Posted by:
Strykary
(
)
Date: December 07, 2011 02:52AM
This thread is mostly to satisfy my own curiosity about the subject that has been discussed on the board over the course of several days, centering around the issue of whether religious beliefs are delusional. I haven't read all of the threads pertaining to this issue, so I apologize if this has been discussed already.
In one of the threads, RAG made an interesting point that really stuck with me. "In other words, if a delusion is shared it's a religion. If not, it's a delusion. Pfffft. Somebody's playing politics with pathology, and that is NOT good science." (
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,356585,356619#msg-356619 ) Which demonstrates the issue with properly defining a term that is directly applicable to this discussion, and this brings me to the question that I have, because the issue is still quite hazy for me.
As it stands now, and as pointed out by RAG, many flawed and irrational beliefs are not considered delusional in the clinical sense; however, they are considered delusional by people on this board. Be they Mormon beliefs, Christian beliefs, Muslim beliefs, Scientologist beliefs, ad infinitum. For clarification, which term is being used, delusion as it pertains to clinical diagnosis, or delusion as it pertains to intellectual discussion? I.E "they're crazy." If it is being used in the clinical sense, what is the purpose of using it in such a way?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/07/2011 02:52AM by Strykary.