Toucan wrote:I don't think schizophrenia could be demons, since most people respond to meds. The devil should send better demons if they're affected simply by medications.
My hallucinations do feel demonic, though I don't believe they're demons. Usually they're hallucinations of demons possessing other people or items though, not me. I don't hear voices though.
This is a really brilliant observation. That schizophrenia symptoms respond to meds - a devil would send better demons. Being so powerful and all.
-- Fri Feb 28, 2014 1:01 am --
Smithy, do you believe in the Biblical God? If you do, then you believe in the accounts of demons in the Bible, right? Then you must believe demons still exist today, right? And if they exist today what would demonic possession, or demonic affliction, look like? I've heard it said that some people who are diagnosed as mentally ill are actually demon possessed, or demonically inflicted in some way. I am in the crowd that believes this to be true from what I've seen in my lifetime I don't think it's your responsibility to tell me what religion I should follow or what I should believe. Please show some respect for people who do not believe the same things you believe.
No, I do not believe anyone who is diagnosed with mental illness is possessed by demons. And if I chose to believe that, that is ok, and it isn't incumbent upon you to try to convince me otherwise - you need to learn to respect other people's beliefs and not jump all over them and try to change their mind or their beliefs.
I've got very good reasons, too, deeply personal reasons - I've seen what happens to friends with schizophrenia dogged by religious fanatics who wanted to use them for their own selfish agenda,
I've seen what believing oneself to be possessed can do to a person - I want no part of it and I will NEVER tell someone with a mental illness that they are possessed.
These are good people who haven't done anything to deserve an illness, ever, in their entire lives. They aren't evil, they aren't weak, they aren't bad people.
Not one of them. Mental illness is no different from any illness in that respect.
If it were otherwise why would we be given the wisdom and knowledge to find treatments? Why then would Nobel prizes be given for research on schizophrenia?
And why then, would the Bible tell us that it is up to us to help those who are less fortunate?
Why else would Jesus sit down and eat with lepers, if we are supposed to sit back and judge those who are ill and pretend we are better than them?
After all declaring that someone is possessed, is all about feeling superior and 'holier than thou', because being possessed is about being inferior to other believers, after all, right? Those who are possessed are not as good as holier than thou thee, right?
And the Bible says, VERY clearly, JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED. And that I believe in.
Illness is just an unfortunate part of life. Illness exists as a question to us - can we show compassion, love and caring for people who are ill, can we put aside our own needs for a moment to offer compassion to someone who needs it, can we use the wisdom we are endowed with to find treatments and make a person's life better. THAT is fundamental to Christianity and I believe that, with all my heart.
And no. I do not see mental illness as a possession, or as a 'punishment' or a 'curse' - I have seen what those beliefs have done to people and the damage that has caused. I won't agree to that. You go ahead and believe whatever you want. But I will NEVER agree that people with mental illness are 'possessed'. That's YOUR belief, not mine.