[Vision2020] An Open Letter [Continuing the Thread]

[Art Deco]

Ted,

Thank you for your reply.

The problem of defining "mental illness" is not an easy one to solve.  As far as I know, there is no general agreement about such a definition which is accepted by all those who can be rightly and credentially be called professional mental health professionals.

Most definitions however, recognize that a long term disconnect from "reality" meaning belief in the contradictory or unevidenced over a long period of time is part of the definition in some way.

There is no doubt that religious belief for many is a satisfying self-therapy in the form of a coping/defense mechanism against the rigors of life in a contingent universe.  I do not think these long range coping beliefs/behaviors are the most productive for many of these believers, but I respect their right to choose them but not their right to call them the "truth".

The real problem is the apodictic insistence that a particular untestable, unverifiable, etc superstitious/religious set of statements is the truth and that everyone should accept this dogma, even if such acceptance is to be coerced at the threat of social isolation, economic deprivation, physical punishment, etc, and/or death.

The material I posted author by Cult Attorney Gregor Dickison and blessed by the Cult Master himself clearly shows where the Christ Church Cult stands on such matters.

Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
deco at moscow.com



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: tbertruss at aol.com 
  To: deco at moscow.com 
  Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com 
  Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:07 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] An Open Letter [Continuing the Thread]


  Wayne, et. al.

  No need to pray for my indulgence, of course.  Maybe you meant that tongue in cheek.  I really don't mind your large colored font, though it does make me feel like I am reading a children's book.  But I like children's books.  And truth be told, I think some of the people you might be trying to reach with your large colored font are unconsciously thinking/feeling on the level of children, so I guess this fits!  I have often stated that God is for many believers a parent figure for adults who have not outgrown the needs of children for an all knowing guiding hand in life.  I suspect you might agree with this.

  About religion and mental illness, I guess I disagree to some extent, because I know people who fervently believe in their faith who I do not think are mentally ill, who DO NOT DOUBT the truth of their faith, or if they do, they do not tell me.  So your qualification that for a religious believer to be "sane" they must admit the possibility of the falsehood of their beliefs I do not think always applies.  But I have a view of mental illness that is perhaps unusual, that includes irrationality as a normal part of the human condition, unavoidable to some extent.  I really do not care what a person believes or if they admit they might be wrong, under some circumstances, in regards to their sanity.  

  What I find "insane" is justifying doing harm that can be avoided to any living thing.  So if a Christian feels they listen to Jesus talk to them every night, with no doubt it is the word of God, and they live a life of kindness, gentleness and good will toward all living things, they are saner, to my way of looking at mental illness, then the most logical factual skeptical thinker in the world, who kicks his dog, yells at and neglects his wife and kids, and abuses our biosphere recklessly, contributing to species extinction, to make a million bucks off, for example, strip mining sites around the globe.

  I find the legal definition of sanity quite insane.  If someone with full rational capabilities and awareness commits a premeditated mass murder, the courts will say they are sane.  I think that this demonstrates they are more insane than a person who has impaired rational faculties and/or awareness who commits the same crime, though in the later case the courts may allow an insanity defense.

  I think you can understand what I am saying.  Maybe?

  Ted Moffett



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