I know not everyone is a fan of the DSM but I think it must be fairly authoritative on its definition of a delusion. According to Wikipedia, the DSM definition is:
"A false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly sustained despite what almost everybody else believes and despite what constitutes incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary. The belief is not one ordinarily accepted by other members of the person's culture or subculture (e.g., it is not an article of religious faith)." Dawkins obviously disagrees with that definition. Even assuming belief in God is properly classified as a delusion as Dawkins does, I doubt most psychologists or psychiatrists would agree that challenging a delusion is the most useful course of action in psychiatric treatment or education. Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor of Psychology John Brown University 2000 W. University Siloam Springs, AR 72761 [EMAIL PROTECTED] (479) 524-7295 http://www.jbu.edu/academics/hss/faculty/rfroman.asp "Pete, it's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart." - Ulysses Everett McGill From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 3 Apr 2007 2:49 PM Subject: [tips] Re: It's what they believe Nancy Melucci wrote: It would be wrong to challenge the belief in God, since such things are not done based on evidence. I thought that Dawkins' book made just the opposite point - it is right to challenge the belief in god and it is right to do so based on evidence. Dawkins presents a strong case that the arguments in support of the existence (however conceived) of god are faulty and, most important, that there is no credible evidence that god exists. Although you can't prove non-existence, the preponderance of evidence goes against the belief in god. Beliefs held in the absence of evidence (in this case, a belief in god) are delusions. Are you saying we shouldn't challenge delusions? Why not? . . . JD Thompson Sheridan Institute Oakville, Ontario --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang= english ________________________________ size=2 width="100%" align=center> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com <http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000437> . --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang= english --- To make changes to your subscription go to: http://acsun.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=tips&text_mode=0&lang=english
