Images that make you laugh

[unapologetic]

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[SLD]

Easter is just around the corner!!!

 

[unapologetic]

 

[Loren Pechtel]

View attachment 49848

Speaking as both an atheist and a non-believer in all things supernatural, I take a little issue with this. Belief in the supernatural (including religious beliefs) is now, and has always been, a normal and mainstream part of the human thought processes. The human brain is not fundamentally wired to easily discount supernatural explanations for unexplained phenomenon, and accept rational and scientific explanations instead. So, IMHO belief in the supernatural is less a mental illness, and more a natural (though misguided) mental state of our flawed brains. And atheism is a rejection of religious beliefs, its not necessarily a rejection of supernatural beliefs. There is no shortage of atheists in the world who reject religion and Gods, but cling to wacky woo shit like astrology, talking to the dead, etc. Atheism was not a cure for these people.

I think you're still being too narrow.

It's not just religion. It's not just supernatural. It's faith, period. Fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality that people are unwilling to address and very often fail to comprehend arguments that expose the problem. (Not merely disagree, but fail to comprehend the line of reasoning.)

 

[unapologetic]

View attachment 49848

Speaking as both an atheist and a non-believer in all things supernatural, I take a little issue with this. Belief in the supernatural (including religious beliefs) is now, and has always been, a normal and mainstream part of the human thought processes. The human brain is not fundamentally wired to easily discount supernatural explanations for unexplained phenomenon, and accept rational and scientific explanations instead. So, IMHO belief in the supernatural is less a mental illness, and more a natural (though misguided) mental state of our flawed brains. And atheism is a rejection of religious beliefs, its not necessarily a rejection of supernatural beliefs. There is no shortage of atheists in the world who reject religion and Gods, but cling to wacky woo shit like astrology, talking to the dead, etc. Atheism was not a cure for these people.

I think you're still being too narrow.

It's not just religion. It's not just supernatural. It's faith, period. Fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality that people are unwilling to address and very often fail to comprehend arguments that expose the problem. (Not merely disagree, but fail to comprehend the line of reasoning.)

I stand by the statement "Belief in the supernatural is a mental illness" weather atheism cures it or not.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

View attachment 49848

Speaking as both an atheist and a non-believer in all things supernatural, I take a little issue with this. Belief in the supernatural (including religious beliefs) is now, and has always been, a normal and mainstream part of the human thought processes. The human brain is not fundamentally wired to easily discount supernatural explanations for unexplained phenomenon, and accept rational and scientific explanations instead. So, IMHO belief in the supernatural is less a mental illness, and more a natural (though misguided) mental state of our flawed brains. And atheism is a rejection of religious beliefs, its not necessarily a rejection of supernatural beliefs. There is no shortage of atheists in the world who reject religion and Gods, but cling to wacky woo shit like astrology, talking to the dead, etc. Atheism was not a cure for these people.

I think you're still being too narrow.

It's not just religion. It's not just supernatural. It's faith, period. Fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality that people are unwilling to address and very often fail to comprehend arguments that expose the problem. (Not merely disagree, but fail to comprehend the line of reasoning.)

I stand by the statement "Belief in the supernatural is a mental illness" weather atheism cures it or not.

I wasn't objecting to it, just saying "supernatural" is a narrower category than it needs to be.

 

[Arctish]

 

[thebeave]

View attachment 49848

Speaking as both an atheist and a non-believer in all things supernatural, I take a little issue with this. Belief in the supernatural (including religious beliefs) is now, and has always been, a normal and mainstream part of the human thought processes. The human brain is not fundamentally wired to easily discount supernatural explanations for unexplained phenomenon, and accept rational and scientific explanations instead. So, IMHO belief in the supernatural is less a mental illness, and more a natural (though misguided) mental state of our flawed brains. And atheism is a rejection of religious beliefs, its not necessarily a rejection of supernatural beliefs. There is no shortage of atheists in the world who reject religion and Gods, but cling to wacky woo shit like astrology, talking to the dead, etc. Atheism was not a cure for these people.

I think you're still being too narrow.

It's not just religion. It's not just supernatural. It's faith, period. Fundamental assumptions about the nature of reality that people are unwilling to address and very often fail to comprehend arguments that expose the problem. (Not merely disagree, but fail to comprehend the line of reasoning.)

I stand by the statement "Belief in the supernatural is a mental illness" weather atheism cures it or not.

Is it recognized as such by DSM-5?

 

[Elixir]

Is it recognized as such by DSM-5?

I think that’s a sort of third rail of psyche diagnostics.

“The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) acknowledges the importance of religion and spirituality in mental health, but it doesn't pathologize them. It includes a category for "religious or spiritual problem" (V62.89) under "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention" to address distressing experiences related to faith or spirituality.”

IOW, “yeah they might be whack, but they’ll break out the pitchforks if we call them crazy”.

 

[thebeave]

Is it recognized as such by DSM-5?

I think that’s a sort of third rail of psyche diagnostics.

“The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) acknowledges the importance of religion and spirituality in mental health, but it doesn't pathologize them. It includes a category for "religious or spiritual problem" (V62.89) under "Other Conditions That May Be a Focus of Clinical Attention" to address distressing experiences related to faith or spirituality.”

IOW, “yeah they might be whack, but they’ll break out the pitchforks if we call them crazy”.

Makes sense. My mom was a good Christian woman who quietly (more or less) believed in God, prayer, heaven, angels, etc. All stuff that would be considered a subset of the supernatural, I would assume. She seemed to rely on all that to get her through everyday life challenges. It was a good thing for her, and in no way would I describe her as mentally ill (my non-religious sister on the other hand...). At the other end of the spectrum there's the mom in the movie Carrie. Now there's someone who would fit the bill as mentally ill.

 

[bilby]

If religion isn't a psychiatric illness, we are forced to accept that these people were entirely sane and rational, when they decided that luring, ambushing and murdering police officers would help secure their place in heaven, as part of the tribulations leading up to the Second Coming.

I am not convinced.

 

[Elixir]

If religion isn't a psychiatric illness, we are forced to accept that these people were entirely sane and rational, when they decided that luring, ambushing and murdering police officers would help secure their place in heaven, as part of the tribulations leading up to the Second Coming.

I am not convinced.

Is the incidence of “atheist insanity” any lower? Insanity in general is concerning. When it is channeled into mass insanity, it’s alarming as hell.

 

[bilby]

Is the incidence of “atheist insanity” any lower?

Atheism isn't a mental condition; It's the absence of a specific mental condition.

In the same vein, "Not having any viruses" isn't a viral disease.

Of course, not having a viral disease is not synonymous with being healthy; One can be free of viruses and still be dying of a bacterial infection.

And one can be an atheist and still be a psychopath, or bipolar.

 

[Elixir]

Of course, not having a viral disease is not synonymous with being healthy; One can be free of viruses and still be dying of a bacterial infection.

And if you're free of them (bacteria) you're ... dead.

The Free Society of Insane Atheists will attest.

 

[SLD]

 

[Elixir]

 

[southernhybrid]

 

[crazyfingers]

 

[unapologetic]

Anti-vax makes your brains fall out.