Religion and mental health

[Remté]

Actually it would. Such as, those with psychotic disorders or manic episodes may state they are fine, happy, and feeling great, but in such episodes we tend to see a range of destructive behaviors. Those with autism tend to not be very good at identifying their emotional states. Maybe not by much, but it's definitely something that should be monitored for.

How many people going through psychosis or a manic episode should expect to be filling the questionnaire? Not many. And most psychotic people/people in a psychosis aren't happy.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

How many people going through psychosis or a manic episode should expect to be filling the questionnaire? Not many.

I very much doubt they asked people to disclose that information.

And most psychotic people/people in a psychosis aren't happy.

It's really not easy to dismiss so generally like that. When you lose touch with reality your emotional state it's pretty much impossible to make a generalized statement about how people are feeling at this exact moment.

 

[Remté]

I very much doubt they asked people to disclose that information.

It's really not easy to dismiss so generally like that. When you lose touch with reality your emotional state it's pretty much impossible to make a generalized statement about how people are feeling at this exact moment.

In general people who are in touch with psychotic people and/or people in a psychosis can verify that they cannot be considered happy - but the opposite. They are suffering.

The amount of manic people would be statistically small and the amount of those likely to fill the questionnaire even smaller.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

In general people who are in touch with psychotic people and/or people in a psychosis can verify that they cannot be considered happy - but the opposite. They are suffering.

The amount of manic people would be statistically small and the amount of those likely to fill the questionnaire even smaller.

People who are psychotic often do suffer. But it isn't unusual if they don't realize it. And as for how many people who were manic and answered the questionnaire? Perhaps not many, but it's very doubtful they asked. I only brought it up because it is a possibility that could skew the study by a few points. And why I also brought it up by state, and then mentioned that the most atheist region on the Earth, Scandinavia, for at least several years now has placed its nations on top of the world in terms of happiness and wellness.
I've noticed people are focusing on the lesser and weaker argument I presented, and not addressing the stronger ones.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Read an interesting research article concerning religion and its influences on mental health from the Indian (that is Indian from the country of India) perspective. According to the article, religious beliefs and practices often contribute to the development of some psychiatric disorders in regards to maladaptive behaviors like obsessions, anxiety and depression. Citing Freud, he believed that there was a similarity between obsessive behavioral patterns and religious practices in their fixed character which can potentially lead to anxiety if a specific action is not properly performed. An example is Dhat syndrome, which is a condition where males report of having premature ejaculation or impotence where they believe they are passing semen through urine. According to the research article:

"An average Hindu grows in an environment where sex outside marriage is identical to sin. The guilt is overpowering and becomes an integral part of his psychological development. We see the repercussion in the form of sexual hypochondriasis. Sexual hypochondriasis Dhat (WIG 1958) is common in India. There is multiple neurasthenic symptoms associated with passage of semen in urine. It occurs in young Indian males. A history of masturbation and night emissions are present."

I thought this brought an interesting dynamic to the discussion of the influences of religion when it comes to mental health. Although several studies have shown that religion plays an important part in the daily function of people, it can also serve as a catalyst for psychiatric disorders. The full research article could be looked at here:Religion and mental health

Thoughts?

What do you think of this?

“Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.”


Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Bahá’u’lláh

 

[Epic Beard Man]

What do you think of this?

“Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.”


Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Bahá’u’lláh

What do you mean what I think about it? Schools are there to teach children about the basics of language, mathematics, social interaction, brief understanding of history both worldly and local. Religion at least depending on the grade level ought to be taught in relation to its historical significance to events in the world that shaped societies but it’s in-depth approach into the plausibility of said religion should be left to the parents.

Parents are the first teachers, and any significant life altering teachings should be the responsibility of the parents not teachers.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Parents are the first teachers, and any significant life altering teachings should be the responsibility of the parents not teachers.

I would say people had a rather unfortunate education if they never had a teacher who provided just the right words to challenge a student in a life altering way.

 

[loverofhumanity]

What do you mean what I think about it? Schools are there to teach children about the basics of language, mathematics, social interaction, brief understanding of history both worldly and local. Religion at least depending on the grade level ought to be taught in relation to its historical significance to events in the world that shaped societies but it’s in-depth approach into the plausibility of said religion should be left to the parents.

Parents are the first teachers, and any significant life altering teachings should be the responsibility of the parents not teachers.

I agree that parents must choose the education of the child. I was just pointing out that whoever teaches religion to children should avoid making them fanatical and bigoted.

 

[Remté]

I agree that parents must choose the education of the child. I was just pointing out that whoever teaches religion to children should avoid making them fanatical and bigoted.

That's probably only done by people who wouldn't know the difference anyway. If they can't abuse their children with religion they'll find another way.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I would say people had a rather unfortunate education if they never had a teacher who provided just the right words to challenge a student in a life altering way.

Again like I said it depends on the grade of the child. If I am a progressive liberal yet I have a good teacher who exercises their “conservatism” in class, I’d be upset just as I’d be upset if a liberal shared their political leanings. Mind you in my mind I’m referring to grade school.

 

[Valjean]

Facts should be taught as facts; folklore as folklore.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Again like I said it depends on the grade of the child. If I am a progressive liberal yet I have a good teacher who exercises their “conservatism” in class, I’d be upset just as I’d be upset if a liberal shared their political leanings. Mind you in my mind I’m referring to grade school.

I wasn't necessarily thinking politics (though in government, I had an "old school" Conservative teacher who set that aside and taught from the books, taught how things actually work, and taught how to be a responsible civil student). Such as, I had one teacher who asked me straight up why I hadn't read much poetry, and I think he knew I was incapable of giving any valid excuses. And so I started to read poetry after that.

 

[David1967]

Citing Freud, he believed that there was a similarity between obsessive behavioral patterns and religious practices in their fixed character which can potentially lead to anxiety if a specific action is not properly performed.

I agree. I have said before that some religious rituals reek of OCD.