Western Christianity as a Diagnosed Illness
G.D.O'Bradovich III
July 16, 2013
I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist. I have had no formal training on the subject, including my high school career where I took all science related classes that were offered, with varying degrees of success. However, I know that something is wrong with the world. Armed with this conviction and the ability to understand definitions, I will demonstrate that the mental health community knows (and has known since at least the 1970's) that Western Christianity is detrimental to mental health.
The reasons I have specified Western Christianity are two fold. I have not lived in Eastern Europe so I do not know if the illness is a manifestation of Christianity by its nature or only the Western branch of Christianity, i.e. Roman Catholics and Protestants. Secondly, I lived my life in the Midwest of the United States.
Per Wikipedia-
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms.
"Functional mental disorders" describes adherents of Western Christianity who are employed and attempt to be productive citizens.
"Socially acceptable norms" describes Western Christianity in the United States.
The reasons I have specified Western Christianity are two fold. I have not lived in Eastern Europe so I do not know if the illness is a manifestation of Christianity by its nature or only the Western branch of Christianity, i.e. Roman Catholics and Protestants. Secondly, I lived my life in the Midwest of the United States.
Per Wikipedia-
Neurosis is a class of functional mental disorders involving distress but neither delusions nor hallucinations, whereby behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms.
"Functional mental disorders" describes adherents of Western Christianity who are employed and attempt to be productive citizens.
"Socially acceptable norms" describes Western Christianity in the United States.
It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, and thus those suffering from it are said to be neurotic. The term essentially describes an "invisible injury" and the resulting condition.
It has perhaps been most simply defined as a "[1]poor ability to adapt to one's environment, [2] an inability to change one's life patterns, [3] and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality."
1. The world was created by God for my enjoyment and prosperity.
2. Many Western Christians refuse to work on a certain day of the week or acknowledge achievements not associated with Jesus, God, Church or the Bible.
3. Describes Western Christians behavior perfectly. These people do not use their mind in an attempt to enjoy different music, art, books, cultures, languages or thoughts.
It has perhaps been most simply defined as a "[1]poor ability to adapt to one's environment, [2] an inability to change one's life patterns, [3] and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality."
1. The world was created by God for my enjoyment and prosperity.
2. Many Western Christians refuse to work on a certain day of the week or acknowledge achievements not associated with Jesus, God, Church or the Bible.
3. Describes Western Christians behavior perfectly. These people do not use their mind in an attempt to enjoy different music, art, books, cultures, languages or thoughts.
If one is in the advanced stage of neurosis, then one becomes psychotic.
Psychosis refers to an abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic term for a mental state often described as involving a [4]"loss of contact with reality".
4. God is helping me or the Devil is hindering me or the belief that both are valid.
Psychosis refers to an abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic term for a mental state often described as involving a [4]"loss of contact with reality".
4. God is helping me or the Devil is hindering me or the belief that both are valid.
Psychosis may involve [5] delusional beliefs, some of which are[6] paranoid in nature.
5. God is going to punish me.
6. God and/or Satan is watching me so I should behave accordingly.
Based on the preceding six criteria, one could argue that Western Christianity is a diagnosed illness that ultimately leads from neurosis to psychosis. However, the following 24 criteria will expand upon and the previous six definitions and will conclusly demonstrate that Western Christianity is an illness of the mind.
5. God is going to punish me.
6. God and/or Satan is watching me so I should behave accordingly.
Based on the preceding six criteria, one could argue that Western Christianity is a diagnosed illness that ultimately leads from neurosis to psychosis. However, the following 24 criteria will expand upon and the previous six definitions and will conclusly demonstrate that Western Christianity is an illness of the mind.
The following is a list of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale with my commentary.
1
Somatic concern 2 Anxiety 3 Depression 4 Suicidality |
Degree of concern over present bodily health
Reported apprehension, tension, fear, panic or worry Include sadness, unhappiness, anhedonia and preoccupation with depressing topics (can't attend to TV or conversations due to depression), hopeless, loss of self-esteem (dissatisfied or disgusted with self or feelings of worthlessness) Expressed desire, intent, or actions to harm or kill self |
"I am sinful, I can never measure up."
"Am I doing every according to His Will?" "Better to be with the Lord than in the Devil's playground." |
5
Guilt 6 Hostility 7 Elated Mood 8 Grandiosity |
Overconcern or remorse for past behaviour
Animosity, contempt, belligerence, threats, arguments, tantrums, property destruction, fights, and any other expression of hostile attitudes or actions A pervasive, sustained and exaggerated feeling of well-being, cheerfulness, euphoria (implying a pathological mood), optimism that is out of proportion to the circumstances Exaggerated self-opinion, self-enhancing conviction of special abilities or powers or identity as someone rich or famous |
"I have sinned."
"I hate/distrust non Christians." "I know I am saved." "I am among the few that are saved." |
9
Suspiciousness 10 Hallucinations 11 Unusual thought content 12 Bizarre behaviour |
Expressed or apparent belief that other persons have acted maliciously or with discriminatory intent. Include persecution by supernatural or other non-human agencies
(e.g., the devil). Reports of perceptual experiences in the absence of relevant external stimuli Unusual, odd, strange, or bizarre thought content. Rate the degree of unusualness, not the degree of disorganisation of speech. Delusions are patently absurd, clearly false or bizarre ideas that are expressed with full conviction. Consider the individual to have full conviction if he/she has acted as though the delusional belief was true. Ideas of reference/persecution can be differentiated from delusions in that ideas are expressed with much doubt and contain more elements of reality. Include thought insertion,withdrawal and broadcast. Include grandiose, somatic and persecutory delusions even if rated elsewhere Reports of behaviours which are odd, unusual, or psychotically criminal. |
"Non Christians are tempting me to sin.
-see number 22. "God/Jesus talks to me." |
13
Self-neglect 14 Disorientation |
Hygiene, appearance, or eating behaviour below usual expectations, below socially acceptable standards or life threatening
Does not comprehend situations or communications, such as questions asked during the entire BPRS interview. Confusion regarding person, place, or time. Do not rate if incorrect responses are due to delusions. |
"This world is a hung heap and it does matter what happens to me, because eternity is better than this world."
|
15
Conceptual disorganisation 16 Blunted affect |
Degree to which speech is confused, disconnected, vague or disorganised. Rate tangentiality, circumstantiality, sudden topic shifts, incoherence, derailment, blocking, neologisms, and other speech disorders. Do not rate content of speech.
Restricted range in emotional expressiveness of face, voice, and gestures. Marked indifference or flatness even when discussing distressing topics. In the case of euphoric or dysphoric individuals, rate Blunted Affect if a flat quality is also clearly present |
no comment needed.
"It is not good for my soul to be involved with a sinful world and sinful people." |
17
Emotional withdrawal 18 Psycho Motor retardation 19 Tension 20 Uncooperativeness |
Deficiency in individual's ability to relate emotionally during interview situation. Use your own feeling as to the presence of an `invisible barrier' between individual and interviewer. Include withdrawal apparently due to psychotic processes.
Reduction in energy level evidenced by slowed movements and speech, reduced body tone, decreased number of spontaneous body movements. Rate on the basis of observed behaviour of the individual only. Do not rate on the basis of individual's subjective impression of his own energy level. Rate regardless of medication effects Observable physical and motor manifestations of tension, `nervousness' and agitation. Self-reported experiences of tension should be rated under the item on anxiety. Do not rate if restlessness is solely akathisia, but do rate if akathisia is exacerbated by tension Resistance and lack of willingness to co-operate with the interview. The uncooperativeness might result from suspiciousness. Rate only unco-operativeness in relation to the interview, not behaviours involving peers and relatives. |
"I hope I don't sin." "I am right and you are wrong." |
21
Excitement 22 Distractibility |
Heightened emotional tone or increased emotional reactivity to interviewer or topics being discussed, as evidenced by increased intensity of facial expressions, voice tone, expressive gestures or increase in speech quantity and speed.
Degree to which observed sequences of speech and actions are interrupted by stimuli unrelated to the interview. Distractibility is rated when the individual shows a change in the focus of attention as characterised by a pause in speech or a marked shift in gaze. Individual's attention may be drawn to noise in adjoining room, books on a shelf, interviewer's clothing, etc. Do not rate circumstantiality, tangentiality or flight of ideas. Also, do not rate rumination with delusional material. Rate even if the distracting stimulus cannot be identified. |
"Isn't great to know the Lord?"
see number 11 |
23
Motor hyperactivity 24 Mannerisms and posturing |
Increase in energy level evidenced in more frequent movement and/or rapid speech. Do not rate if restlessness is due to akathisia.
Unusual and bizarre behaviour, stylised movements or acts, or any postures which are clearly uncomfortable or inappropriate |
All psychiatrists and psychologists must know that Christians suffer from neuroses and psychoses. The difficulty these professionals face can be scarcely imagined by the public at large. These individuals did not go into their profession for glory or filthy lucre. They wanted to help people with their problems, to help them overcome their issues and become better people. Their intentions are altruistic in the highest sense. At what point did they realize that their patients suffer from only two conditions and these conditions have one source? This realization would not have happened during their collegiate career, but after they attained their degree and begun working with people.
This researcher does not expect a psychiatrist to tell parents that their religious beliefs are the issue behind their children's problems. If he did tell the parents that their beliefs were the cause of their children's behavior, he would soon find that he has no patients and no income. The psychiatrist would be unable to convince the parents of their delusions that is shared with their family and congregation.
What do we expect of our professional in this example? Undoubtedly, the child will be diagnosed with an illness and will be treated. By taking this example and multiplying it by a myriad encounters over the previous decades, we can understand the explosion in diagnoses of ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. As Plato wrote, we have more diseases than the ancients knew.
Unfortunately for Western Civilization, generally, and Modern America, specifically, people who are not adherents of Western Christianity and who have dissociated themselves from Western Christianity are suffering from neuroses and psychoses. When their numbers become a majority, their behavior will be "socially acceptable".
I am indebted to the following checklist.
http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/icmha/outreach/documents/BPRS_expanded.PDF
See Commentary on the New Definition of a Mental Disorder for a related article on this website.
This researcher does not expect a psychiatrist to tell parents that their religious beliefs are the issue behind their children's problems. If he did tell the parents that their beliefs were the cause of their children's behavior, he would soon find that he has no patients and no income. The psychiatrist would be unable to convince the parents of their delusions that is shared with their family and congregation.
What do we expect of our professional in this example? Undoubtedly, the child will be diagnosed with an illness and will be treated. By taking this example and multiplying it by a myriad encounters over the previous decades, we can understand the explosion in diagnoses of ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. As Plato wrote, we have more diseases than the ancients knew.
Unfortunately for Western Civilization, generally, and Modern America, specifically, people who are not adherents of Western Christianity and who have dissociated themselves from Western Christianity are suffering from neuroses and psychoses. When their numbers become a majority, their behavior will be "socially acceptable".
I am indebted to the following checklist.
http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/icmha/outreach/documents/BPRS_expanded.PDF
See Commentary on the New Definition of a Mental Disorder for a related article on this website.