We can view "faith" not as a symptom of a disease, but as a deep human effort to find meaning and purpose in life. From this viewpoint, the article only captures the most extreme side of a much broader phenomenon.
Distinguishing Faith from Delusion: We can emphasize that normal religious belief differs from delusions. A delusion is by definition unique, personal, and uncorrectable—for example, "God speaks to me directly through radio signals." Healthy faith, on the other hand, is part of a communal tradition that has survived for millennia, offering a moral framework and social support.
Faith as a Response to Suffering: The article sees suffering as a cause of pathology (schizophrenia), which then leads to delusion. Another perspective could see suffering as a catalyst for spiritual growth. Many philosophical and religious traditions view suffering as a test or a path to enlightenment, which actually strengthens faith, rather than corrupts it.
We can also look at this issue through a sociological lens, which emphasizes the role of environment and community.
Community as a Reality Check: From this perspective, a religious community acts as a social safety net that helps individuals distinguish between a shared reality and private delusion. If someone is experiencing delusions, a healthy community would encourage them to seek help, rather than reinforcing an irrational belief.
Faith as a Social Phenomenon: The article tends to see faith as a purely individual phenomenon, as if it exists only in one's head. In reality, faith is a social phenomenon. Religious beliefs, rituals, and practices are shaped, transmitted, and maintained by social groups. Religious delusions, in contrast, often isolate individuals from their community.
By remixing this article, we don't have to deny that schizophrenia can manifest as religious delusion. Instead, we can add context and complexity, showing that the article only touches on a small part of the vast spectrum of human belief. In doing so, we can shift the focus from "delusion" to "meaning" and from "pathology" to "community," thereby providing a more balanced and complete picture.
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lol you didn’t read my article - did not claim Faith is a delusion, just that it can be used in a delusional way. Stop using ai to think for you.