tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post2265711284267771077..comments2023-11-27T23:30:40.341-05:00Comments on Anything But Theist: Religion is LanguageAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-65927166866463765872010-02-01T11:18:38.869-05:002010-02-01T11:18:38.869-05:00America's problem: the guys are all like Ricky...America's problem: the guys are all like Ricky or J-Roc.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-77800982963307050212010-01-30T18:43:12.617-05:002010-01-30T18:43:12.617-05:00OMG- you just warmed my heart. Trailer Park Boys i...OMG- you just warmed my heart. Trailer Park Boys is awesome.....Source of national pride. It really lowered the bar on our television, I think we are worse than the Europeans now. That was the first time I saw hash hockey, hot knives, and bottle tokes on tv- all part of our unique marijuana culture. I met them once, really nice guys. And, its no joke, in some parts of Canada, people carry drinks like that.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-15431125400575714352010-01-30T16:17:13.594-05:002010-01-30T16:17:13.594-05:00I'm aware of this horrible cycle thanks to wha...I'm aware of this horrible cycle thanks to what little sociology I know, and also another fine Canadian documentary: Trailer Park Boys.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-27215274277179758302010-01-30T10:13:54.292-05:002010-01-30T10:13:54.292-05:00I agree that there is no causality.
We have alot ...I agree that there is no causality.<br /><br />We have alot of literature about marginalization and poverty in Canada. Mental illness, low income, chronic illness, communicable disease, criminality, addictions- they are all interrelated and a vicious cycle. It is pretty interesting stuff, and it has taught me alot about how to see a person as a complex being.<br /><br />That being said, I tend to work with that group- where the symptoms are outwardly visible and they are clearly part of the "cycle" I am describing. But, as you said above, there are those who seem normal and who "function" normally who have alot of issues. I fear them too.<br /><br />Here is an article that talks about how the whole thing is packaged together as part of a social complexity. Give it a read if you are interested.<br /><br />http://www.ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/53/5/565tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-50468221585896769702010-01-30T00:43:20.755-05:002010-01-30T00:43:20.755-05:00I don't know whether those are numbers for peo...I don't know whether those are numbers for people who had been diagnosed with mental illness prior, but I am not surprised that most offenders would be diagnosed after the fact. We've invented names for all manner of personality disorders that really have little to do with illness.<br /><br />In fact, I think over half the population would be diagnosed with a mental health disease if they were all under the scrutiny of those who perform violent acts. We watch those who we catch acting strange more closely. There may be correlation between mental illness and crime, but there is no causality.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-61580215628318254792010-01-30T00:03:32.350-05:002010-01-30T00:03:32.350-05:00I found these stats. I tried to get the link for y...I found these stats. I tried to get the link for you so that you could see yourself, but it would not allow me. Not sure why. Here they are;<br /><br />-lifetime prevalence of mental illness in federal prisons (in 2004) for males is 84.2 percent, and females is 40.7. This number does not include remand centres and provincial prisons. <br /><br />It should be noted that federal prisons in Canada is the real hardcore stuff. And, I would have thought that it would have been higher for women. That is interesting.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-41877578785927529992010-01-29T23:48:44.514-05:002010-01-29T23:48:44.514-05:00All due respect... I beg to differ. I see many men...All due respect... I beg to differ. I see many mentally ill people hurt themselves and others. All of the time.<br /><br />Secondly, the majority of criminals are mentally ill, at least they are in Canada. I would be willing to bet that if you pulled 10 files on criminals, at least 8 of them would have some type of psychiatric history. The spectrum of the severity of illness is diverse, and some people just decompensate much quicker than others. While their illness may not be the direct result of their crime, it is all part of the cycle of marginalization that impacts their lives and helps to create a criminal entering the penal system.<br /><br />That article, well that guy was very ill. He was refusing all treatment and had deteriorated quite rapidly. He had also been abusing his wife prior to that incident, and skipped town to avert authorities. Following the court case, he was sentenced to a psychiatric facility. Apparently, after he had stabilized on meds, he become quite distressed by what he had done. The whole thing is very, very, very sad. An extreme example, perhaps, but really does reinforce the needs for meds, treatment, and outpatient services.<br /><br />I agree about the organization part, no doubt about it. They fall prey to them, I think, because religion has been the accepted method of outreach work for so long that the resources are just there. That may change. Many of the people that I have encountered really do not want much to do with it, and they are missing the mark with them. <br /><br />In Canada, we have different services for our mentally ill. Our approach is a little more holistic. We house them, take them to court, medicate them, take them to farms, etc. But, many fall through the cracks of the system, unfortunately.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-69128666583559869282010-01-29T21:36:36.529-05:002010-01-29T21:36:36.529-05:00Most people who are mentally ill will never hurt a...Most people who are mentally ill will never hurt anyone, nor are the majority of criminals mentally ill. I'm not saying leave your kids with convicted schizophrenic murderers, but we often sensationalize incidents and allow these exceptions to overshadow the rule.<br /><br />As for the religiosity: religion reaches out to all people. Maybe if science had more to offer than pills and impersonal therapy, or if atheists organized outreach programs, there might be competition. As it stands, it tends to be religion who embraces the disenfranchised. You may call it opportunism, but the cold hard truth is they are sometimes the only organization of people offering to do anything (as flawed as their methods are).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-65842366158413965322010-01-29T20:39:11.390-05:002010-01-29T20:39:11.390-05:00I agree about the stigma thing, but, dude..... Fac...I agree about the stigma thing, but, dude..... Fact is, mentally ill people can be dangerous. Trust me, here is a recent example in Canada;<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/03/03/mb-li-trial.html<br /><br />Everyday, I work with mentally ill people, criminals, addicts, and marginalized populations. Most of the time, medicated, they are okay. But, every minute of the day, you have to be aware of how dangerous they can be, both to others and themselves. Honestly, I really love working with them, and I could not picture myself doing anything else.... Sometimes, you get the weirdest type of rewards from them. But, I am under no illusion about what they are capable of. I have not been hit yet, but it will come.<br /><br />And, a high number of them are religious, especially in the delusion side of things.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-72438256448196804392010-01-29T18:19:59.468-05:002010-01-29T18:19:59.468-05:00I remember hearing stories of the Taleban actually...I remember hearing stories of the Taleban actually strapping bombs to mentally challenged people and telling them to walk into crowded markets. I suppose there might be a higher than average occurance of various illnesses among religious extremists...<br /><br />I don't like to medicalize things, which I think the Western World does too frequently these days. I also don't want to stigmatize the mentally ill as being dangerous people capable of extreme violence. Plenty of healthy people are capable of extreme violence, and I don't think terrorists are acting illogically, just immorally. If anything, I think most terrorist groups understand how to achieve their goals better than the US Army.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-68355859049149186572010-01-29T18:10:24.411-05:002010-01-29T18:10:24.411-05:00Some people would... Depends on how psychotic they...Some people would... Depends on how psychotic they are at the time of arrest.<br /><br />I have worked with many, many, many mentally ill people who are delusional about religion. If you do not know better, they would just sound like someone on the 700 Club. Many people in psychotic states claim to hear the voice of God. I have often thought that if some of them had a little more initiative, they would be terrorists. Hear it enough, and you start getting suspicious of anyone talking the crazy Jesus talk. Trust me on that.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-88513417891303693332010-01-29T10:52:36.683-05:002010-01-29T10:52:36.683-05:00Are you suggesting terrorists are mentally ill?Are you suggesting terrorists are mentally ill?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504734487692109101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721082653718997788.post-52156997669730878492010-01-29T10:47:50.569-05:002010-01-29T10:47:50.569-05:00Yes... All religion has fanatics that have terrori...Yes... All religion has fanatics that have terrorists, Christianity is no exception. They are the same when they kill abortion doctors as the Islamic extremists that they are so fond of deflecting with. <br /><br />History shows that mixing religion with untreated mental illness does not make for a good day.tinkbell13https://www.blogger.com/profile/03322413631736929191noreply@blogger.com