Does Religion Cause Mental Illness?

[Subways69able]

well, religion IS a mental disorder

[then33k4]

@Subways69able

yes.

[GodOfMyself666]

4 people have a mental illness

[saburius]

According to DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), fundamentalist beliefs are a mental disorder.

[persevere4him]

It's not religion that causes mental illness. Your example proves that it's people, the people who taught the boy such things against homosexuality, not religion in itself. There are many religious people out there that would never say a negative thing against homosexuals. You're stereotyping religion and it's believers.

[ZLUGGO]

Atheism IS a mental illness.

[Andytheantiathiest]

@ZLUGGO \\

Yes

[RevJohn]

@oregonisboring True. In some cases that works! I use it myself.

[boogiebuddy01]

this is a really good question, no doubt it plays a major part in peoples perspectives of health

[sche0048]

Another thing you could look into is: Does your hair cause nausea to other people? I would love to get the results on that question (altough I already know the answer) GO GET A HAIRCUT!

[realguy640]

excuse the previous-typos in the last posts-up late typing in the dark- out of logic, reason, and justice and third party will rise! Ever notice you NEVERnever hear the so called liberals ever say the phrase we heard growing up, "I don't agree what you have to say, but I will fight to the death to defend it." The world is too bratty. It seems this country really is scared of TRUE FREEDOM.

[realguy640]

(part 2) ..."But I will fight to the death to defend it." The subtext being- that insures what I believe won't be touched. NOW liberals/who along with atheists want to shut you down. I thank you for challenging them, cause those who don't follow their politically correct bullshit are always the bad guys. Liberals are the new fascists-I can't say an ethnic joke? Or believe in faith. Republicans the new brats: they to kick a two term prez out for a BJ. We so so, need a third party-one will rise!

[realguy640]

Liberals/Atheists are the new "mind controlers - telling people WHAT TO THINK and wanting to ban you from believing or having faith, any kind of faith - if they can't feel and touch it, neither can you? Who the hell are they. The new liberals claim to be so open and free yet if you disagree with them, they will shut you down (or try to) faster than the bible belters-what a buch of hippocrits. Remember true liberal thinking back in the 60's/70's- "I don't agree with that you say...

[kiefhouse]

The only times I've felt mentally ill was in moments of sanity. When you realize that the world we live in is bat-shit crazy. And we're all taking the backseat of a vehicle being steered by the craziest of them all. Religious leaders, Government officials, CEO's of corp. that strip our earth of every natural resource to feed an endless cycle that is consumerism.

[txgrunt0700]

awesome vid



[SteinUndStahl666]

Religion is a result of mental illness.

[saburius]

Religion as well as any other belief that replaces rationality with superstition is INDEED a self-inflicted, self-induced dissociative mental disorder with the tendency already present beforehand. However, in a country like the good ol' U.S.A. where 90% of the population can be put into the above category, it is doubtful that this knowledge would ever come to light.

[SuckDeezNutzBitch]

A man spent his life savings of $140,000 to advertise May 21st because he was religious and he truly believed it was going to be the end. I rest my case

[kiwiofnewzealand]

That's the weakest argument (Typical) in defense of religion you can give. It's just changing the subject from debating with facts to not even debating at all and just pointing to predisposed Dogma. If your sane, you come to the same conclusions as "God's laws"....you don't have to learn it from a book. But if you do it's cause your attitude never matured into an adult; not sinful thoughts from "the devil". All you need is to stop asking questions and realize and you'll know.

[gangadhari108]

thats wonderful and even more wonderful because of coming across your video about life's truth i actually feel i might be able to re- establish my relationship with Jesus so I want to thank you very much for that, you have inspired me. p.s. there are some very hurtful and nasty people on this youtube, you try and say anything about god and they attack you with such venom which must prove the hatred they have for God's laws email me anytime

[RevJohn]

@gangadhari108 These "new atheists" who attack people for what they believe can be just as afraid of the truth as the religious fanatics who strap bombs to themselves.

[gangadhari108]

@RevJohn 100% agree

[kiwiofnewzealand]

@gangadhari108 That's the weakest argument (Typical) in defense of religion you can give. It's just changing the subject from debating with facts to not even debating at all and just pointing to predisposed Dogma. If your sane, you come to the same conclusions as "God's laws"....you don't have to learn it from a book. But if you do it's cause your attitude never matured into an adult; not sinful thoughts from "the devil". All you need is to stop asking quesytions and realize and you'll know.

[kiwiofnewzealand]

Thoerys?....You see things backwards! Society because of technology, can now test and educate ourselves; Finally opening our eyes to the fact that religion is no longer needed to control the masses out from the dark ages. I know what normal is...am I the only one?...no....think about it. Nobody is cured....your right, but not for the reasons you say. It's because we are told lies including religion. The Bosnian Pyramids found in 2005 that are double the size of Giza prove every history wrong!

[gangadhari108]

i think if there were more people like you rev. the world would be a far better place. i'm a hindu but i have complete admiration for your teachings

[RevJohn]

@gangadhari108 I'm a big fan of Ganesh! I have prayer beads and perform the mantra. Why? He really exists because we believe he exists. One does not need to "join" a religion to benefit from what he symbolizes and his blessings and spiritual power. It is all very real! All the Gods are masks which conceal the face of eternity. So I believe it all: Krishna, Shiva, Rama, Vishnu, Kali... they all represent forces in nature.

[ThomasMoar]

Scientology causes mental illness, if you can call it a religion...

[rayj778]

It's time to rid the world of ALL RELIGIONS. It's worst than any disease or disorder on the planet.

[DrRastahaze]

Well done! bravo! i enjoyed this commentary. i have a younger brother that is going threw some bad mental episodes. long story.

[korzon]

When the nazi's indoctrined their people with their own belife system they aimed for the children first obviously brainwashing works.But what if you never belived and then 40 years later you do?I questioned things from the gitgo the catholic church tried indoctrining me they are no more wicked than athiests they are just as aggresive neither of their meathods should be taught because society could never handle it's instability.I must be mental because i dont belive religion or athiests they lie.

[Pilgrim812]

I have listened to your video a numer of times. It is interesting to me that you

use the example of taboo as it pertains to homosexual attraction. After much

thought and experience I have come to the conclusion that the existing theology

as it pertains to human sexuality is deliberately flawed to institute a system of

social control based upon setting one group against another. The damage that

this does to the collative soul of society brings far reaching consequences.

[Pilgrim812]

What an absolutely brillant, perspicacious commentary! Without question it is the best I have heard on youtube ( or for that matter anywhere else.

[RevJohn]

@Pilgrim812 And that was the most flattering accolade I've ever received, bar none! THANK YOU!!!

[Pilgrim812]

@RevJohn God builds his temple in the heart on the ruins of churches and

religions. The situation you outline is something I find frightening, and it is

the result of egoism that has been rising for centuriesin the world and certainly not love. This is now reaching critical mass and the choice is change or perish. These are very dangerous times.

[RevJohn]

@Pilgrim812 The total irony is, I seem to preach nothing BUT egoism in my videos, but it is s healthy egoism I am referring to! In my latest project, entitled Philosophical Satanism - part I, the issue is addressed. On one hand I say, yes, you are a divine and sovereign being, but that doesn't mean you have to "prove" it by demeaning everyone around you! LOL Here's the link: /watch?v=bA4YimROICQ

[rustytool100]

religion is mental illness.

[Christopher1987uk]

Only because some people misenterpret the scriptures of religion does not mean it is a mental illness, most people who have a religion have no experience of the chakras whatsoever and are just walking blindly, once you are attuned to the higher energies all those passages in the Bible, the Qur'an and other religious texts make sense in a profound way, this video is very close minded. I am Christian and I admit I went through tough times but my faith kept me strong.

[marktegan]

Is Religion caused by mental illness?

[Iyoulikeyoutoo]

No, it is a illness

[PeterRabbitTV]

I wouldn't say that religion causes mental illness. However, the childhood indoctrination into a particular religion does seem to make otherwise intelligent people delusional in that particular area. By now, Stefan Molyneux and Stephen Covey have me convinced that philosophy saves people much better than religion, especially since it doesn't require people to believe in irrational and destructive nonsense.

[chutethebull68]

Fake jackass

[chutethebull68]

Did you make those cue cards you are reading from or did someone make them for you? You don't need religion o make you mentally ill...in your case it is apparently genetic.

[joyell222]

Love this video very well said! I can't wait till your book comes in the mail. Your spiritual outlook is awesome. Keeping making videos, right now I'm in the searching stage of my spirituality. I've been finding your channel intriguing.

[nargargole]

Inspired me to create a video response; a Theistic Satanist should recognize that he or she could be insane an that religion could be also; our reputation is such that even we sup with a long spoon - with ourselves! But why did Catherine de Medice alledgedly perform the Black mass - to save her son from a fatal illness?

[RevJohn]

@nargargole I once performed a black mass and cured a boy of autism. He woke up the next morning and looked his mother straight in the eye. I never said that magic didn't work or that gods/demons did not exist as an externalized part of ourselves. Please watch my video entitled "Beyond Good and Evil"

[nargargole]

@RevJohn I am coming to like the Black Mass more and more; you know, it is powerful diagnostic tool to measure your conditioned self; and then there is belief that Satan is Enkhi, a kindly god; and Jehovah is Enlil, the unkind god who has dominated history, and since Jesus is apparently the same thing as jehovah, a reversal of any Christian rite might be the 'kind' act! Or that the magickal will is beyond the gods: rather homo est deus

[RevJohn]

@nargargole Very well said, Nargargole!

[PeterRabbitTV]

@RevJohn:

You cured a boy of autism? Seriously? I wonder if it would be possible for you to cure me of my borderline Asperger's syndrome?

[BZOE]

Well said RevJohn. I showed my mom videos of how god was evil and contradicted himself and proof of science and how huge this universe is. I showed her everything but its like...talking to a rock. I just don't know what to do. I feel sorry for her.

[supersmash43]

This guy is brilliant!

[sandj777]

Religion IS a mental Illness. It's fucking sickening that 90% of all humans are brain washed. I am sad that i am part of the human race.

[supersmash43]

@sandj777 yeah but it is the accepted mental illness!

[sandj777]

@supersmash43 ):

[spartacandream]

Is religion a mental illness? I think it might be like PTSD, a mental illness that arises from enviromental factors, and some people are more predisposed to it than others.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn So when you buy into a religion that tells you that you are separate from God, that we are 'sinful', imperfect, this is feeding into our original 'sin' based on delusion, a pre-existing 'mental illness'. Most religions amplify this original delusion by saying that oneness with God happens after death! Yet all the true spiritual teachers, including Jesus say the Supreme resides within you, always, beyond the senses, even beyond thought, but always be watchful, aware of your mind.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn But how can we be imperfect if God made us in his image??

The way the Church sees this is - look, we are sinful, disgraceful, disobedient, not worthy of God - ask your angry God for forgiveness, ask for pity. However, what Eastern traditions do is ask : How did WE separate OURSELVES from God? What is OUR responsibility in this? After self-analysis the answer is - our minds! The mind creates the separation, duality, "other", and "me" instead of oneness with the eternal, the supreme.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn As soon as this shift in thinking occurred, everything fell apart. The world was no longer pure, beautiful, divine. The thought of being different and separate from God completely through them off balance, out of alignment with the universe and their own nature. Our nature is like that of a child. Completely open, untainted, innocent, and unashamed. However, as soon as they ate from the tree, they started seeing faults in themselves (mental illness) - we are naked and imperfect - hide!

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn In Eastern traditions it is said that we are infinite, eternal, and divine ie we are one with God, with Life, with consciousness. Adam and Eve, before they became caught up in thought knew this, therefore could never die, could never suffer. However, as soon as they believed themselves to be separate from God, death & suffering became their reality, this is because they no longer saw themselves as infinite, eternal. Instead they saw themselves as material, impermanent, limited.

[RevJohn]

@StevenMorello Of course, the bite from the apple is symbolic, but I understand. The All Is The One. That is my reality.

[Christopher1987uk]

@StevenMorello The story of Adam and Eve in a reversal of the journey to Nirvana, The fruits in the garden of Eden are the Chakras and I believe the forbidden fruit is the pineal gland "in the middle of the garden". Adam and Eve lived in Nirvana and when they took the fruit they descended into the material world.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn And now the Church comes in and tells us "This is what you must think...", giving us more thought, more reason for rumination, more reason for suffering. Pain is a given, but only thought transforms it into something negative in the mind. I believe the story in Genesis about the Tree of Knowledge is actually about the story about man acquiring thought. Once man started believing every thought, he fell from Gods grace. One of his first thoughts was "I am separate from God" & so it was.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn Eastern traditions and spiritual masters tell us that thoughts can be like prisons, and indeed, modern psychology tells us that 90-96% of our thoughts are repetitive and generally negative. All these negative thoughts tend to increase stress and drain us from energy because we're always thinking things like "I will be late for work", "I am no good at this", "I am getting fat", "I am unhappy", "I need to pretend to be someone I'm not" etc etc. As you can see, this is far from God-like.

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn. Again, abstract thought has its benefits, but it also has its limitations. The majority of western society believes that thought only has benefits. It does make us 'God-like' compared to animals because it allows communication/organisation, however thought allows us to deceive ourselves, make ourselves feel bad, lie, demonise others, start wars, manipulate others, create divisive issues etc.

[PeterRabbitTV]

I know of several atheists who are finally free from faith, and they're doing just fine. One friend in particular has been working on a philosophy book about the value of life. According to him and Immanuel Kant, morality comes from our ability to utilize reason and logic, and he also seems to think that he has worked out the problems in Kant's ideas.

[RevJohn]

@PeterRabbitTV I really think it's wonderful that your friend is able to conceptualize the ideas of the great philosophers. My problem is that I see too many people doing this and not enough actualizing what they've learned - feeling these things on a gut level - knowing what it's like to be human. Our culture is motivated by selfishness and greed to an inane level - I look at that oil spill in utter disbelief

[StevenMorello]

I am concurring that religion can be a factor in mental health, and often negative, however sometimes it is very supportive because it brings people together in a communal setting. Also, people who pray regularly or meditate on compassion are more grateful for what they have. So, religion has its positives and negatives. Eastern traditions/religions promote an inner body awareness or meditation focused on the breath to ground you and have a positive spiritual and mental health benefit.

[StevenMorello]

My belief is that we need to go back to basics, simplify life so we can live longer and happier lives, and we need to return to some form of spirituality that helps us see who we are. We are fed a lot of beliefs from our society that are not true - eg materialism leads to happiness, so when they do not make us happy, because it was based on a lie, we become depressed and unhappy with ourselves because we think we are a failure. Society (including the media) plays a huge role in our mental health

[RevJohn]

@StevenMorello I totally agree. Excellent points!

[RevJohn]

@StevenMorello I wholeheartedly concur with what you say about "normal" being totally subjective, but "natural" is something else. I do not believe the human species is behaving in a manner that is consistent with its biological program. However, if I'm wrong and this is the real deal, then we definitely deserve to be obliterated into total extinction. And by the looks of things, we are headed that way now.

[RevJohn]

Here's my thought. Behaviorists agree that there are instinctual traits that are imprinted on birds, let's say, during the crucial first few days of its existence. Well, human children go through something similar! And if their parents exhibit self destructive behavior, which is not healthy or natural, that creates the instinctual base elements upon which future psychological growth occurs. And that is the "something that exists" which religion can and does exacerbate CYCLICALLY!

[StevenMorello]

@RevJohn I think the problem is that we are hard wired to be hunter-gatherers but that our modern lifestyle has different demands and these old hard wired patterns no longer serve us today - that is often where paranoia, anxiety, and a whole range of mental illness comes in - it used to help us escape being prey, but has morphed into things like obsessive compulsive behaviour, for example.

In other words we have changed our environment so much that our genes are outdated for the task at hand.

[RevJohn]

@StevenMorello Wow. Now what you stated makes total sense - it doesn't really require a leap of faith. So... the gift of abstract thought has made us godlike, but that has come with a hefty price tag. It may take many centuries for us to adapt. So, if we don't self-destruct, we will become a race of super beings, in a matter of speaking

[defexorcist]

Well Reverend, I think Lillee is only part right. I think some are naturally nuts, but most of them have been psychologically damaged. If a child is traumatized enough, he/she can have developmental problems which manifest as psychoses. I don't think religion is much different - perhaps that is why indoctrination usually begins in childhood. But then again, humans have always sought out insanity to help keep them sane.(?)

[ToxicDoctrine]

Can't seem to post the rest of this comment, they automatically show up as Spam - another YT bug!

[ToxicDoctrine]

Thanks for bringing this to YT. I have long believed that religion is at the root of many mental illnesses.

Take your example of a maturing boy, in a religious environment where he now is forbidden to indulge in masturbation. There are documented cases of this leading to suicide, and it is my contention that it is also leads to Pedophilia.

cont'd....

[ToxicDoctrine]

"Rather than a way to contentment, spiritual health and salvation, Christianity actually militates against human development in such vital areas as self-esteem, sexuality and social interactions.

The tragic end result of Christian conditioning is too often antisocial behavior, sexual dysfunction, poor psychological development, anxiety and even major psychiatric illness."

Deadly Doctrine by Wendell Watters, MD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry (retired).

You're are not alone in this belief.

[cyncmaster150]

Interesting argument. But I'd like to comment, that; it's pretty easy to attribute all lines of human behavior to the analogy of disease. Perhaps because, as some would argue, human beings are a highly evolved disease. I've also seen the passing on of traits painted with the analogy of computer programming.

In any case, I think it'd be correct to say that all forms of mental illness are not caused by physiology alone, but always environment-physiology.

[mizzcrowley]

Way to go, John. Excellent talk on the subject.

Religion could be seen as a buffer used to deal with the world. But the bending of what we know as reality will still come because it remains having to deal with the inner space/world of the mind, which brings on the transcendental, the religious. Then one must reconcile that with the world. People get by however they can.

[voidCaptain]

Ted Haggard Is Completely Heterosexual:

watch?v=HZmHC75FDqQ

[inccubi666succubi]

i know it can be physcological dammaging,from first hand experience,some years after being religious,i developed emotional,anxiety,stress at max,fear,it really all stemmed from the threat of hell and past wrong doings,sur eit says forgive ur self but theres that underlining memory,so yes

it is phycological warfare...

[anubis2814]

Very true and very well written. Even if religion went away tomorrow there would be tons of psychological and social constructs to overcome. As a Asperger it took me forever to learn how to deny myself of the sensitivity I naturally have to be able to cope with the world.

[Argentium009]

You could probably also make the argument that insanity causes religion. But what you say here is so very true.

[RevJohn]

@Argentium009 LOL I never thought of it that way. It is like a vicious cycle!

[Argentium009]

@RevJohn Terrifying, ain't it? :)

[InSinGrin]

one thing is for sure,associating human nature with sin is very destructive.within the catholic church these priest who have to deny their sexuality on a daily basis,soon find that sexuality was meant to be expressed and enjoyed,but by then it's too late and another child gets molested

[Ravelmoore]

Keep preaching homie :)

[Plum369]

maybe religion itself is the common bond. There were religions as far back in history as we can dig. I think people have something in them, call it spirit or whatever, that they grope for a way to express. Maybe religion is the attempt to express that unexpressable thing within humans. Not everyone wishes to express this the same way, hence different religions.

[NragedXX]

fantastic video!!!!!

~Rage