Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 3/2006

01-09-2006

Religion and Madness

Author: David Berman

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2006

Login to get access

Abstract

The question I try to answer in this paper is: How should we distinguish mad from sane religious belief? After looking at the clear-cut but opposed answers of Freud and Jung, I then examine the modern psychiatric answer, particularly as presented in the DSM IV. After arguing that each of the three answers is unsatisfactory, I look at what I take to be the more promising approach of Con Drury, Wittgenstein’s friend and biographer, in an essay called “Madness and Religion,” where, drawing on the religious histories of Joan of Arc, George Fox and Tolstoy and three of his own psychiatric patients, Drury suggests that there is no objective yet ethical way to make the distinction. This leads to my own answer, which is that the best we can do is to distinguish mad from neurotic religious belief; and hence that the safest position, although not the most comfortable, is the neurotic one.
Literature
go back to reference Freud S. (1986), Three essays on the theory of sexuality (1905), In Strachey J., Ed. The standard ediltion of the complete psychological works of Freud Vol. 7, Hogarth Press, London pp. 150f Freud S. (1986), Three essays on the theory of sexuality (1905), In Strachey J., Ed. The standard ediltion of the complete psychological works of Freud Vol. 7, Hogarth Press, London pp. 150f
go back to reference Grunbaum A., (1987) Psychoanalysis and theism The Monist 70: 175–178 esp Grunbaum A., (1987) Psychoanalysis and theism The Monist 70: 175–178 esp
go back to reference Lewis A., (1967), Inquires in psychiatry Routledge, London pp. 169–171 Lewis A., (1967), Inquires in psychiatry Routledge, London pp. 169–171
go back to reference Wittgenstein, L. (1980). Culture and value. Oxford: Blackwell, edited by G. H. von Wright, p. 54 Wittgenstein, L. (1980). Culture and value. Oxford: Blackwell, edited by G. H. von Wright, p. 54
Metadata
Title
Religion and Madness
Author
David Berman
Publication date
01-09-2006
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2006
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-006-9033-x

Other articles of this Issue 3/2006

Journal of Religion and Health 3/2006 Go to the issue

Review

Book

EditorialNotes

Editorial

Review

Book