In a recent conversation, the import of culture and religion as a lens through which mental illness is viewed came into focus.

Well, if not focus, it became clear (another word for focus) how religion can be a significant factor in how we look at mental illness.  Change the religious lens, you change what mental illness looks like and how it is treated, clinically, and interpersonally and sociologically.

For instance, in what my spirituality is evolving toward, which is largely one of Conscious Creating (which includes subconscious and unconscious creating ) any mental illness we personally have, we are creating within ourselves.  In this view, which view is evolving, the mental illness of a friend or relative is  A> manifested by the friend or relative’s self creation and A’> by ourselves, as they are a mirror of us .  So, anything we see in someone else, is something we see as a mirror of ourselves, including any mental illness.

This can get very convoluted.  For instance, if we do not see the mental illness which exists in another, then are we really not seeing the illness which exists within us.  Thus, if any mental illness exists anywhere, and we see it or ignore it, it is a refection of ourselves, and so forth and so on… crazy you say? 

Be careful!

😉

 

Moving along, in a religion which relies heavily on concepts of and protagonists for good and evil, like one with a strong God and a Devil, with which I believe the current Vatican view is consistent, insanity is a type of Devil’s work.  Banish the Devil inside, exorcise the Devil, and the mental illness goes out along with.  Yes?

Shamanic religions, I have heard, often give the mentally ill a special role in their societies as a kind of spiritual link as a kind of societal mystic…

How does your religion color your view of mental illness, its stigma, its treatment, your relationship to it?

How do these views serve you, or your mentally ill friends, loved ones, or your society?

Please share.

Gratefully yours,

Yucel