Comparing Crazy and Really Crazy

I recently received an e-mail from a friend who has practiced psychiatry for over 30 years. The reason I can't reveal his name will be made obvious after reading his message which is copied verbatim below.



What is the difference between the delusion of a psychotic person and that of a religious fanatic?



1. A psychotic person’s delusion is usually of a persecutory type. He projects his inner fear and insecurity on to a powerful external agency, such a Mafia or FBI, which he believes threatens his security.

A religious fanatic’s delusion is also of persecutory type. He projects his inner fear and insecurity on to a powerful external entity such as devil, another religion, another country or some unknown evil, which he believes threatens his security.



2. A psychotic person’s delusion is usually not shared by his family, friends or others in the community. Therefore, he becomes a target of their ridicule, rejection, hospitalization or even punishment. He is often forced to receive medical treatment for his delusion.

A religious fanatic’s delusion is widely shared by his family, friends and others in the community. Therefore he is not ridiculed, rejected or punished for his delusion. Far from being forced to get medical treatment, his doctor usually shares his delusion and joins him in his prayer group.



3. A psychotic person takes refuge in the police or people he perceives as powerful for protection from the imaginary evil persecuting him.

A religious fanatic seeks refuge in an imaginary god for protection from the imaginary evil persecuting him.

4. A psychotic person does not get encouragement from others to hold on to his delusion. The society would be happy if he gave up his persecutory delusion. A religious fanatic gets endorsement, encouragement, support, approval and rewards for his delusion. In fact, if he gives up his delusion, he might be ostracized from the society, refused a job for which he is well qualified, and he might not be able to win an election.



5. A psychotic person indulges in various rituals to protect himself from the imaginary persecutors. For example, he might crawl under his vehicle to see if it is wired for a bomb; he might change the usual route to his destination to escape from the imaginary persecutors, or he might feed a portion of his meal to a dog before eating to make sure it is not poisoned. The psychotic person calls his rituals by the name of “observing safety measures.”

A religious fanatic indulges in various rituals to protect himself from the unknown evil, such as praying, singing, performing Poojas, Yajnas, etc., and offer food to a god before eating it to make sure that he is eating the crumbs from his table as a sign of humility. He calls his “observing religious rituals.”



6. A psychotic person does not have a list of desires he wants to fulfill by means of his delusions. His only desire is to feel safe from his persecutors.

A religious fanatic has a long list of desires, which he wants to fulfill by the grace of his god, in addition to seeking protection from evil.



7. When someone condemns a psychotic person’s delusion, he becomes irate and might attack the person doing so.

When someone condemns a religious fanatic’s delusion, he also becomes irate, and he might attack the person doing so.



8. A psychotic person is often unable to compartmentalize his delusion and function normally in the society. Usually he comes to the attention of the police and other authorities.

A religious fanatic is able to compartmentalize his delusion and is able to function “normally” in the society. In fact, he is often the police, or the bureaucrat or the politician.



9. The delusion of a psychotic person is amenable for treatment with an anti-psychotic medication. It is like treating a bacterial infection with an antibiotic.

The delusion of a religious fanatic is totally resistant to drug treatment. It is like a retrovirus infection. No medication will make a dent on it.



10. A psychotic man does not get periodic reinforcement of his delusion from anyone.

A religious fanatic almost always gets a regular dose of reinforcement from his religious leaders.

11. A psychotic person is not willing to die in defense of his delusion.

A religious fanatic is willing to die in the defense of his delusion.

12. A psychotic person believes that others can read his thoughts.

A religious person believes that he can read his god’s thoughts.

13. A psychotic person believes that “voices” talk to him.

A religious person believes that he hears god’s voices.


14. A psychotic person believes that his room is bugged and his persecutors are watching him through the television.

A religious fanatic believes that he has bugged god and he watches god on television all the time.



15. A psychotic person might kill someone as a result of his delusional thinking.

A religious fanatic might kill someone just for criticizing his delusion, god or prophet.



16. A psychotic person believes that he has big house, a big car and a billion dollars in bank, when in fact he is totally bankrupt.

A religious fanatic believes that he has a big house, a big car and a billion dollars and a bunch of virgins waiting for him in heaven, when in fact his thinking is bankrupt.



17. A psychotic person condemns people to hell if they disagree with him.

A religious fanatic creates hell here on earth for those who disagree with him.



18. Finally, a psychotic person is condemned to live a life of poverty on earth.

A religious fanatic enjoys a lavish lifestyle having fooled everyone around him with his religious bullshit.