Schizophrenia: 1) Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality,
illogical patterns of thinking,
delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. 2) A situation or condition that results from the coexistence of
disparate or antagonistic qualities, identities, or activities.
Earlier I had said:
Quote:
|
I. Religions are symbolic in nature.
|
Here is what can make religion schizophrenic in nature: Adopting the symbolic content as literal fact. Additionally, to note contradictions I said:
Quote:
|
VI. Contradictions found in religions are commonplace because of the metaphorical nature of religions
|
The reason for contradictions is that the metaphors remain intact in the symbolic stories, however, when reduced to literal interpretations maintaining a logical pattern of thinking that doesn't seem delusional for matching disparate pieces of information is impossible.
As a note: My psychology professor several years ago told the class about dozens and dozens of clinically diagnosed schizophrenics that thought that they were Jesus. A study was done on them. When put in the same room they were initially very confused. After much discussion between all of them, they chose one person from the group of "Jesuses" and ordained him the true Jesus. The rest, of course, became his follower. A classic example of being unable to determine the difference between symbolism and literal fact.
In severe circumstances this does lead to mental health problems. In less severe circumstances it leads to non-sequitur conversations and debates that get nowhere.
I used to argue with hardcore religious people a lot years ago. I stopped doing it because I realized that there was a wall in our understanding. I could understand the metaphors they were presenting me with, they couldn't understand me when I explained back to them the metaphors they were presenting me with.
I appreciate the value of the metaphors. They follow me everywhere, I see them in my writing and I use them all of the time during everyday conversations. When metaphors are seen solid solid facts like rock (a metaphor), then I think at least a mildly delusion reality is created. I'm resistant to calling it pathological, because it is so common. As we know, a pathology is something that is "A departure or deviation from a normal condition". I can't argue with normal; I can just bare witness and live in my seperate reality.