The Religious Schizophrenic’s Bible1
Colin Stewart Jones2
It is a matter of convention to supply a definition of one’s subject to avoid confusion at the outset. The nature of the schizophrenic, however, defies convention; is hard to define—just ask the professionals; and involves much confusion. Confused? You may well be by the end of this, but it is just possible that sufferers may gain some clarification and the remainder of the population some insight. Schizophrenia is derived from the Greek and means a split mind. This is a misnomer; schizophrenia is not a split personality or multiple personality disorder. This, however, is a commonly held misconception that has no doubt been fuelled by Hollywood and popular fiction. Nevertheless, to the unfortunate Christian schizophrenic there is an element of truth to this, what we shall call, double-minded notion of the illness. SZ is actually (I use the word paradoxically) a distorted and disturbed view of the world where the sufferer hears voices and believes that they are being persecuted or manipulated by powers outside their control. This description should fit any Bible believing Christian:3
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 4
Eph 6:125
It is worth noting here that I do not intend to propound any particular theory or side with the psychiatric view of the illness but, rather, relate my own experiences as a born-again Christian who happens to have been diagnosed with SZ. It is up to the reader to decide if this is a success story or not. The astute among you will have noticed that I did not claim ownership of the illness. I do not have SZ. I have enough of the symptoms for the doctors to make a diagnosis but I will not claim ownership because I believe the Bible when it says that the power of life and death is in the tongue, therefore, as a Christian I speak those things that are not, as though they are. So I speak health and a sound mind. This creates the first dichotomy for the religious schizophrenic, namely, who to believe. If you believe both the Word of God and the doctors then you are double-minded. The Bible tells us a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. One is forced to choose. I chose God you may not. Anyway, I chose God before I was diagnosed with SZ. Or more correctly, God tells me that He chose me before I was diagnosed with SZ.6
Some people refuse to accept the diagnosis, which is apparently another one of the symptoms of SZ. Of course, we are free to believe what we want about ourselves regardless of doctors’ opinions and should also be free to express our faith. Thankfully we cannot yet be sectioned for religious belief. This, however, presents another problem for the religious schizophrenic: if we talk to God we are praying, if God talks back then we are schizophrenic. The word ‘Religious’ should require no definition or explanation but it seems to have become a dirty word of late. Among Pentecostals it is used to describe the traditional Church and implies a lack of freedom. In this sense SZ is religious and the church is schizophrenic. But it is not my place to get into these kinds of arguments—I have my own battles.7
Author notes
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1 - 26 of 26
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Outstanding
Dear Col,
Thank you very much for writing this short article. Finally, I have understood what SZ really truly is. I can't thank you enough for enlightening me on this. At times in life whenever I have been let down or disturbed or worried, I hear Him talk to me, sometimes as God, sometimes as Goddess, sometimes I see his angels. I believe this is very reassuring to me that I am not alone in my battles. I think you, my friend, are doing the right thing by choosing God. Let the world ramble on.
Charishma -
I enjoyed your comparison of religeousness and insanity. I have often thought of that myself, the simalarities between beleiving in God and SZ. I understand that you could be upset with the fact that others may compare you with SZs just because you "talk" with God. I'm sure that most beleivers don't hear God's voice at all. but isn't that, the core, the whole point? If I prayed and heard god talk back I would become a believer on the spot. Whether or not I was "crazy" What disturbs me is that belivers pray and pray and pray, not hearing god talk back but still beleive he's there. You know what I mean. I used to belive in God. I decided, litrally, one morning that it is just silly, illogical and niave. He doesn't talk back, he doesn't listen, he is selfish, cruel, arrogant and frankly, he never gave a rat's ass about me when I did, fully and completely, believe in him. That's just me. Sorry if I offended anyone but it's a dore issue with me. I very much enjoyed this. Thanks.
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FantabulousInterpretationsTheyHaveAChoiceToo!
LOL...CooLol...I agree...
...seeing as I could fall along the same lines as what's described here by your humble well thought out words...Truly...disorders and such are my last worry...it's just one of those things...yeah...maybe to the world, I'm crazy...but...Thank God the world's opinion of me doesn't change the fact that I Love every moment Unconditionally...and no man can say I am without God...and God knows my troubles of the mind...I never really hear voices...it's an intuition kind of thing...interpretations without words...just feelings deep inside...that part of the heart that lets you just plain know better...we need not worry of an idea for SZ...we need just be ourselves, and make our choices to move forward...I Believe God guides me...and I accept that forces try to take away my Faith...if that makes me SZ...then let them say it...let them come against me...all I have to say to them...is I Love them...and that's as genuinely from my heart as can be put...a wonderful story here friend...may you always stay True...to yourself...and to your choice in Living the Will of God...and sharing it with others...take care...God Bless...
Bugs & Phishes
's & 
's
's & Wishes
RollyPollies & Me!
~Glet
rica/C. L. Brandon K.~
Recycle your shoes...
Men Are After Me 
Aaaahhhh!!!
May Angels Carry You On Wongs Of Son Shine!!!
Hand an Angel a tissue, and get angelSnot...
Peacey... -
if you want to put it in then i am happy with that
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is this something you'd like to use for SPINDICATED?
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wow. never thought of this... very interesting. that is so true what you say about if you pray talk to god you're praying if he talks back you're schizophrenic. that's funny. Thanks for entering, good luck
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great
This was fantastic a great read ,Profound in fact to my mental abilities .Love the bit if God talks back lol -
thanks Cookie..I believe in healing By His stripes...I am also a born again baptised in the Holy Spirit believer but the death of the self is a painful process the old man, the flesh, continually tries to resurrect itself. As far as i am aware i have fully repented of my sins and behaviour but this particular illness is a hindrance to close communication with the Father because of the fear and distractions. I am fully aware that God say fear not 366 times and Timothy power,love and a sound mind. Sometimes healing is also a process and i believe, no i am sure, that I am getting better as i go along with God. God bless u and thanks for the concern and comments
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I'm afraid if I were to re-read this over again to try and get a better understanding of this, I would only become more confused, and have the same reaction as I do now. This piece isn't all confusing, I do understand the whole of it in some decent way, but man, for someone to actually think about this and put it into words and so on... is just like an SZ to do
Abby Eyeball
Edited on Oct 14, 1:07 p.m. because 'just because'. -
You are obviously extremely intelligent. Yet you choose God's foolishness. His ways are not the worlds ways. I think that if you continue to trust in him all will be well.
It is true that when we take our faith and put it against the measure of what the world would call a healthy mind we might look somewhat skewed. The fact is that we live in a fallen world where so much has been perverted a person who walks like Jesus looks odd. If I look odd because I look like Jesus I am GLAD.
I guess I have said that to say this: if in following your God you find that you are not on the path that most are do not lose heart. Many times that is an indication that you are on the right path.
As far as whether or not that disease is affecting you, I couldn't say.
My mother is a diagnosed SZ and I am 30 and I do not know her. She is ashamed of her illness. I wish she would see me but she won't.
well...I suppose I probably have not been too helpful but this is my heart.
KT -
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wowwwwwwwwww, this poem is like totally cool dude, i like it, im not usually into all the religious stuff but this was very good, it kept me readin all the way through, i praise you so much man, you have done very good on this one, you should really write more like this cos this is brill, and i really hope you can find time to read myne, id appreciate it soo much, and also if you were so nice as to giv me an applause if ya like them hehe well seeya soon bye bye -
Hello. Thanks for your most upfront illustrations of the disorder.
Let me re-focus the points you have shown and what you are trying to make as both a participant in what you know and an advocate in biblical truth.
If we are made in the image of God, why are we suffering?
Answer: The Creator made us with two natures. One is the human configuration( equipped with human will), but which is open to the higher truth never to be satisfied until it is accepted and acted upon. The other is the portion that, when we are surrendered to supernatural calling (Holy Spirit), the result can change. Maybe not all at once, for there is actually purpose in suffering.( Acts 8:1-9: It is always a call to come to know Christ, the one who saw the sufferer from the Cross. Always.
Romans 7:21-25 expresses this well:
" So I find this law at work: "When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, wagin war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me fromt his body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!."
What does this take?
It takes prayer--- so loosely used as more of a divine wish\. Prayer is an actual communication with the Lord of the Universe, the one Who's been sacrificed for all things by the second of Godhead, Jesus Christ, prophesied from the beginning of time (Genesis) to the New Testament, as fulfilled. Faith upon being drawn by the Holy Spirit will give us some kind of insight. We must ask for it. A profound surrender to the call, repentance, and following is the collective art of success.
Mental Illness is a very destructive power which can easily seek its own platform. However, since crucifixion was the worst possible execution for all crimes ( sin, in the deepest sense) we can be loosed from it should the Lord want to illustrate its power of release upon any kind of human condition.
I certainly hope and pray that you are willing to pursue the goal as Paul did, giving the compassion of how difficult it is.
I am certainly in your corner!Blessings, CookieZeal/M.DB
Edited on Oct 13, 10:10 p.m. because ''. -
I sat on a blank and desolate roadside for 4 hours (starting at 1am) waiting for god to say something to me. I don't think he ever did.
-Jake -
I love this!
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very interesting. i'm glad that you defined the illness as many people do not know what it is, and your personal story makes it all the more interesting.
~Kate -
I'm glad that you found this piece informative..and thank you for the nice comments
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This is a great write... YOu are a talented writter... and this was very interesting for me to read... and informative too.. I did always think SZ was like mulitpule personalities... maybe because I never knew anyone personally who had it I have never taked then time to look into it... anyways the title drew me in and this was a great write. thanks for sharing and keep writting.
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aripirazole is a wonder drug it may help if you can convince him to self medicate..I dunno the law where u r but in Scotland if the docs think u r a danger to yourself they can section you i.e put u in hospital involuntarily
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SZ is a very difficult personal demon to live with. I know. someone close to me is a paranoid Scizophrenic, and his disease is destroying him. his friends, like myself, are trying to help him, but his illness causes him to block us out, and I fear he will either hurt himself, or someone else someday. he wont take his meds, because his paranoia tells him that they are bad for him, yet he cannot function without them and so he hasnt changed clothes or showered in weeks. he needs to be in a group home, but try to convince him of that. we, his friends, are at a loss to know what to do for him.
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hmm i happen to be a kind of pentacostal...meaning...full gospel but not holy roller elite. i do however understand what you are saying (do i need to see my therapist) the duality that one must live, in the christian belief is well, a tight rope. If you do believe God speaks to you, then by definition you can be considered SZ but what about all the voices in my head anyway, those of my family, friends, lovers? AYE DE MI...
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I VERY much enjoyed reading your story, and I look forward to getting to know you on AP!!! Thanks for sharing with us all.
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You have said many things here which would take a lot of space to address, and you've said them pretty well. As you know it is hard enough to discuss the subject of religion in person, let alone trying to cram all into this space.
I don't blame you for not claiming any kind of illness. And doctors are wrong more often than people like to think. At the same time who can speak to things like God talking back to a person? I spent some years in a pentecostal\charismatic setting which I now reject. During that time I heard so many people say God spoke to them that I was thoroughly sick of it, particularly since they displayed such a singular incompetence in the most fundamental areas. Yet, I would never say that God could not or would not speak to someone (He has many ways of doing so) and I have known a few people whom I believe experienced this.
I have been a Christian for 26 years. I have seen a lot. Personally, and I am not happy to say this, I have to say that the average Christian is such a weak reed that only God could make use of them, myself included. They are incredibly lazy when it comes to thinking, something that is hard for me to tolerate. I could tell you many stories. And now I'm beginning to ramble, not even sure if my comment was in any way pertinent to what you wrote. If you care to carry on with the matter let me know. I don't mind doing this kind of thing via email. -
AWESOME STORY
This was an amaziny story you have written. Though my faith in God is newly found, it has changed my life and now it is changing others. I feel God telling me what to do all the time. His presence is so strong it is overwhelming. And I do not have SZ, so it quite normal to hear God. I hope that's who is telling me or I'm in big trouble. My dear friend on here live4eternity, helped me find God. He says it's fine that God is revealing himself. It is all quite amazing. I never wrote a poem about God, in fact till June I never wrote poetry at all. I truly believe it's the Lord that let's me write and He who sent me to meet Jason.He is like a son to me know. Sorry for rambling. This was a fantastic sory. Take care, Sandyi
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I like this very much. your points are eloquently stated, and I can really grasp what you say.
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you are very intellegent, there are lots of facts in there. This story also gives an uplifting feeling for all and even more for a fellow sufferer. I especially like that there isnt any sympathy and probably dont want any. i also like that you didnt spark a lot of flames inside people, because everyone knows that religion is a hard topic to dicuss. I like this stry a lot, take it easy and keep up the excellent writing
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As for the content religion is something I do not comment on, as for the way it is written, I'd the whole and remained interested. Well done
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