that you wish to make public policy based on this, you're a wanker, but probably not crazy. -- -PalMD ^{--'scuse me, while I kiss the sky} 18:13, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

• coughHuckabeecough* Although by the same respect, were Richard Dawkins appointed president he would no doubt force his opinions upon us there-by making him just as wanker-y as the other end of the spectrum, no? --Storytellershrink 18:19, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Probably not Dawkins. Now, Sam Harris or Chris Hitchens on the other hand, I wouldn't be so certain. --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 18:26, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

It's hardly a mental illness, and we don't have to define ourselves by CP - a website I hardly ever visit. I happen to think Christians are wrong, but I think many groups are wrong - that doesn't make them mentally ill or make me sane. I also rather doubt that, in the somewhat improbable event that Richard Dawkins became US president he would legally oblige people to become atheists.--Bob^{bing up} 18:30, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

(It's not just improbable, it's impossible. Gots to be a natural-born citizen for that job) human 18:53, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Not Dawkins per se, just any radical atheist. Like a Sean Hannity of atheism, if you will. Dawkins would not be a very good president in my opinion but i'd rather him than Hannity. It's not a mental illness. And neither is homosexuality. The fact that anyone even answered "Yes" to the debate on CP shows a few things, and RW wouldn't seem like it would do such a thing to Christianity --Storytellershrink 18:35, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Well, it is Ed Poor who started it, so that's pretty much what you'd expect. --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 18:39, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

I was also moderately amused to see Karajou post this little bit on December 25th. Really getting into the spirit of Christmas there. "Your rants have been... noted!" [cue ominous string music] --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 18:44, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Actually, now that I think about this a bit more you can't really compare homosexuality and Christianity an you? OK, I know that some studies have suggested there may be a genetic component in religious belief (or non-belief) but it's hardly convincing. These things are really an intellectual choice. Whereas being homosexual is really thrust on you. But that still doesn't make any of them an illness.--Bob^{bing up} 18:51, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Exactly. In my opinion. --Storytellershrink 18:52, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Odd beliefs (most of us have some) are not pathologic. In fact, religion is probably an evolved behavior, and an adaptive one at that. Many mentally ill people are sucked into religion (see CP) but that's a different story.-- -PalMD ^{--'scuse me, while I kiss the sky} 18:56, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Radical evangelical atheism

I have seen what might seem to be like this - in the children's essay competitions sponsored by FFRF. They read just like YEC homskollar screeds, only on the other side. So what do I think? Is "Christianity" a mental illness? Of course not. Heck, in its mellower, more "modern" or "liberal" iterations, it's no big deal. Even in its extremist (YEC, etc.) versions, it's more the result of isolation and highly effective brainwashing techniques. Anyone can be closedminded about something, does that make them mentally ill? Einstein's difficulty accepting QM, say?

One thing I would like to reiterate -- "Christianity" is far from a monolithic concept. To react to, say, the crazies at CP and tar all Christians with that brush isn't just weak argumentation, it is willfully ignorant. (Same goes for tarring all conservatives with the Andy-loon brush). After all, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Christian, and we seem to like him, atheist, agnostic, and theist alike, on this site. Was he mentally ill? human 19:03, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Yes. Dr. King was the good christian, of which there are many. The vast majority are normal, sane people. The same way with gays, atheists, Muslims, men, women (insert miscelanious group of people whom can spell miscellaneous). There are nutters in all those groups as well. So. I'll revise the title, while keeping the same subject as well. "Do idiotic christians have mental illness'?"

How about "Are mentally ill Christians mentally ill due to their religion?" human 19:16, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

You might equally as usefully ask "Are idiots mentally ill". Or are fanatic (insert the ideology of your choice) mentally ill?--Bob^{bing up} 19:20, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

I think mentally ill folks are drawn to radical religions, but still, relgion =/= mental illness. It just doesn't make much sense. Also, it would be giving the assflys of the world way to easy a pass.-- -PalMD ^{--'scuse me, while I kiss the sky} 19:26, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

It is a sure sign of mental illness when someone believes himself to be a Christian, yet eschews the love, forgiveness and mercy Jesus championed in favor of an obsessive hatred of liberals, gays, Moslems. Professes to follow a prophet who commanded we turn the other cheek yet supports war over diplomacy in t he name of "reallism" or "patriotism". Bizarro Ed^{Alternate Realities} 19:28, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

Your interpretation might lead to a significant increase in the diagnosis of mental illness in the US.--Bob^{bing up} 19:31, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

(ignorance ^ brainwashing (^ disagrees with me)) =/= mental illness either. human 19:36, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

But log_wooothering=prejudice², surely? --מְתֻרְגְּמָן ^{שְׁלֹום}

Gief tranzlashun to the matematically incompetent, plz?. --AKjeldsen^Godspeed! 20:08, 17 March 2008 (EDT)

"^" = "or". The symbol is actually supposed be more like an inverted "V", though. If I remember correctly from 30 years ago :) human 20:24, 17 March 2008 (EDT)