Ruby asked:


How come some people are referred for psychological assessment if they say they are communication with ‘God’, yet Nun’s who claim to have a direct intimate relationship with God are respected?

Who has the right to decide what is reality and what isnt.

How do we know what is real and what is not!

13 Responses to “Who decides if a person hearing voices or claiming a connection to god is crazy?”

1. Hayley M on August 29th, 2008 11:59 pm

   We don’t know. Each individual must decide for themselves.

   The relationships you speak of are different though. Conversations with God vs. what some might call a spirit connection are much different.

2. Nothingusefullearnedinschool on August 31st, 2008 5:53 am

   In society, that would be the doctors, psychiatrists, social workers and politicians. They decide everything that is allowed or disallowed in the entire world.

3. Sahmyel on August 31st, 2008 9:02 am

   You’re talking about two very different things. There is a huge difference between some one of faith feeling as if god is guiding them and someone who has had a total break with reality and is suffering from auditory and/or visual hallucinations. Reality is not subjective anyone who thinks other wise needs to stop hitting the pipe.

4. Maeve L on September 2nd, 2008 8:26 am

   That’s a hard question to answer. But I think that something to consider would be this — the message a person gets when they think they are communicating with God. If they receive/her messages that are enlightening, or lead him/her to do good, then why not accept that she/he is communicating with God?

   However, if the message recieved/heard leads to harm to one’s self or others, to violence or committing crimes, then that person should seek professional help. Because I can’t see God telling someone to do harm in His/Her name.

5. Tara C on September 5th, 2008 11:37 am

   i would think that the content would determine if it’s god or if they’re crazy.

   god wouldn’t say go to a school and shoot as many people as you can.

   if you were hearing things like helping yourself, or helping others then maybe it’s god, and even if it wasn’t and they are crazy, what’s wrong with ‘good’ crazy thoughts.

6. *wink* on September 6th, 2008 9:45 pm

   If the person is a threat to themselves or others then it is cause to refer for psychological assessment. If they are hurting no one….couldn’t it possible be God?

7. Plato on September 9th, 2008 9:58 am

   What do you mean who decides? We do! Isn’t that what stereotyping is all about?
   Besides, my mental problem (a potentially problematic voice in my head named Bobert) tells me that I am superior, and that I don’t need anyone to validate my opinions for me. Maybe you should consider the same.

   What I’m trying to say is that don’t let all these people tell you that what you know inside is wrong. Ignore them for God’s sake! (Besides, Bobert tells me that you’re smart and can figure that out on your own.)

8. sculptress on September 11th, 2008 7:48 am

   Some of the proof is in what a person says they are being told.
   Is anything that is being said out of line with God’s character in the bible? Is the person acting in a way that would pose a danger to themselves or others? I have worked in a psych.
   discharge planning unit and it is very apparent those who are hallucinating as opposed to those who, through prayer believe that God is showing them ways to grow and help others. It is really clear in spending time with people whether the “voices” are a brain dysfunction or part of spiritual seeking.
   P.S. I know that some will think it is all a brain dysfunction
   since they don’t believe there is a God. I’m just answering the question as posed. Peace.

9. I try on September 13th, 2008 5:36 am

   Most people who don’t believe in god, will think that everyone who talks/hears/communicates to a spiritual beings are insane. Basically society puts the difference on… is this person causing harm to himself or others? That’s usually the standard that society goes off when describing the difference. But noone truly knows for sure, we all just guess off of some common sense.

10. mtheoryrules on September 16th, 2008 8:10 am

    An individual, you decide first if your crazy and then the people you meet will make a judgement call.

11. Curious on September 16th, 2008 7:47 pm

    Insanity is an opinion of one. A man I know wanted to protest war. He planned to walk up and down the street, carrying a sign. I told him to get some other people to protest with. A group of protesters is a demonstration. One guy with a sign is a nut .

12. Doctor Y on September 19th, 2008 11:39 pm

    There are actually any number of instances mental oddities that are never treated in any way.

    Synethesia is a good example. It involves experiencing a sensory input in inappropriate terms… so you when you see the colour red it may taste sweet, or the smell of fresh bread causes you to hear a sound. One study that tried to find out how prevalent this condition was found that a lot of people who had it lied and said they didn’t because they didn’t WANT to be cured.

    And that is really the kind of difference we’re talking about. A mental illness is something that makes you less well. It interferes with your ability to live a happy and fulfilled life. Any oddity which does not interfere in such a way or which actually helps you be happy and fulfilled certainly does not fit this description, and I know few mental health professionals who would be interested in trying to ‘cure’ such things.

    Now, telling people you hear voices will probably cause them to think you’re a bit odd, especially if they are unable to hear those voices as well. But again that doesn’t mean those voices are unreal at all. It may not be what you think it is – for example, it could be a neurochemical imbalance instead of a supernatural entity (or vice versa) – but that doesn’t make it NOT REAL.

13. hkyson on September 21st, 2008 9:16 pm

    Actually, it all depends on the social context you find yourself in that determines how you will be treated if you claim a special connection with God that enables the two of you to have dialogues.

    If you are part of a religious organization, your co-religionists may agree with you, though some (perhaps many!) of them may declare you a false profit. In that case, you may decide to establish a new religion based on your insights.

    At first people will consider your followers to be part of a cult. But if your religion attracts growing numbers of members and survives a long time, it will become a respectable “mainline” religion.

    If, however, you are an ordinary man on the street who makes such claims and attracts no followers, people will think you are psychotic.

    As an atheist, I am convinced that anyone who makes such statements, whether established religious figures or people on the street, have a very poor grip on reality.

    Harleigh Kyson Jr.