Religion and Schizophrenia

If you were a true believe in, lets take for example any of the three main monotheism's and you awoke one day to a powerful, authoritarian but at the same time loving voice commanding you to perform simple tasks of kindness what would you do?

If after a few simple tests you came to discover that no one accept you could here the instructions of this disembodied voice would you go to the hospital or to the local mosque/whatever?

Would you believe that the laws of the universe that we understand had been annexed for you or would you assume a more material explanation such as a mental episode or even a psychotic break?

If the voice began to hint at more visceral demands such as child sacrifice or other such illegal activities, would it change your view?

Just curious, thanks for any replies.

 

This'll be Abraham and Isaac then?

I always wondered why Abraham was totally convinced that he should kill his son for a prolonged period despite everything telling him it was wrong, but then became totally convinced that he shouldn't at just the right moment, despite everything telling him it was right. God was taking a major chance with that one.

 

I'd think I was a prophet. Why get all riled up for something I don't understand, when the direct result of doing what is asked of me is morally and ethically acceptable?

if, however it turns out that I am asked to perform anything that is ethically or morally wrong, I'd take a visit to the local mental institution.

 

I thought according to the story Abraham did kill his son, but through a miracle god had switch him out for a lamb or something to that regard,

I probably have the story wrong.

 

If I remember the passage correctly, God sent an archangel to stop Abraham before he killed his son. Abraham then sacrifice a lamb in place of his son. It was a test of Abraham's loyalty. God did not want the life of Isaac. Just wanted to know for sure that Abraham would make the sacrifice. This is one of many reason I consider all religion as mythology. Who needs a god that screws with your emotions like that. Just try to imagine how sick you would feel if god ask you to kill your child to stay in god's good standings. It's beyond mean. It's nothing less than evil.

 

It all does get so confusing!, :svengo:

 

i'd call up my doc and get some drugs.

by the way --- extreme religiousness and schizophrenia are related diseases. both are characterized by an excess of dopamine in the brain.

 

The tribulation of Job is another pretty good example of God apparently having way too much time on his hands. People who take the Bible literally must either be constantly depressed/terrified, or else capable of the most convoluted mental gymnastics required to believe that someone who loves them would jerk them around so much. Most people can't even believe their girlfriends would do that.