I have seen that faith can promote some ones emotional well being, which might signify good emotional health. But I wonder, deep down, at what cost might it be to others…….. e.g. JW family seems very happy and balanced, but they rejected their son for asking difficult questions. Son is therefore a scapegoat. Their denial costs the son his well being, despite him not being deluded…. Wouldn’t say that is emotional equilibrium despite outward appearances to the contrary…..
Faith does seem to have very similar characteristics to the denial seen in neurosis. Delusion tends to be a major factor in some religions sense of grandeur. I don’t know if it is a sign of mental illness per say but I would see that the potential of someone exposed to it for a prolonged period could suffer from mental illness, if they didn’t start off with mental illness in the first place. Delusion and denial, in any form, must indicate something that is either very close to, if not, a mental condition…
Question is, who doesn’t, in some way or form, suffer denial and delusion in some aspect of their perception….??