Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science'
#1
Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science'
Thought this was apt...
Huffington Post
There is more.
I can kind of understand it, because the practitioners are in effect being brainwashed to believe that something that is so obviously wrong, is right and that sane people do not follow such paths.
Bring on the pills I say.
Huffington Post
Religious fundamentalism and cruelty to children may one day be treated in the same way as mental illness, a neuroscientist has speculated.
Kathleen Taylor, a research scientist at Oxford University’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, says strong negative beliefs could be eradicated using techniques already in the works.
Dr Taylor was speaking at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales when she was asked what she forsaw as positive developments in neuroscience in the coming years, The Times reports.
She replied: “One man’s positive can be another man’s negative. One of the surprises may be to see people with certain beliefs as people who can be treated.
“Someone who has for example become radicalised to a cult ideology – we might stop seeing that as a personal choice that they have chosen as a result of pure free will and may start treating it as some kind of mental disturbance.
“In many ways it could be a very positive thing because there are no doubt beliefs in our society that do a heck of a lot of damage.
“I am not just talking about the obvious candidates like radical Islam or some of the more extreme cults. I am talking about things like the belief that it is OK to beat your children.
Kathleen Taylor, a research scientist at Oxford University’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, says strong negative beliefs could be eradicated using techniques already in the works.
Dr Taylor was speaking at the Hay Literary Festival in Wales when she was asked what she forsaw as positive developments in neuroscience in the coming years, The Times reports.
She replied: “One man’s positive can be another man’s negative. One of the surprises may be to see people with certain beliefs as people who can be treated.
“Someone who has for example become radicalised to a cult ideology – we might stop seeing that as a personal choice that they have chosen as a result of pure free will and may start treating it as some kind of mental disturbance.
“In many ways it could be a very positive thing because there are no doubt beliefs in our society that do a heck of a lot of damage.
“I am not just talking about the obvious candidates like radical Islam or some of the more extreme cults. I am talking about things like the belief that it is OK to beat your children.
I can kind of understand it, because the practitioners are in effect being brainwashed to believe that something that is so obviously wrong, is right and that sane people do not follow such paths.
Bring on the pills I say.
#2
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
This alleged cure is far far worse than the claimed problem.
How does one accurately define religious fundementalism? What religions are going to be targetted; only those the establishment are leery of?
What else ideologies will be deemed inappropriate, subject to state enforced behavioural modification.
This is some straight up sinister and dystopian sh%t!!
How does one accurately define religious fundementalism? What religions are going to be targetted; only those the establishment are leery of?
What else ideologies will be deemed inappropriate, subject to state enforced behavioural modification.
This is some straight up sinister and dystopian sh%t!!
#3
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
Even though I think extreme religious belief is a mental disorder we have to be very careful here as all religions are not equal.
A fanatical Jain would be busy sweeping the floor in front of him as he walks so he doesn't accidentally tread on an insect. A fanatical Buddhist would likely be hidden away in a monastery seeking enlightenment and harming no one. We must be very clear that only people who subscribe to systems which can be construed to justify violence and harm should be defined as mentally ill (just as we would define non-religious people with an irrational need to cause harm to others in the same way).
I can see this could be used as a tool to oppress, every bit as much as the religions they are supposed to oppose. I think the long term view is to separate religion and state, educate everyone in a secular manner and allow complete freedom to offend religious beliefs (not slander individuals though) just as we have freedom to offend different political and philosophical beliefs.
N.
A fanatical Jain would be busy sweeping the floor in front of him as he walks so he doesn't accidentally tread on an insect. A fanatical Buddhist would likely be hidden away in a monastery seeking enlightenment and harming no one. We must be very clear that only people who subscribe to systems which can be construed to justify violence and harm should be defined as mentally ill (just as we would define non-religious people with an irrational need to cause harm to others in the same way).
I can see this could be used as a tool to oppress, every bit as much as the religions they are supposed to oppose. I think the long term view is to separate religion and state, educate everyone in a secular manner and allow complete freedom to offend religious beliefs (not slander individuals though) just as we have freedom to offend different political and philosophical beliefs.
N.
#4
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
Even though I think extreme religious belief is a mental disorder we have to be very careful here as all religions are not equal.
A fanatical Jain would be busy sweeping the floor in front of him as he walks so he doesn't accidentally tread on an insect. A fanatical Buddhist would likely be hidden away in a monastery seeking enlightenment and harming no one. We must be very clear that only people who subscribe to systems which can be construed to justify violence and harm should be defined as mentally ill (just as we would define non-religious people with an irrational need to cause harm to others in the same way).
I can see this could be used as a tool to oppress, every bit as much as the religions they are supposed to oppose. I think the long term view is to separate religion and state, educate everyone in a secular manner and allow complete freedom to offend religious beliefs (not slander individuals though) just as we have freedom to offend different political and philosophical beliefs.
N.
A fanatical Jain would be busy sweeping the floor in front of him as he walks so he doesn't accidentally tread on an insect. A fanatical Buddhist would likely be hidden away in a monastery seeking enlightenment and harming no one. We must be very clear that only people who subscribe to systems which can be construed to justify violence and harm should be defined as mentally ill (just as we would define non-religious people with an irrational need to cause harm to others in the same way).
I can see this could be used as a tool to oppress, every bit as much as the religions they are supposed to oppose. I think the long term view is to separate religion and state, educate everyone in a secular manner and allow complete freedom to offend religious beliefs (not slander individuals though) just as we have freedom to offend different political and philosophical beliefs.
N.
#5
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,578
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
Iran – illegal (death penalty)
Egypt – illegal (3 years' imprisonment)
Pakistan – illegal (death penalty[9] since 2007)
United Arab Emirates – illegal (3 years' imprisonment, flogging)
Somalia – illegal (death penalty)
Afghanistan – illegal (death penalty, although the U.S. and other coalition members have put pressure that has prevented recent executions)
Saudi Arabia – illegal (death penalty, although there have been no recently reported executions)
Sudan – illegal (death penalty, although there have only been recent reports of torture, and not of execution)
Qatar – illegal (death penalty)
Yemen – illegal (death penalty)
Malaysia – illegal in five of 13 states (fine, imprisonment, and flogging)
Mauritania – illegal (death penalty if still apostate after 3 days)
Morocco – illegal to proselytise conversion (15 years' imprisonment)
Jordan – possibly illegal (fine, jail, child custody loss, marriage annulment) although officials claim otherwise, convictions are recorded for apostasy
Oman – legal in criminal code, but according to the family code, a father can lose custody of his child
#6
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
In some countries apostasy from the religion supported by the state is explicitly forbidden. This is largely the case in some states where Islam is the state religion; conversion to Islam is encouraged, conversion from Islam penalised...
Iran – illegal (death penalty)
Egypt – illegal (3 years' imprisonment)
Pakistan – illegal (death penalty[9] since 2007)
United Arab Emirates – illegal (3 years' imprisonment, flogging)
Somalia – illegal (death penalty)
Afghanistan – illegal (death penalty, although the U.S. and other coalition members have put pressure that has prevented recent executions)
Saudi Arabia – illegal (death penalty, although there have been no recently reported executions)
Sudan – illegal (death penalty, although there have only been recent reports of torture, and not of execution)
Qatar – illegal (death penalty)
Yemen – illegal (death penalty)
Malaysia – illegal in five of 13 states (fine, imprisonment, and flogging)
Mauritania – illegal (death penalty if still apostate after 3 days)
Morocco – illegal to proselytise conversion (15 years' imprisonment)
Jordan – possibly illegal (fine, jail, child custody loss, marriage annulment) although officials claim otherwise, convictions are recorded for apostasy
Oman – legal in criminal code, but according to the family code, a father can lose custody of his child
Iran – illegal (death penalty)
Egypt – illegal (3 years' imprisonment)
Pakistan – illegal (death penalty[9] since 2007)
United Arab Emirates – illegal (3 years' imprisonment, flogging)
Somalia – illegal (death penalty)
Afghanistan – illegal (death penalty, although the U.S. and other coalition members have put pressure that has prevented recent executions)
Saudi Arabia – illegal (death penalty, although there have been no recently reported executions)
Sudan – illegal (death penalty, although there have only been recent reports of torture, and not of execution)
Qatar – illegal (death penalty)
Yemen – illegal (death penalty)
Malaysia – illegal in five of 13 states (fine, imprisonment, and flogging)
Mauritania – illegal (death penalty if still apostate after 3 days)
Morocco – illegal to proselytise conversion (15 years' imprisonment)
Jordan – possibly illegal (fine, jail, child custody loss, marriage annulment) although officials claim otherwise, convictions are recorded for apostasy
Oman – legal in criminal code, but according to the family code, a father can lose custody of his child
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
I would go so far as to say that Religious Fundamentalism is almost as great a threat to Civilisation as Football Fanaticism !
#8
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
I don't think so.
Get a grip scot.
#9
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
Seems apt to quote Christopher Hitchins:
"Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong."
"Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong."
#10
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
To that.
Christopher Hitchens was always on my list of people to have a pint with..
Last edited by britexpat76; Jun 8th 2013 at 9:53 am.
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 691
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
With this standard of logic I could equally argue that since virtually all western medicines have side effects on the human body, the most reasonable conclusion is that if you are ill you should not take those medicines
Interestignly, in Islam, to have a religion is to believe/disbelieve in God. That means Christopher Hitchins also has a religion (his certainty of no God) which also falls is his statement “they are all wrong”
#15
Re: Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science
Being Christopher Hitchins whose logic is more likely to believe that spaghetti grows on trees and the source of meat is the supermarket, I am least surprised to hear that.
With this standard of logic I could equally argue that since virtually all western medicines have side effects on the human body, the most reasonable conclusion is that if you are ill you should not take those medicines
Interestignly, in Islam, to have a religion is to believe/disbelieve in God. That means Christopher Hitchins also has a religion (his certainty of no God) which also falls is his statement “they are all wrong”
With this standard of logic I could equally argue that since virtually all western medicines have side effects on the human body, the most reasonable conclusion is that if you are ill you should not take those medicines
Interestignly, in Islam, to have a religion is to believe/disbelieve in God. That means Christopher Hitchins also has a religion (his certainty of no God) which also falls is his statement “they are all wrong”
I dare say that you would have to be bitten by a viper before you would accept that it was venomous.
Look up Tso Nao. It's very relevant to a talking puppet like you.
Last edited by OleJanx; Jun 8th 2013 at 6:55 pm.