The role of psychotic disorders in religious history considered.

Psychological characteristics of religious delusions.

Notice it's a month of God. Not a month of Jesus. A month of Jesus would mean caring for the poor, that's not what they want to do.

Today we meet another pastor who’s found a way to monetise every aspect of his Christian faith. He has some wise words for us on the demonic items you should get rid of, such as Dungeons and Dragons, horror movies and anything vaguely Native American.

https://youtu.be/xfjnWm0D2FQ

Religion and Mental Illness How we define hyper religious and what does that mean.

Generally a "cult" is based upon a single charismatic leader with direct access to God. A cult becomes a religion when it burns its first heretic.

Today we're taking a look at Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke's outlandish conspiracies about witches in his church making him sick and taking over schools.

Religion, Spirituality, and Schizophrenia: A Review.

https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.11090214

Lion of Judah made an inflammatory video accusing the Olympic Opening ceremony of being a deliberate mockery of Christianity. He did not include the fact that the artist director denied there was an intentional link, the apology the committee made to anyone who was offended, or the original footage which shows that they were not at all “recreating” the Last Supper as he states as fact. Throw in some emotional piano music and you have a textbook manipulation from an end-is-nigh persecution-complex-driven Christian YouTuber.

The role of psychotic disorders in religious history considered.

The authors have analyzed the religious figures Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and St. Paul from a behavioral, neurologic, and neuropsychiatric perspective to determine whether new insights can be achieved about the nature of their revelations. Analysis reveals that these individuals had experiences that resemble those now defined as psychotic symptoms, suggesting that their experiences may have been manifestations of primary or mood disorder-associated psychotic disorders. The rationale for this proposal is discussed in each case with a differential diagnosis. Limitations inherent to a retrospective diagnostic examination are assessed. Social models of psychopathology and group dynamics are proposed as explanations for how followers were attracted and new belief systems emerged and were perpetuated. The authors suggest a new DSM diagnostic subcategory as a way to distinguish this type of psychiatric presentation. These findings support the possibility that persons with primary and mood disorder-associated psychotic symptoms have had a monumental influence on the shaping of Western civilization. It is hoped that these findings will translate into increased compassion and understanding for persons living with mental illness.

Today we're following the story of a study into the Accelerated Christian Education system, the harm they cause pupils and the claims their textbooks make, including that man-made climate change is a myth and evolution is "impossible".

Religious psychopathology: The prevalence of religious content of delusions and hallucinations in mental disorder.

I thought we'd take a look at a nice animated tale of the easter story. Then I found some AI generated ones, so we're watching those instead. Prepare to have your face melted.

Religious delusions: Signs and when to seek help.

Christian Youtuber Logan Mayberry released a video claiming he met Jesus and Satan, and filmed it. Is it just clickbait? Has he had a remarkable religious experience, or is his newfound faith an avenue to get more clicks on the internet?

Religious schizophrenia: How religion and spirituality can affect symptoms.

Today we're taking another stab at answering some more excellent questions on Quora, such as "Do ghosts watch us?" and "I am being attacked by a black magic death hex.

Religious Delusions in Bipolar Disorder.

Understanding and addressing religion among people with mental illness.

This article reviews recent advances in the domain of psychiatry and religion that highlight the double-edged capacity of religion to enhance or damage health and well-being, particularly among psychiatric patients. A large body of research challenges stereotyped views of religion as merely a defense or passive way of coping, and indicates that many people look to religion as a vital resource which serves a variety of adaptive functions, such as self-regulation, attachment, emotional comfort, meaning, and spirituality. There is, however, a darker side to religious life. Researchers and theorists have identified and begun to study problematic aspects of religiousness, including religiously-based violence and religious struggles within oneself, with others, and with the divine. Religious problems can be understood as a by-product of psychiatric illness (secondary), a source of psychiatric illness (primary), or both (complex). This growing body of knowledge underscores the need to attend more fully to the potentially constructive and destructive roles of religion in psychiatric diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. In fact, initial evaluative studies of the impact of spiritually integrated treatments among a range of psychiatric populations have shown promising results. The article concludes with a set of recommendations to advance future research and practice, including the need for additional psychiatric studies of people from diverse cultures and religious traditions.

Keywords: Religion, spirituality, religious resources, religious coping, religious struggles, religiously-based violence, religious assessment, spiritually integrated treatment

Examining the Complex Relationship Between Religion and Mental Health.

How Religious Groups Can Stigmatize, Mistreat, and Cause Mental Health Conditions.

Religious groups aspire to be agents of psychological and spiritual healing. Yet frequently they stigmatize people who suffer from mental health conditions or problems as sinful, demonically influenced, and weak-willed. Depression, anxiety, psychosis, and addiction are treated as symptoms of sin, and people who suffer from them are offered religious remedies that often do little to help, or make things worse, because they fail to address underlying psychological or medical causes. Additionally, religious fear- and control- based teachings can be so psychologically damaging as to create mental health disorders in otherwise healthy individuals or exacerbate latent and preexisting conditions in vulnerable and sensitive individuals.

The "Unholy Trinity" of religion, wealth, and politics is a concept that suggests these three forces are intertwined and can be used to exert control or influence over individuals and societies. It's a common critique in discussions about power structures and how they operate, particularly in the context of societal control.

By aligning these three forces, those in power can exert control over individuals through a combination of religious indoctrination, economic dependence, and political oppression.

A History of Private Schools/Segregation/Evangelical Academies and Race in the American South..

The goal of these evangelical schools was not a “better form of education” but denial of education. It was meant to prevent students from learning any facts contrary to the extremist beliefs of the evangelical Right. They know education is their enemy and openly preached as much. I heard megachurch pastors lamenting from the pulpit how “godly children sent off to college” leave the church and the true faith and no longer obey “God’s man” as God demands. The prevention of knowledge is their ultimate agenda.

They mention that in 1979 he “invited other like-minded individuals to a meeting, where they formed an organization known as the Moral Majority” in order to take over the Republican Party and eventually the nation. They now have full control of the GOP and are set on corrupting the judiciary to prevent Constitutional government and allow theocracy. Their goal is to take over America completely and then reveal their full agenda for the first time. Until then they advised lying about their goals.

To accomplish their goals they must also do the same to public schools and that is where the Republican Party is in full cooperation with them. Across the country the same ignorant fanatics are getting books pulled from libraries. They are banning any discussion about the racist laws that impacted black Americans. They are restricting what teachers may say or insisting they must bully trans kids by misgendering them. Republicans are turning state education into a hell controlled by rabid evangelicals out to theocratize the nation.

I frequently heard these far right theocrats preach the purpose of Christian schools was NOT education per se but a “greenhouse” to protect “young plants” from an education that said anything contrary to the far right religious agenda of the Moral Majority. Their goal was to prevent education, not give it. This may explain the utter lack of science classes or even basic mathematics at the school. But we did have an hour-long sermon preached every day of the week. There was a lot of the Bible, no science and no real education of which to speak. The goal was to channel all students into the church college upon graduation so they could be either preachers or teachers if male or teachers or an obedient pastor’s wife if female.