Am I normal?

[Griffin NoName]

Begging Beagle's permission for the reference, this series of programmes has proved fascinating.

Last night's episode was "Spirituality" in which "Clinical psychologist Dr Tanya Byron explores what some consider as the fine line between religious devotion and psychiatric disorder. She sees what happens when rational scientists try to analyse religious phenomena like Speaking in Tongues and Hearing Voices, and considers the beliefs of faith healers who claim miracles happen."

Given my current concerns, interests, and pre-occupations, I found this quite fascinating.

Until the last item on the programme which intorduced a trained and long practicing traditional psychiatrist, Dr Alan Sanderson, freeing a woman of a child spirit that inhabited her body. Should I find out more about Spiritual Release? Would this help me to feel free and unemcumbered I wonder?

not sure which category this topic should fall within?

[Sibling Chatty]

I don't know about Spirit Release...

but NORMAL is just another setting on the dryer, honey. how many bubbles off plumb do ya get to be before you're not 'normal'? I probably went far beyond that long ago...

It's actually kinda nice here!

[pieces o nine]

...
Last night's episode was "Spirituality" in which "Clinical psychologist Dr Tanya Byron explores what some consider as the fine line between religious devotion and psychiatric disorder. She sees what happens when rational scientists try to analyse religious phenomena like Speaking in Tongues and Hearing Voices, and considers the beliefs of faith healers who claim miracles happen."
...

At the last Pagan mini meet-up here, I asked one of the women who is so involved in the local 'College of Wicca' a question. I noted that I had been raised RC and if the Holy Spirit had ever had a wild hair to speak to 'speak in tongues' through someone at Mass, the closest nun would have beat them to death with her 15-decade rosary... 

On the other hand, I had friends raised in charismatic churches who would have been viewed as devil-infested if they *didn't* break into glossolalia upon cue.

My question, as someone who is quite happy as a solitary, was whether there was anything similar to this phenomenon in the ate-up Wicca4Evr! students, or what would happen if, say, Loki the Trickster inspired the Heathen equivalent of glossolalia at Blot. Or if an HP Drawing Down suddenly veered from Doreen Valiente's little poem and just started frothing. That  would certainly liven up a ho-hum circle...

It proved to be an arresting thought. Their conclusion was that the god(s)(ess)(es) show considerable discretion when inspiring expressions of fervor in their followers so as not to embarrass them in front of their peers. (That's my phrasing.) Srsly.

It would be interesting to wire up and monitor an assortment of the 'devout'. For example, compare brain imaging and other readings from: a Tibetan monk in meditation, an RC nun praying a rosary, a Charismatic speaking 'tongues', both parties involved in a 'laying on of hands' to heal a documented medical condition, a neoPagan casting a circle, maybe one of the Spirit Release practitioners from your article in action, etc. You'd also need controls: maybe a die-hard fan watching the a World Cup soccer final, an atheist reading The God Delusion, a mathematician working on a complex and fascinating (to him!) equation.

I suspect that the same centers would light up for the serious sports fan as for the serious fundamentalist. But it would be an interesting new take on what is 'normal'.

[Griffin NoName]

The programme did MRI on man speaking in tongues. No activity in the part the brain that normally controls speech. Conclusion he wasn't directing what was coming out his mouth. No conclusion on what was controlling it though either.

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

The programme did MRI on man speaking in tongues. No activity in the part the brain that normally controls speech. Conclusion he wasn't directing what was coming out his mouth.

A (semi) voluntary switch of functions? The brain is a very flexible transducer, for instance things like the vOICe allow a trained person to 'see' through sound. On the same token it sounds plausible to teach your brain route other information to your vocal chords given the amount of peer pressure to perform.

[Bluenose]

Another interpretation might be that what is coming out the mouth is not speech.  I personally favour this one.

[anthrobabe]

I think you are feeling a great need to purge all the pain, ugly, hurt, hate both self and otherwise from yourself, purge can be good in all it's various forms.
My only advice would be to watch your pocketbook for scammers, really do as much study on it as possible, have a person with you that you literally trust with your life if you decide to begin this process.

and as to your question-- like Chatty said- setting on a washin machine.

I always try and think about this- normal and typical are two very different ideas/things and one group/culture/societies normal is not universal. Of course we all know this but it does help to stop once and a while and reflect on this.

[Swatopluk]

Google "Jesus made me puke" and look for Matt Taibbi's experience with glossolalia  *

*but be careful about the demon of anal fissures

[pieces o nine]

During my Last Hurrah with Mainstream Christianity, I was the volunteer editor-slash-copy writer-slash-layout department of the bishop's newsletter -- a task I really rather enjoyed. Especially the perk of my sporadic column: Editorial License.        But I digress...

One of the last issues I put together featured feedback excerpts from diocesan youth who had attended a trendy new, national-movement 'charismatic' rally. Nota bene, these were anonymous responses which that group actually included in the pro-event propaganda they submitted to me for publication.

I made sure that the quotes I chose focused on the teens' shock and fear at being confronted with 'Worship Leaders' who all but commanded them to speak in tongues and behave, frankly, as if they were being ridden by the Episcopalian version of the Loa. Quotes admitting egging each other on in faking to avoid being harassed by the 'Worship Leaders'. Quotes confessing subsequent loss of faith and all trust/respect for the adults who sent them off, bamboozled by the holy hype without investigating carefully. Quotes from particularly malleable teens fearing they were now vulnerable to 'demon attack' after 'submitting' to being 'Slain in the Spirit' (a phrase I *particularly* detest).

I used a whole tabloid-sized page and liberally festooned it with these highlighted call-outs so that *no one* who read the paper or heard about it from friends could ever claim to be ignorant about that event again. It was a masterpiece of subversive intervention. It was as beautiful as the 'parable of the m&m's and diet coke' layout! And it was the only time in my editorial tenure that I was censored. My layout was deleted and replaced with a bland and forgettable event summary before PDFing the files for the printer.

But I noticed that the diocesan office, while not entirely distancing itself from the event, was no longer a conspicuous, gung-ho cheerleader for it. Sometimes heretics come in handy. They are the only ones willing to point out that the emperor evangelical predator has no clothes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There are no Pew Research Center studies on the psychological impact of religion, both pro and con, in Youth Ministries. A pity.

[beagle]

Think it was easier being a teen in my day. You were just made to sing hymns you didn't believe in loud enough to satisfy teachers who didn't believe them either.
I suppose if you've got to prove your devotion then gibbering incomprehensibly beats bomb-building. Also gets your parents used to the idea for when you start on the alco-pops.

Don't think talking in tongues would go down well in the C of E.  My uncle stopped churchgoing when they brought in guitars and hugging strangers.


P.S. I thought I might be normal once, but it was a false alarm.

[Aggie]

I suppose if you've got to prove your devotion then gibbering incomprehensibly beats bomb-building. Also gets your parents used to the idea for when you start on the alco-pops.

When I was a teen, I managed both activities quite well without alco-pops or devotion.

[anthrobabe]

speaking of puke

For the longest time my youngest daughter attended the church down the street-with my 'blessing' as it was her choice until she decided she's had enough...

super stomach nights for Jesus--- this mess involved a blender, noxious concoctions and underage children seeing who could keep the worst down...... Oh for gifts and stuff not just for Jesus- gifts like bibles clad in imitation zebra or cheeta skin, Jesus night lights, gift cards to the local christian store, their name on the Super Stomach for Jesus wall of fame, you get the picture-- I suppose it was the ick factor that brought them in by droves from the local schools on Wednesday nights-- indoctrination by puke---
she eventually decided --on her own-- that she'd had enough, began to study paganism and wicca and is now a practicing witch(and there is absolutely nothing negative about a witch at all!).

I think my only comment during the entire time was -- you know I think that is gross and something typically smartarse like-- if you puke your guts out then can you still go to heaven and eat manna or milk and honey or whatever they have up there--- but I am a smartarse like that.

does anyone want to share the nightmare that was 'vacation bible school' with the group? 

normal---     still looking for it

[Griffin NoName]

Should I find out more about Spiritual Release? Would this help me to feel free and unemcumbered I wonder?

Forgot 

..... and "Am I Normal?" was the series title not a question about ME. Of course I am normal.

I followed some links and the guy behind the eldery psychiatrist is someone I did business with (real business not the spiritual kind). I say "with" but that doesn't really describe it. His spirituality over-whelmed him when it came to paying me. I never got a penny. At that time he was channelling a spirit called H-A. Seems now he is branching out. May his empire flourish !!  (I wonder how much of the psychiatrists earnings the spirits take).

[Sibling Chatty]

Have your spirit entity send his a bill, with late fees.

[Griffin NoName]

Somehow Chatty, I think when I "pass over" (sic) my spirit is going to be VERY busy.