Are Religious Believers Prone To Delusion Disorders?
According to the below Abstract, the answer to the above question would be yes.
Just a quick note. In psychiatry delusional beliefs are broken down into “Non-Bizarre” – e.g. feelings of being followed – and “Bizarre” – e.g. alien contact.
The Prevalence of Delusion-Like Beliefs Relative to Sociocultural Beliefs in the General Population.
Pechey R, Halligan P.
School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract
Background: Delusions are defined as false beliefs different from those that almost everyone else believes. The aim was to develop a new measure (the Cardiff Beliefs Questionnaire, CBQ) to establish the range and prevalence of delusion-like beliefs (DLB) and compare these to other types of beliefs in the general population. Sampling and Methods: A total of 1,000 participants completed the CBQ, which uniquely assesses a broader range of currently held beliefs [delusion-like (bizarre and non-bizarre), paranormal and religious and general political/social beliefs) using this large stratified sample. Results: Strong belief in 1 or more DLB was reported by 39% of the participants (91% reporting ‘weak’, ‘moderate’ or ‘strong’ belief in at least 1 DLB). Moreover, 25% endorsed at least 1 bizarre DLB (76% one or more at any strength). Endorsements of DLB were strongly correlated with paranormal and religious beliefs but not general political/social beliefs. Conclusions: Both bizarre and non-bizarre DLB are frequently found in the general population, lending support to the psychosis continuum account and need to revise key clinical criteria used to diagnose delusions. The good psychometric properties demonstrated by the CBQ indicate that this measure is a useful tool to investigate the wider continuum of beliefs held in the general population.
I have commented on this blog in the past, my anecdotal observations of a disproportionate number of Christian in-patients on a psychiatric ward. This peculiarity has been verified once again since I last made that comment.
My militant atheist antagonists have used this to assert that a person must be prone to mental illness to accept the Christian narrative. My response is:
It is either that Christianity is the religion of the mad, which I’m happy with, or Christians are for some reason more prone to mental problems. Or perhaps Christ came for the sick…..
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
Suits me just fine.
January 31st, 2011 at 5:06 pm
Quite right! I’m happy with that too. Strength in weakness is at the heart of the Christian paradox.
January 31st, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Do we know what delusion-like beliefs (DLB) were part of the survey? For all we know, belief in the non-material may be included.
January 31st, 2011 at 5:23 pm
All I will say is that to be well adjusted to a maladjusted society is no adjustment at all. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
January 31st, 2011 at 5:25 pm
@Watchman, that’s a valid question.
I haven’t much to go on except for the abstract and so I’m presuming they majored on bizarre delusions that are very strange and completely implausible for the person’s culture.
January 31st, 2011 at 6:05 pm
It is rather awful that atheists feel no shame at putting this argument forward. After all, the Soviet Union followed their arguments, and put them into practice, using psychiatry as a method of torture to abuse Christians. No question, it seems, that atheists in the west would do the same, if only they had power.
I’m unconvinced about the argument that “more of those in mental hospitals are Christians”. Surely it is the case that many of those in mental hospitals have delusions which have a religious component?
January 31st, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Webmaster, I had to leave a comment when I saw the scripture you quoted. It was part of the reading for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time at Mass yesterday in the US.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/013011.shtml
January 31st, 2011 at 10:13 pm
Suits me too, after all they said Jesus was mad !!
February 1st, 2011 at 7:56 am
I think people of an artistic temperament are more likely to suffer from mental illness. They are also more likely to explore spirituality so more likely to be religious. So I would expect the percentage of mental patients with an interest in religion to be higher than the population average. Its not a significant statistic.
There is a consultant psychiatrist giving a talk at a local church in a few weeks about these sort of issues. I might pop along and see what he has to say.
Of course, the church has a poor record of handling mental health issues. I must write about my own experience, but to summarise:
After telling my minister I was being treated for depression and really felt that I needed to feel involved with other people, he told me to have no contact with anyone else in the church in case they caught it from me.
This was not an isolated incident and they undoubtedly led to me being ill for longer. Sad to say, if I had stayed away from church I would have got better quicker.
I found this book very helpful in my recovery:
Why do Christians shoot their wounded?
February 1st, 2011 at 8:02 am
@Gordon, I’ve quoted from that excellent book in the past:
Exposing the Myth that Christians Should Not Have Emotional Problems
February 1st, 2011 at 8:05 am
Sorry, forgot that you had mentioned it. I think every minister should be given a copy.
I am going to write an article over the next week or so about my experiences in this area.
February 1st, 2011 at 8:07 am
Oh don’t worry Gordon, It’s worth mentioning over and again.
I’ll keep an eye out for yout post.