Thomas Szasz (a notable psychiatrist) famously said:
Question: Are there any exceptions to this rule? Can you claim God talks to you without being considered a schizophrenic? If so, how?
I think it's a matter of how many people believe you, which determines how society labels you. I think the difference between being written off as a schizophrenic and being considered a prophet is simply a matter of numbers. Televangelist crooks say stuff like "God wants me to raise a million dollars" - if I said that I'd be considered psychotic so why not them? Maybe because it's so obvious that it's a lie and that they are clearly liars rather than psychotics?
Perhaps the purpose of being able to perform miracles is to let the masses know you are of God rather than a psychotic? Would people have paid attention to Jesus if he could not perform miracles? Miracles were a big part of his ministry and I don't think it could have worked out without them...
I'm interested in this issue as I have been diagnosed as having schizophrenia, although I don't believe the entity who communicates with me is God, although I did used to...
If you talk to God, you are praying; If God talks to you, you have schizophrenia...
Question: Are there any exceptions to this rule? Can you claim God talks to you without being considered a schizophrenic? If so, how?
I think it's a matter of how many people believe you, which determines how society labels you. I think the difference between being written off as a schizophrenic and being considered a prophet is simply a matter of numbers. Televangelist crooks say stuff like "God wants me to raise a million dollars" - if I said that I'd be considered psychotic so why not them? Maybe because it's so obvious that it's a lie and that they are clearly liars rather than psychotics?
Perhaps the purpose of being able to perform miracles is to let the masses know you are of God rather than a psychotic? Would people have paid attention to Jesus if he could not perform miracles? Miracles were a big part of his ministry and I don't think it could have worked out without them...
I'm interested in this issue as I have been diagnosed as having schizophrenia, although I don't believe the entity who communicates with me is God, although I did used to...