- Robert Green Ingersoll
That you live in America does not require you to sever your ancestral ties.
That you were born to a rich family does not entitle you to happiness.
That you have given birth to children does not mean you are a parent.
That you are taught misinformation does not mean you are unable to correct it.
Why is "that you were bestowed with a vestigial father; an imaginary friend" not as often followed by "does not mean you will believe it any longer than you believed in Santa"?
Devoutly Religious or Schizophrenic?
Taking a look at the DSM-IV and its criteria for schizophrenia, we should notice the following:
According to the revised fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, three diagnostic criteria must be met:
1. Characteristic symptoms: Two or more of the following, each present for much of the time during a one-month period (or less, if symptoms remitted with treatment).
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized speech, which is a manifestation of formal thought disorder
- Grossly disorganized behavior (e.g. dressing inappropriately, crying frequently) or catatonic behavior
- Negative symptoms: Blunted affect (lack or decline in emotional response), alogia (lack or decline in speech), or avolition (lack or decline in motivation)
If the delusions are judged to be bizarre, or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other, only that symptom is required above. The speech disorganization criterion is only met if it is severe enough to substantially impair communication.
2. Social or occupational dysfunction: For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care, are markedly below the level achieved prior to the onset.
3. Significant duration: Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least six months. This six-month period must include at least one month of symptoms (or less, if symptoms remitted with treatment).
Now, you may object that a "devout" religious person may not experience disorganized behavior/thoughts/speech or a so-called "blunted affect". Well, kids, if we keep on keepin' on - and read a little further down, we'll also see:
Paranoid type: Where delusions and hallucinations are present but thought disorder, disorganized behavior, and affective flattening are absent. (DSM code 295.3/ICD code F20.0)
Did you also catch:
If the delusions are judged to be bizarre, or hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions or of hearing two or more voices conversing with each other, only that symptom is required above.
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| Do I have to spell this out for you? |
Okay, so. If the "hallucinations consist of hearing one voice participating in a running commentary of the patient's actions... only that symptom is required above".
Proverbs 15:3 (NIV) says:
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
If a god, with his eyes on you at all times, seeing you when you're sleeping... knowing when you're awake... isn't quite reminiscent of the above, perhaps this will resonate:
Jeremiah 1:5 says:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
So, if I wrote this and you're nodding, we're in agreement. If I wrote this and you're angrily defending your delusions, congratulations - I've diagnosed you. At least you don't have to come to terms with the idea that I may be right! ;) I'm just joshing you, and this is a mostly-joking tone, but seriously, if you're nuts... :P
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