Religious delusion: Any delusion with a religious or spiritual content. These may be combined with other delusions, such as grandiose delusions (the belief that the affected person was chosen by God, for example), delusions of control, or delusions of guilt. Beliefs that would be considered normal for an individual's religious or cultural background are not delusions.
Thanks.
Note how it says considered. Firstly by whom...
By anyone.
Doesn't follow. who gave the theist a free pass when it comes to delusion.
If one of my patients tells me that they pray to God every evening, I would categorize that as normal Christian behaviour; if they tell me that they heard God telling them to kill their children, I would recognize that as abnormal Christian thinking (and take appropriate action to protect the children).
That is only because you give the theist a free pass. You're basically going on the premise if the belief doesn't cause any harm, then let it go, but we know by the past it is far from harmless.
and secondly it goes again the commonly agreed dictionary definition of delusion,
That's because it a definition of a specific diagnostic category, it's not defining delusion itself.
Then they should not put it in the dictionaries. Give me a definition of delusion which is not your personal opinion. or a dictionary defined definition. You're just playing a semantics game.
Also you may want to look up "Delusional Disorder", these people are considered normal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusional_disorder The following can indicate a delusion:
<snip>
The majority above fit with the theist, so it is clear.
This a definition of a specific trait. You may disagree with it, but there it is. And as it stands, the average theist doesn't qualify:
Why not! Read on. You've not given me reasons why it doesn't apply, you've just said it doesn't apply.
1, The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force. Most Christians don't do this.
This is not true! Christians profess their beliefs to be true (without a shadow of a doubt) with this kind assurance, they are persistent and forceful. especially when it pertains to how they raise their children.
2, That idea appears to exert an undue influence on the patient's life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent. Changes in a new Christian's life are explicable.
Doesn't that depend on the christian denomination/cult. Define christian.
3, Despite his/her profound conviction, there is often a quality of secretiveness or suspicion when the patient is questioned about it. Most Christians aren't secretive.
Most christians are agnostic though they profess a gnostic belief. but when you breakdown there arguments they often come back, "I have faith god exist" which is an agnostic claim, because they are no longer professing they know god exists.
which is being secretive even if it is indirect.
4, The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive, especially about the belief. BudaiWiki
Picking out one religion, to what is stated as a symptom of delusional disorder, doesn't answer the claim made, don't for instance christians claim they are being oppressed, when it is actual they that are oppressing others.
5, There is a quality of centrality: no matter how unlikely it is that these strange things are happening to him, the patient accepts them relatively unquestioningly. Maybe.
Well, most American christian are literalists. accepting the whole bible as fact. and muslims are too, in regard to the faith. That is unquestioning belief.
6, An attempt to contradict the belief is likely to arouse an inappropriately strong emotional reaction, often with irritability and hostility. Many Christians don't do this. Old Church Guy, MagicMiles, Mooby...
Some maybe, however questioning someones belief is often met with complete and utter hostility, go to any christian site and see how much hostility you receive, simply for being a non-believer.
7, The belief is, at the least, unlikely, and out of keeping with the patient's social, cultural and religious background. Doesn't apply, obviously.
Agreed, I did state most would fit with the theist.
8, The patient is emotionally over-invested in the idea and it overwhelms other elements of their psyche. I know many moderate Christians in the UK who are not over-invested.
But what of other countries, I'm sure the USA is, and Africa too, to name just a few.
Theist surround themselves with the faith, so to say they are not emotionally invested is a fallacy. The very fact they believe says they are emotionally invested.
9, The delusion, if acted out, often leads to behaviors which are abnormal and/or out of character, although perhaps understandable in the light of the delusional beliefs. Obviously doesn't apply to mainstream Christians. Their large numbers establish their behaviour as normal.
But who decided they could have this free pass. it is a case of the emperors new clothes. If the majority of the world believed in fairies then it would be a normal belief, but would that make it any less a delusion.
10, Individuals who know the patient observe that the belief and behavior are uncharacteristic and alien. I don't see how a life-long Christian's beliefs could qualify as 'uncharacteristic' or 'alien'.
Again I did state that most fit the theist.
So no, the majority of those don't fit normal theists.
Ah but they do look again.
