Mike resnick article of faith analysis6/12/2023 ![]() ![]() Religious beliefs exist outside of the scientific domain therefore they can be easily labeled delusional from a rational perspective. Religious beliefs and delusions alike can arise from neurologic lesions and anomalous experiences, suggesting that at least some religious beliefs can be pathological. Therefore, recognition of social dynamics and the possibility of entire delusional subcultures is necessary in the assessment of group beliefs. ![]() When beliefs are shared by others, the idiosyncratic can become normalized. From an individual standpoint, a dimensional approach to delusional thinking (emphasizing conviction, preoccupation, and extension rather than content) may be useful in examining what is and is not pathological. Historically, psychiatrists such as Freud have suggested that all religious beliefs are delusional, while the current DSM-IV definition of delusion exempts religious doctrine from pathology altogether. In clinical practice, no clear guidelines exist to distinguish between "normal" religious beliefs and "pathological" religious delusions.
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