Could the very high rate of mental illness in Europe be related to religion decline?

[welshdean]

DOC:

How, for example, could we account for the high rate of depression in France?

You've obviously never been.

 

[Elizabeth I]

You've obviously never been.

What? With all that cheese and wine, how could they be depressed?

 

[Professor Yaffle]

What? With all that cheese and wine, how could they be depressed?

They have to live with all those french people...

 

[Craig B]

Thus while the US seems to be more godly on the surface (by such things as a higher church attendance) it is actually less godly in certain areas than Europe. But then again Europe is less godly in certain areas, mainly in its growing lack of recognition and indifference to God.

Mmm ... Lack of recognition of God sounds about as ungodly as you can get. In what sense can it be said that the US is "actually less godly" than people who don't even recognise God? And if the definition of godliness is as confused and uncertain as this, of what possible value is the observation about comparative rates of mental illness, even if it were in fact accurate?

 

[six7s]

...of what possible value is the observation about comparative rates of mental illness... ?

value(inaccurate observation) = delusion reinforcement ++;

 

[catsmate]

What? With all that cheese and wine, how could they be depressed?

USAian tourists?

 

[welshdean]

USAian tourists?

ETA: Obviously not the lovely 'horsey' types.

 

[Rincewind]

Mmm ... Lack of recognition of God sounds about as ungodly as you can get. In what sense can it be said that the US is "actually less godly" than people who don't even recognise God? And if the definition of godliness is as confused and uncertain as this, of what possible value is the observation about comparative rates of mental illness, even if it were in fact accurate?

Actually, there's probably a test for lack of recognition of God...

Just show somebody a piece of burnt toast (or something similar), and ask them who's face they see.

 

[TimCallahan]

DOC: Now that even you have agreed that the rates of mental illness in Europe are comparable to those in the U.S., and now that it has been pointed out to you that the even though the Canadians are less godly than we in the U.S. are, yet have a mental illness rate less than half that of the U.S., are you ready to retract the assertion of your O.P.?

After all, the evidence is clearly against you.

 

[Mister Agenda]

I don't believe DOC is capable of making a retraction. Has he ever done so on anything? The closest he seems to be able to come is 'Yes, but I'm still right on balance'.

 

[Craig B]

Actually, there's probably a test for lack of recognition of God... Just show somebody a piece of burnt toast (or something similar), and ask them who's face they see.

By those standards Europe, or at least central Italy where my wife's relations live, is plenty religious. You get brass bands playing concerts in honour of the stigmata of St Padre Pio, and the number of weeping statues, holy liquifying phials of saints' congealed blood etc, is beyond computation.

By DOC's calculations there should be no sign of mental disorder anywhere in Molise or the Naples region. Alas, it's not clear to me that this is so. On the contrary, in fact.

 

[TimCallahan]

By those standards Europe, or at least central Italy where my wife's relations live, is plenty religious. You get brass bands playing concerts in honour of the stigmata of St Padre Pio, and the number of weeping statues, holy liquifying phials of saints' congealed blood etc, is beyond computation.

By DOC's calculations there should be no sign of mental disorder anywhere in Molise or the Naples region. Alas, it's not clear to me that this is so. On the contrary, in fact.

Once again, if you go to [URL="http:///www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5111202/ns/health-mental_health/t/global-study-finds-mental-illness-widespread/#.TodQOnNdpvk"[/URL] you will find that that the mental illness rates of Italy (8.2%) and Spain (9.2%), arguably more religious than Germany, have mental illness rates comparable to Germany's rate of 9.1%. Of course Nigeria, with a rate under 5% puts the U.S. rate of over 26% to shame. So, would anyone care to exchange life in the U.S. for life in Nigeria?

 

[Craig B]

you will find that that the mental illness rates of Italy (8.2%) and Spain (9.2%), arguably more religious than Germany, have mental illness rates comparable to Germany's rate of 9.1%. Of course Nigeria, with a rate under 5% puts the U.S. rate of over 26% to shame. So, would anyone care to exchange life in the U.S. for life in Nigeria?

It really doesn't seem to make any difference at all, then. Religious people and atheists are equally likely to go bananas.

 

[Craig B]

Of course Nigeria, with a rate under 5% puts the U.S. rate of over 26% to shame. So, would anyone care to exchange life in the U.S. for life in Nigeria?

This is perhaps the point. Behaviour which would pass unremarked in Nigeria or Naples would result in incarceration in a mental hospital in Vermont or Rhode Island.

 

[Mojo]

Of course Nigeria, with a rate under 5% puts the U.S. rate of over 26% to shame. So, would anyone care to exchange life in the U.S. for life in Nigeria?

Well, Nigeria is very religious: over 50% Muslim.

 

[Robrob]

DOC: Now that even you have agreed that the rates of mental illness in Europe are comparable to those in the U.S., and now that it has been pointed out to you that the even though the Canadians are less godly than we in the U.S. are, yet have a mental illness rate less than half that of the U.S., are you ready to retract the assertion of your O.P.?

Since he's making it as he goes, I predict - no.

 

[Roadtoad]

Still catching up with this, and have to note that even after DOC's been shown the fallacies, he's still sticking to his godbot fantasies.

I'm going to grab a beer. I'm here for 34 hours, I might as well get comfortable.

 

[Edward Palamar]

For the sake of clarity :

It's all very well for you as the resurrected and prophesied Peter the Roman not to worry, but the rest of us are not so fortunate.

I am resurrected, but the name Peter the Roman is not.

 

[Edward Palamar]

I don't appreciate your calumny, Cuddles.

Stay on topic and avoid making personal attacks. Edward Palamar, that mainly means you.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Cuddles

I haven't made any personal attacks. The relation of mental illness and belief in Christ has been challenged, and the best that the moderators of JREF can contribute is a calumnious duo of falsehood. I find your powers of interpretation on the wane.

 

[Roadtoad]

I haven't made any personal attacks. The relation of mental illness and belief in Christ has been challenged, and the best that the moderators of JREF can contribute is a calumnious duo of falsehood. I find your powers of interpretation on the wane.

I don't know about that. While I find I have some serious disagreements regarding the moderation, this time, they got it right.

Sorry. Just sayin'...