Religious Fundamentalism 'may be categorised Mental Illness'

A case of chicken and egg here ... but definite links being established. Does anyone else see similarities here?

Kathleen Taylor's others books include, 'Brainwashing: the Science of Thought Control' (Oxford University Press, 2004, 2006)

Religious Fundamentalism 'May Be Categorised As Mental Illness & Cured By Science'

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. Her book, 'The Brain Supremacy' on such matters has recent been published.

Taylor said that, “one of the surprises is that we 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".

She was not just talking about obvious candidates like radical Islam or more extreme cults.

Links between extreme faiths and mental health have been made before. The former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Dr Dinesh Bhugra highlighted that recent religious conversions are more associated with a developing psychotic mental illness.

In a paper entitled 'Self-concept: Psychosis and attraction of new religious movements', he points to data from studies which shows that patients with first onset psychosis are likely to change their religion. Another intriguing finding from his research is that there also appear to be links to coming from an ethnic minority.

In one of Dinesh Bhugra's studies in London, quoted in the academic journal 'Mental Health, Religion & Culture', 100 cases of first onset psychosis were studied. Of caucasian patients, none showed more religious activity linked to becoming psychotic ... but 23% of the Asian patients did.

'Self-concept: Psychosis and attraction of new religious movements', Dinesh Bhugra.
Mental Health, Religion & Culture, Volume 5, Issue 3, 2002

Self-concept is both a social product and a social force, and can be defined as the sum total of an individual's thoughts and beliefs regarding themselves, as well as perceptions by others. Such a view is essential for the well being of individuals and allows a person to function well within parameters of the society.

When this self-concept starts to change then the individual looks for other pointers to gain a degree of self control back. Such an approach can explain some of the reasons why some individuals with mental illness turn towards new religious movements that may well be extreme. With data from two studies showing that patients with first onset psychosis are likely to change their religion, it is proposed that clinicians and researchers alike be aware of some of these factors.

This sword may cut both ways if it's developed. Pathologising on the basis of fundamentalist ideology is an attitude thats potential dangerous to individual liberty and society if exploited by malicious people or governments.

Sure, people who are borderline psychotic or going through stuff will be drawn to explore religion or ideological paradigms as they seek "order" in their chaotic inner worlds. But not everyone is. Just as not everyone who is fatigued has glandular fever or depression.

Already too many eccentric or individualistic people are being categorised as mentally ill, and more will become so since the recent release of the DSM 5th edition (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5).

The editors of earlier editions have criticised it as being too broad, pathologising normal emotional reactions like grieving at the death of a loved one, or expanding the criteria for ADHD so that the likely numbers on medication will multiply 10-fold. It appears to be serving the pharmaceutical companies most.

Organisations like the BKs do provide a "shelter" for many borderline people, even help them order their lives somewhat. But they can also equally nudge other people over the edge, or delay more appropriate treatments, making things worse.

It is a sensitive issue. Maybe organisations such as these should include in their duty of care protocols some kind of vetting, an interview or survey, to see if someone is best sent for professional help before they lose it completely?

Then again, Scientology uses such surveys to recruit paying customers ...

Do genuine, academic scientists and researchers really give due consideration to politics (malicious people, governments, pharmaceutical companies ... etc), when they work on their researches and science advancement ..??

These researches are mostly funded by academic or neutral parties, without any right to dictate nor stipulate certain conditions.

I am an advocate of the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, wherever it comes from, and whatever implications it carries with it ...!!