Many, if not most people have "faith" in a god or mystical "spirit world" which they cannot see, hear or touch. Some are so convinced that they have direct contact with this invisible, uncomprehendable entity that they spend small fortunes on psychic "healings", mediums, excorcisms or TV evangelists to receive blessings. Some spiritual, religious and UFO cults have had mass suicides, whilst others make life a hell-on-earth for those who are not as "faithful" as they should be.
When faith comes to the point of controlling people's lives, could it then be classed as a phsychological illness? Are those who organise such cults simply in it for the money, or are they guenuinely ill? What about the everyday members of such cults, who derive no financial gain from them - are they victims of a contagious phsychological illness?
There is an article here (quite an old one by the look of it) that brings up some good points ... www.xproject-paranormal.c...faith.html
John
When faith comes to the point of controlling people's lives, could it then be classed as a phsychological illness? Are those who organise such cults simply in it for the money, or are they guenuinely ill? What about the everyday members of such cults, who derive no financial gain from them - are they victims of a contagious phsychological illness?
There is an article here (quite an old one by the look of it) that brings up some good points ... www.xproject-paranormal.c...faith.html
John
