Symptoms of Religious Addiction

by detective 2 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  detective

  Hi folks,
  This is an excerpt from "when God Becomes a Drug" by Father Leo Booth. I thought it might be of interest.

  The symptoms of religious addiction:

  Inability to think, doubt, or question information or authority

  Black-and-white simplistic thinking

  Shame-based belief that you aren't good enough, or you aren't doing it 'right'

  Magical thinking that God will fix you

  Scrupulousity: rigid, obsessive adherence to rules, codes of ethics, or guidelines

  Uncompromising, judgmental attitudes

  Compulsive praying, going to church or crusades, quoting scripture

  Unrealistic financial contributions

  Believing that sex is dirty-that our bodies and physical pleasures are evil

  Compulsive overeating or excessive fasting

  Conflict with science, medicine, and education

  Progressive detachment from the real world, isolation, breakdown of relationships

  Psychosomatic illnesses: sleeplessness, back pains, headaches, hypertension

  Manipulating scripture or texts, feeling chosen, claiming to receive special messages from God

  Trancelike state or religious high, wearing a glazed happy face

  Cries for help; mental, emotional, physical breakdown; hospitalization

  
  (props to Scully for recommending this book)
• 

  Scully

  I used Booth's book extensively when I was writing an English term-paper about JWs when I was in college. The check-list you quoted is frighteningly eye-opening!

  For anyone who's interested, here's a link to my term paper (which received a grade of 97%):
  http://www.caic.org.au/jws/control/cultic1.htm

  One of my favorite quotes from this book, actually is this:

  if you cannot question or examine what you are taught, if you cannot doubt or challenge authority, you are in danger of being victimized and abused

  Doesn't that sound a lot like our "favorite" cult??

  Love, Scully
• 

  detective

  I'd recommend this book, though a little heavy in the twelve-step talk.

  On another note, I find this book infinitely more palatable than "Toxic Faith". It doesn't work exclusively from a christian perspective the way that "Toxic Faith" does.