Friday 30 August 2013

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS

RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLNESS


RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM IS A WORLD WIDE DISEASE THAT IS AFFECTING CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM, JUDAISM ETC.

AS YOU AN SEE FROM THE COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG WE GET THE OCCASIONAL FUNDAMENTALIST BLOGGER ON HERE.

A FUNDAMENTALIST IS A MAN OR A WOMAN WHO HAS AN ABSOLUTELY BLIND BELIEF IN THEIR OWN RELIGION OR BELIEF SYSTEM - AND WHO WILL NOT TOLERATE THE THOUGHT THAT THEIR RELIGION / BELIEF SYSTEM MIGHT HAVE GRAVE FAULTS WITHIN IT.

FUNDAMENTALISM IS A PSYCHOLOGICAL DISEASE - AND EVEN OCCASIONALLY A DANGEROUS MENTAL DISEASE.


CATHOLIC FUNDAMENTALISTS BELIEVE THAT GOD IS A ROMAN CATHOLIC AND THAT THEIR CHURCH IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH - AND THAT OUTSIDE THAT CHURCH THERE IS NO CHANCE OF GOING TO HEAVEN. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR POPE, BISHOPS AND CLERGY CAN DO NO WRONG. THEY BELIEVE THAT THE BODY, WOMEN, SEX ETC ARE ALL "BAD". IN ONE WORD - THEY ARE SO PURE THEY ARE WICKED.

THE PROTESTANT BIBLE THUMPING EVANGELICALS ARE JUST AS BAD AND JUST AS CRAZY. THEY HATE CATHOLICS AND BELIEVE THAT CATHOLICS WILL GO TO HELL. THEY FEEL THE NEED TO IMPOSE THEIR NASTY, NARROW-MINDED THEORIES ON THE REST OF US. THEY ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS AND IF YOU TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE THEY HAVE A KIND OF STRANGE GLAZE OVER THEIR EYES. THEY SPEND THEIR LIVES HATING PLEASURE AND TRYING TO GET THE REST OF US TO TURN OUR BACK ON PLEASURE. THEY ARE PATHETIC.


MIND YOU ITS VERY HARD TO BEAT THE MUSLIMS WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDAMENTALISM - WITH THEIR HOLY WARS, MARTYRS AND 72 VIRGINS WAITING THEM WHEN THEY DIE. WORLD WAR 111 WILL PROBABLE BE THE RESULT OF THE CLASH BETWEEN THE WEST AND ISLAM. 

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CRAZY JEWS IN ISRAEL - WITH THEIR HATRED OF ISLAM, PALESTINE AND ALL THINGS ANTI-ISRAEL. SOMETIMES YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THEY ARE JUST ITCHING TO USE THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS :-(


I OFTEN ASK MYSELF WHERE RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM COMES FROM? I THINK IT COMES FROM THINGS LIKE:

1. WEAK MINDEDNESS - PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

2. THE CRAVING FOR "CERTAINTY" - PEOPLE WHO CANNOT HANDLE LIFE'S            UNCERTAINTIES AND ALL THE "UNKNOWNS" ON LIFE'S JOURNIES.

3. LOW SELF ESTEEM - PEOPLE WHO THINK SO LITTLE OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY NEED TO BE PART OF A BIG GANG OR HERD THAT BULLIES OTHER PEOPLE.

4. PASSIVE- AGGRESSIVE DISORDER - PASSIVE PEOPLE TRYING TO HAVE POWER.

5. SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION - PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT MATURED SEXUALLY AND NEED TO DEPEND ON SOME GREAT BIG ETERNAL "DADDY"

ONE OF MY PROFESSORS IN THE SEMINARY USED TO SAY THAT IF SOMEBODY EVER CAME INTO CONFESSION AND TOLD US THAT THEY HAD A "FAITH" PROBLEM WE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SUSPECT THAT THEY HAD A "SEXUAL PROBLEM.

6. THE FEAR OF PLEASURE.

7. THE FEAR OF DEATH AND BEING WIPED OUT.

I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE CAUSES FOR RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM.

WHAT ARE THE CURES? I CAN SUGGEST A FEW:

1. EDUCATION.

2. EXPOSURE - OVER A LONG PERIOD TO OTHERS WHO THINK COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAT YOU DO.

3. HAVING SOME "BAD HABITS" - LIKE SMOKING OR DRINKING.

4. TAKE A COURSE IN HOW TO EMBRACE THE PLEASURES OF LIFE.

5. HAVE A REASONABLY SATISFACTORY SEX LIFE.

6. DEVELOP A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR AND BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF.


AFTER THAT - I'M OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS :-)





42 comments:

  1. Religion comes from the latin religio to tie back. Christianity is not a religion the true sense of the word but a following. A following of Jesus Christ risen. I am working from memory but was it the ancient Japanese women who tied their limbs back in order to keep them small? The point I am trying to make is that tying humanity down or back is against everything Jesus & God stand for. To live is to be. To alive is to become...becoming for a rational creature is to embark on a journey of growth & love that will never end. Through Christ the garden of Eden is being restored. God saw all He made and it was good. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Fundamentalism belies the living God. Sean

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  2. Once again, spot on Pat. Made me laugh too. Reminds me of De Mello. I fundamentally belive the bible and all the other 'holy' books should be substituted for 'awareness' and 'a new earth', to throw in some tolle. But thats just me. Oh and buckly should be required text for anyone old enough to doubt the tooth fairy and adam and eve etc. Seamus heaney, ever read anyof his stuff? Must do sometime myself. Nite! Sean.

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  3. Bishop Pat. Just catching up with the amusing posts and comments on here. It's the man with the direct line to God. No money for a call required, no satellite needed, no priests or preachers necessary. Just a wee 'Hallo God" every morning and a wee "Thanks for today God" every night. Ain't that simple. I don't need to get my knickers in a twist about theology, bigotry, fundamentalism and couldn't give a damn if Cliftonville beat Linfield. Love life, never feel lonely 'cos I know that although I forget about God sometimes he never forgets about me. So while half the world are wasting energy on the study of theology, canon law, dogmatic or systemic theology (What a fuckin waste of time), propagating their own futile points of view I use my energy to help others and enjoy myself. Keep it simple !!

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    1. Praise Da Lord!A practical person with some common sense, Keep it Simple. I had an idea once of taking the principles of Alcohololics Anonymous (12 steps) & adapting them into a format where people of all denominations & none could come & share enlighting texts including the Bible & praise God in a broad ecumenicaal & respectful way. If you are interested in following up on this one M* Anonymous I'm sure Bishop Pat will be kind enough to pass you my details. I'm also on Twitter as @page3onrvr. I tend to use twitter in fits & starts though & I will keep an eye out for a direct message request if you want to send me one. Sean

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  4. Pat, The poster above who says keep it simple offers probably the best advice I've read on here. His or her outlook is spot on. getting all heated up about religion and all the crap which goes with it is way above my pay grade. from now on the bishops can be as gay as they want, the priests can shag each other to death and the boys from the bible belt and the nether regions of Co Antrim can do what they want with farmyard animals if that's their thing. I'm looking out for me. Terry

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  5. And a cock a doodle doo to you sir! The best christian witness we can give is the quality & direction of our own lives. All this stuff about shagging etc is going up a side street. If we are Christian we will be respectful in all areas including th'auld shag. PS this does not diminish any of the fun content nor does it put your imortal soul in danger of damnation. Sean aka D.A.Sheep

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  6. The vast majority of us who find comfort in our spiritual beliefs and philosophical contemplations, often hang our heads in shame when associated with the venom of hate-filled fanatics. But it seems the nature of extremist belief, may have more to do with neurological disorder than a devoted understanding of scripture.

    Leading Oxford University neurologist Kathleen Taylor has posited in her new book The Brain Supremacy that religious fundamentalism may soon be an identifiable "mental disorder” — and curable as an illness.

    George

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  7. Religious fundamentalists, are not able to differinciate fantasy, from reality. So of course it is a mental disorder and should be treated as such.

    Perhaps your society falls into this disorder.

    PP

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    1. Dear PP,

      I'd be interested to know why you think The Oratory Society might be labelled religious fundamentalists ?

      Pat

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    2. Fundamentalism is definitely not a fantasy. Fantasies tend to wander a bit like dreams. Fundamentalism is so concrete it is devoid of life. In my opinion the Oratory is inclusionist if there is such a word. A fundamentalist who can not differentiate between fantasy & reality is a liability to themselves and any organisation they may be part of.

      Delete
  8. Using that logic, than nationalism is also a mental disorder. There is no "we"; there are only individuals living within arbitrary borders.

    Fra

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    Replies
    1. Fra,

      I get your point.

      I think that extreme nationalism might be an example

      Such as the extreme British and Irish nationalists in N Ireland?

      Pat

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    2. Spot on Pat. The Church like the Government or NHS are also organisations because of how we as humans organise ourselves. Fundamentalists/extremists can & do pop up in all shapes & sizes all over the place. Sean

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  9. This sounds like quackery of the worst kind. Maybe anti-government beliefs are also disorders that need to be "cured?" Am I mentally ill because I do not support the Peace Process here and want to see a united Ireland? Am I extreme?

    Fra

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    Replies
    1. Fra,

      I'm sure you support Peace and Justice.

      You are quite entitled not to support what is called the "Peace Process".

      There is nothing wrong with the aspiration to see a United Ireland.

      Personally I would like to see a New Ireland

      Pat

      Delete
  10. When we START with the premise that the things we find offensive and objectionable are abnormal we can end up in some pretty dark places. When we try to marginalize and delegitimize a thing just because we don't agree with it we will fall into error. Are there people who are truly mentally damaged that find there release in extreme ideologies? Sure. But to conclude from this that all such people who identify with the same or similar ideologies must be screwed up as well is obviously incorrect and I would question the intentions of those making such an assertion.
    Beating kids is wrong, but from there do we say that all those who believe in the discipline of spanking are mental themselves? Is that where this is going? Dark places.

    Kerry
    USA

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  11. If it is mental illness to believe in God and love Him with all our hearts, then let us all be crazy.

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    Replies
    1. No - but it might be a mental illness to love a God of your own making - rather than the real God ?

      Pat

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  12. The fundamentalist’s beliefs are often detached from the realities of the average person’s daily life and are often without logic. Both qualities define mental illness.

    Danny

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  13. If one person has an imaginary friend, they're insane. If a dozen people have the same imaginary friend, it's a cult. If millions of people have the same imaginary friend, it is religion.

    Atheist

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    Replies
    1. Nice one M* Atheist. I will remember & use your quote. But-as the cigarette said to the ashtray-Christianity is Not a religion. Sean

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  14. Where I have heard something similar? Oh yeah, that sort of language and reasoning was used in Soviet Union.

    "According to Robert van Voren, the political abuse of psychiatry in the USSR arose from the concept that people who opposed the Soviet regime were mentally ill (since there was no logical reason to oppose the sociopolitical system considered the best in the world). The diagnosis of sluggish schizophrenia (a concept developed by the Moscow School of Psychiatry and its chief, Andrei Snezhnevsky) furnished a framework for explaining this behavior."
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sluggishly_progressing_schizophrenia

    I would be careful about this kind of thinking.

    Margaret

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  15. religion is a form of brainwashing and in extreme cases like radical Islam it's used as a weapon. the only way to eradicate the problem is to remove the mullahs who peddle the poison on the ignorant youth who are brainwashed to follow. even the Catholics are controlled from Rome!

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  16. Really? Here in Ireland Catholics do what they want...there is no one going to arrest someone for not following their religion. That is the same for the other 1.3 billion Catholics around the world.

    However, under atheist regimes such as Stalin and Mao, millions were rounded and tortured and murdered. That is ultimate control..the power of life and death.

    Joyce

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    Replies
    1. Stalin was brought up in a strict Christian tradition -perfect proof that a Christian up-bringing is no inoculation against evil. Where do you think Stalin got his ideas - A rigid hierachy of kiss-up and kick down organised by a quixotic and ill tempered despot at the peak?

      And Ireland, the land of the free? Tell that to the Magdalene laundry girls. Tell it to every child abused by priests and then belted for saying so.

      Your religion is vile. Fortunately, the internet kills it just a little more each day.

      Delete
    2. When they came and cured the religious fundamentalists i didn't speak, because i'm not a religious fundamentalist. When they came and cured people beating their kids, i didn't speak because i don't beat kids. When they came and cured people who wear uggs i didn't speak because i don't wear uggs... and then, eventually, they came and cured me.

      Delete
  17. RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM - We do not need to look to far from our own front door! Legionaries of Christ, Opius Dei, Institute of the Incarnate Word, Neo Catechumenate, to mention but a few.

    Very dangerous groups who leave lifelong mental illness on a lot of young people who fall for the traps of orthodoxy!!

    Friend of the Oratory Society

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  18. Does that mean that Religious Fundamentalists will be able to claim sickness benefits? DLA here we come!!

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  19. Which is the standard ideology and the standard mind who will judge the "fundamentalism" of others and by who's authority can he claim that he is the standard and he has the right to judge and "cure" others?
    Interesting how a post modern relativist and libertarian society now wants to punish or "cure" the ones who don't fit in their template.

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  20. Fundamentalism is caused forced indoctrination. All religions do it - balance in all things. Anything in life can become a mental illness like food, sex, relationships, cleaning, thinking of ones health all the time, religion etc.

    What we all nedd in life in all aspects of our life are checks and balances!!

    Susan

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  21. Is liberalism is a mental disorder? All is fair in love and war Pat! Logic is logic - Assisstant.

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  22. The actual mental illness is liberalism - and it is now expressing itself to new heights by calling conservatism a mental illness!

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  23. The actual mental illness is liberalism - and it is now expressing itself to new heights by calling conservatism a mental illness!

    Kathleen

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  24. Initially, I thought you were addressing Muslim radicals, but I'm sure some people see all religious people as crackpots.

    I'm not sure if Catholicism fits the mold of fundamentalism in the strict sense, however. What would constitute a Catholic Fundamentalist? Attending daily Mass? Active participation in Pro- life causes? Or would it be reserved for the SSPX bunch?

    I won't mention any names, but on this blog I have witnessed Christian fundamentalists engage in behaviour that would suggest neurosis rather than any religious fervour. I believe many people mask their mental illness with religion to justify their narcissistic tendencies and nurture some superiority complex they may have. I've seen and expeirenced many Catholics of differing ranks do the same.

    Kate - Mental Health Nurse

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  25. I wonder if atheism could be curable. We could try electro-shock treatment. But we'd need some guinea pigs.
    Any volunteers?

    James

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  26. Who will decide what is religious fundamentalism?Perhaps the trusted government?
    Mike

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  27. Can a state be 'religiously fundamentalist'- any state that allows by law one religion to legally sell their mass and if anyone else does the same they are arrested and charged!!

    Scary - Oratory Friend

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  28. ! If there was no religious fundamentalism there would have been no crusades,no witches burned at the stake, no 6 million Jews killed by Hitler and most immediately no 9-11 attack. Yep they are nuts,all of them not just muslims .Waiting for Jesus and his white horse to spirit you to eternal paradise is an insane idea . So are the 73 virgins gathering to amuse you for killing a sufficient number of infidels .

    Just a though or two

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  29. Bishop Pat, I've had a wonderful day catching up with friends and I'm in great spirits. We talked about lots of things over a cracking meal tonight. Nobody mentioned religion, football etc. We talked about travel, Heaney, cooking programmes, The Arts etc. So I'm home now and decided to have a wee chuckle at your bloggers with some of them getting their knickers all twisted as they foist their correct opinions upon us all. My late father said opinions were like arses. Everyone has one and some are bigger than others .My dad taught me the rules of simple living. Not by his saying but by his example. As a young man he quickly rumbled organised religion and found he could contact and develop a great relationship with a loving God on his own. When he died there were no last rites but he went peacefully to his loving God with great calm and dignity. No requiem mass.( Not much use if the man "offering" it is a kiddie fiddler or living a life that's a lie !) So I do as dad did I keep it simple. So before saying thanks to my God for a great day I just had to have my last wee smile by reading your contributors as they get all heated up. Terry

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  30. Has poor Cardinal Brady , Ireland's catholic wounded healer. been sidelined or told to shut up and get out of the picture. Seems like Eamon Martin is now the man !!

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  31. Pat, Praise the Lord. The pressure of your blog drawing attention to the tawdry and shameful behaviour of the Lisbreen brigade has drawn action. Fr Hugh Kennedy is to return to the Cathedral. I'm sure the schola cantorum will raise the roof

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