Religion

MineralMan

(148,028 posts)

3. What's the difference? Does it matter?

Sun Feb 17, 2019, 01:49 PM

Feb 2019

I have never heard a "voice" in my head. Sometimes I rehearse conversations I might have, silently, but the voices are all clearly just thoughts. I would never confuse them with hearing an actual voice.

Sometimes I dream of people talking to me. Occasionally, I wake up thinking that my wife spoke to me. She didn't. She's lying there asleep.

But, I never "hear voices." If I did, I'd be very concerned and probably talk to my doctor about it.

If you're confused between your own thoughts and things you think people are saying inside your head, Occam's Razor suggests that you're not actually hearing someone's voice at all. It all came from your own thoughts, one way or another.

So, hearing "God's voice" in your head is a delusion, just as much as hearing any other voice in your head is a delusion, if you think it came from an external source. Religion is no different. Delusions are delusions.

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When is hearing voices a delusion and when is it religion? [View all] Soph0571 Feb 2019 OP

Is there a difference? procon Feb 2019 #1

No Major Nikon Feb 2019 #2

What's the difference? Does it matter? MineralMan Feb 2019 #3

Those who believe that "God" speaks, or has spoken to certain people PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2019 #4

It's simple really Runningdawg Feb 2019 #5

Just for clarification... Docreed2003 Feb 2019 #6

--- sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #9

Many prophets and saints were mentally ill marylandblue Feb 2019 #7

I'm disappointed...😔 sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #8

No reason to be. I consider insanity to be a virtue. marylandblue Feb 2019 #11

Disappointment that you in agreement with "coupling mental disorder with being a 'religionist". sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #12

Sure, that can be. And my comments weren't meant to disparage religion. marylandblue Feb 2019 #22

Rational. Key word. Yes, many who purportedly call and believe themselves to be sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #24

Can you name a beatified Eastern Orthodox 'Saint' that is/was considered mentally ill. sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #13

Well, since I can't name any Eastern Orthodox Saints, that would be no. marylandblue Feb 2019 #14

Your last para. sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #17

In the context of Christian culture, seeing and hearing things "in the spirit" is perfectly normal marylandblue Feb 2019 #18

You opine that St. Paul was afflicted with a mental disorder. sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #19

Sure, it could be non-literal or nothing at all to do with mental illness. marylandblue Feb 2019 #20

I want to say, "Oh, for God's sake!" sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #21

Well I think religion does draw on what came before, so sure, why not. marylandblue Feb 2019 #23

That word 'think'. I feel more like I'm 'comfortable' with that sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #25

There was a doctrine put about within the early Roman Church... uriel1972 Feb 2019 #29

And the Feast of the Nativity was and still is in some Old Calendar Churches sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #30

"on or about"... uriel1972 Feb 2019 #31

I'm not going to look up exactly what you are referring to. sprinkleeninow Feb 2019 #32

Typo: Paul ... Damascus Bretton Garcia Feb 2019 #10

It depends. MarvinGardens Feb 2019 #15

I am reminded of this quote from Sam Harris about George W. Bush: trotsky Feb 2019 #16

As per usual, Sam is wrong on this one. Act_of_Reparation Feb 2019 #26

The voices inside my head always did say Shrub was crazy Major Nikon Feb 2019 #27

I hear voices occasionally... uriel1972 Feb 2019 #28