Is Your Religion Neurotic??
Religion can be neurotic. Check it out.
A clinical psychologist looks at religion.
By David L. Antion, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
PSY 9037
Can a religion be neurotic? The word “neurotic” is
derived from the word “neurosis.” It has to do with forms of mental disorders
in which the person is not delusional – i.e. seeing things that are not there or
hearing sounds that are not there (psychotic). A person who is a hypochondriac
(believes s/he is sick all the time) would be neurotic. So would a person who
is depressed. Depression is a form of neurosis.
The late psychologist, Rollo May, suggested three main
features that characterize a neurotic religion. In this article we will
paraphrase them and expound on each.
1. A religion is neurotic when it separates people from rather than
strengthening their attachment to fellow human beings.
Many churches and religious leaders cause their followers
to shun others and look on them as polluted or inferior. Even when religious
leaders claim they preach to the contrary, you will find their followers
shunning and avoiding neighbors and oftentimes relatives too.
A prime example was the sect of the Pharisees. Their very
name meant “separatists.” They separated themselves from those they thought to
be sinners and looked on them with disdain. Jesus used their neurotic
tendencies to teach His disciples better ways. In the parable of the Pharisee
and the publican (Luke 18:9), the Pharisee compared himself and his
righteousness to the lowly publican. He even thanked God that he was not like
other men (or women for that matter) -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers. And
he was also glad that he was not like the publican (v. 11). But Jesus pointed
out that it was the publican in his total humility in admitting his sins who
went away justified!
The Scripture makes it plain that Jesus did not separate
Himself from the publicans or other sinners. The Gospels make a specific point
of this! “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear
him” (Luke 15:1). Jesus did not separate Himself from them. Rather He spoke to
them and taught them better ways and the good news of God’s Kingdom. The
Pharisees and Scribes murmured, “This man receives sinners, and eats with them”
(v. 2).
In Matthew’s Gospel we read: “And it came to pass, as
Jesus sat at meat (food) in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came
and sat down with him and his disciples” (9:10). Jesus never kept His disciples
from other people. He did not promote a suspicious, distrustful attitude. In
fact, suspicion and distrust are the cornerstones of the paranoid personality
and are very much part of neurotic religion.
Because of His attitude toward all humans, it was easy to
characterize Jesus as the friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matt. 11:19).
It was because He came eating and drinking that they also called Him gluttonous
and a winebibber. He evidently ate and drank with the publicans (tax
collectors) and sinners (probably harlots).
When Jesus was invited to the house of Simon the Pharisee a
woman came to Him with an alabaster box of ointment. She washed His feet with
her tears and wiped them dry with the hair of her head. The Pharisee said, “…if
he were a prophet, he would have known who and what manner of woman this is that
touches him: for she is a sinner” (Luke 7:39).
Pharisees would not touch another human they thought was a
sinner. Jesus lectured the Pharisee on common, decent hospitality. He pointed
to the woman as being more gracious and kind than His host.
We also have the example of the Samaritan who stopped to
help a Jew who had been mugged, robbed and left for dead. A Levite passed him
by. A priest also passed by. Neither helped him. But the Samaritan had
compassion and was not afraid to help another human being though different in
religion and racial mixture (Luke 10:30-33).
Jesus’ example plainly shows us that separation from other
humans is neurotic. That doesn’t mean that we must do everything they do – of
course not! Jesus’ teaching was that we should not only love those who love us,
we should even “love your enemies” (Matt. 5:44). It’s not enough just to greet
those who greet you. Jesus asked, “And if you salute your brethren only, what
do you more than others? Even the publicans do so”(v. 47).
In spite of this plain teaching from the Bible, many
“religious” people will shun others and not even speak to those of another
church or religion. This is often encouraged by their leaders in an effort to
keep a fence around the flock. (I suspect that ministers who get their living
from the “tithes” or offerings of the people would do everything to make sure
their people stay within the fold. After all, the minister’s very financial
security would be at risk.) To be sure, it is so hard to do what Jesus
commanded (Matt. 5:44) and so easy to fall in line with the tendency of human
nature to demonize others and separate from them.
Paul had to keep the Corinthians from misunderstanding.
When he wrote not to keep company with fornicators he was not talking about
people in general but a church discipline of exclusion for a “brother” (1 Cor.
5:9-10). Paul had no restrictions on the brethren greeting, talking to and
being in the company of the people of the world. He said if we could not deal
with those people because of their sins, we would have to leave the world
because there would be virtually no one except church members to talk to.
There is another thing that happens when you talk only to
people who believe every little thing you do. I call it mental or spiritual
incest. It is the constant inbreeding of all the same ideas. This creates a
false reality and is the hallmark of cults.
To keep people in a cult one must make sure they do not
talk to or hear ideas from other sources. Imagine the power the cult then would
have over its followers.
If I put you in a room – cut off from all other sources of
information except my words – I could get you to believe virtually anything. I
could tell you that wild animals were roaming the streets, that your family had
all been killed, that you lost all your property, etc. Since you have no other
source of information you are left with only two choices – believe what I say or
reject it. But when you reject it, you do so without any substance since you
have no other information to contradict it!
To keep this from happening to our nation as it did in Nazi
Germany, the framers of the Constitution put in the 1st amendment. We call it
freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly – and, of
course, freedom of religion.
But most cult leaders don’t even have to fear that their
people will seek other sources of information. Why?
Because the people themselves often shun any source of
information that they feel will be contrary to their belief system. In other
words, the people themselves cut themselves off from all other sources of
information but their leader.
You have probably known people (maybe you were one or are
one) who will not read anything but their own church’s publications. They will
not listen to any sermon that is not preached by an official minister of their
own church group. And, certainly, they will never darken the doorway of another
church to attend services there.
Their leaders praise them for this! They are told, “You
are loyal to God’s government.” The leaders deride nonconformists who dare read
or listen or attend what is not approved by the leader. “You have lost your
fear of God”, they are told.
A religion is neurotic when it separates you from rather
than strengthening you attachment to others because it promotes paranoia –
distrust and suspicion. Social isolation is also neurotic.
2. Religion is neurotic when it impoverishes your life
rather than making it abundant.
What is your religion doing to you? I have seen people who
have sacrificed so much financially that they were financially impoverished.
Some felt they must give 30% or more of their income to “the church” and its
programs. You can see people of different cults soliciting donations in
airports, on the streets, or from door to door. These people have to serve many
hours of time as part of their religious duty.
I have seen people who couldn’t afford to take care of
their own or their children’s health but sacrificed mightily for their
religion. Their health and the health of their families were impoverished.
There are other ways to become impoverished. Some churches
discourage learning. Have you heard this statement? “When I joined that church
I had to check my brain at the door and only picked it up when I walked out.”
Some churches forbid their members to read certain books. People are often
discouraged from getting higher education when the leaders refer to schools as
“worldly colleges” or as “colleges of this world” or as “institutions of Satan
the Devil.”
They want their people to read and study only the
literature written and sent out from “the church.” In effect, they want mind
control. When your mind shrinks rather than expands, we may say that you have
been impoverished.
In Jesus’ day the Pharisees and chief priests wanted the
officers to arrest Jesus. They asked, “Why have you not brought him?” The
officers answered, “Never man spake like this man.” Note that they did not ask,
“What did this man say?”
Rather, with closed minds, the Pharisees retorted, “Are you
also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But
this people who knows not the law are cursed” (John 7:45-49). Implication: do
what your leaders do and only what they do. Believe what you leaders believe
and only what they believe. Think only what your leaders think and only what
your leaders tell you to think.
There was one Pharisee who was not closed-minded. His name
was Nicodemus. He said, “Does our law judge any man, before it hears him and
knows what he does?” (v. 51). Nicodemus had the logic to imply, “Shouldn’t we at
least hear what he says and find out what he does?” Even this rational statement
was thrown out by asking sarcastically, “Are you also of Galilee?” Many
religious leaders love to use pejorative statements when they can’t deal with
issues with fact or logic.
Religion should help make life abundant. It should free us
to seek and search for truth. It is the truth that will set us free (John
8:32). A religion should give us peace of mind, inspire us to a “merry heart
that does good like a medicine” (Prov. 17:22). A religion should free us to
become prosperous if we can. Naturally we want to heed the warning and not fall
into the trap of trusting in riches or loving money (1 Tim. 6:10).
Jesus said that a thief came to “steal, and to kill, and to
destroy.” But He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Notice that the word “abundantly”
is placed in opposition to the word “steal” (which makes one poor), and “kill”
(which takes away life), and “destroy” (which ruins life). The abundant life
does not take away from life, does not kill and does not cause us to be ruined
financially or otherwise. The winds of life blow hot and cold on everyone from
time to time. But Jesus, as our Messiah, came that we would have life and that
our life would be abundant. Beware if your religion causes you to be otherwise.
3. A religion is neurotic when it appeals more to your
fears and cowardice than it does to your love and courage.
Have you ever been inspired to do really good and really
great things? Did this inspiration come from your church or your minister?
When religion appeals to your love it makes you want to do
good, defend the weak, care for the sick, feed the hungry, help your neighbor
(Luke 10:29-37; Mark 12:28-31). The apostle James said, “Pure religion and
undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James
1:27). It is an artful thing to be in the world but not get spotted by it! But
we must not be afraid to show God’s love to other people who are made in God’s
image.
At the end time when Jesus comes in His glory He praises
some and rebukes others because “I was hungry. I was thirsty. I was a stranger
and naked. I was sick and in prison.” In both cases – those who came to His
aid and those who did not -- did not know it was Jesus! Which Christian would
refuse to give food or drink to Jesus? Which one of us would refuse a
“stranger” if we knew it was Jesus? Who among us wouldn’t offer clothing to a
person in need if we knew it was Jesus?
If Jesus were sick or in prison we would be sure to go
visit! But they didn’t know it was He when they did good to Him. On the other
hand, they didn’t know it was Jesus when they passed Him by and didn’t do a good
deed for Him (Matt. 25:34-46).
Many religious leaders keep their people in the fold by
fear tactics. Some times religions grow mightily by appealing to the fears or
prejudice of others. Though not religious, the Nazis used the widespread fear
tactics of a cult and appealed to the cowardice of the German people.
Why do religious leaders use fear and prey on the cowardice
of people? Simply this. People are motivated by fear. You’ll run faster
because of fear than because of love. A person might run fast because they fear
that a loved one will be hurt. But it is still out of fear.
I have heard many stories from people who felt if they
didn’t conform to their religion that terrible consequences would overtake
them. Some ministers have even gone so far as to say to mothers, “If you leave
this church, your children will no longer have God’s protection and anything
that happens to them will be on your own head.”
A religion should appeal to our courage. Paul appealed to
Timothy with these metaphors: the good soldier of Jesus Christ who endures
hardness; the athlete who strives for mastery; the hardworking farmer; and the
skillful workman (2 Tim. 2: 3-15). Paul used his own example as a person who
suffered trouble for the word of God. He stated, “Therefore, I endure all
things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is
in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10).
These words of Paul inspire us: “It is a faithful saying:
For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall
also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us” (v. 11-12).
Paul appealed to our strength and courage when he wrote, “I
am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (4:6-7).
Read here words that appeal to your love and courage.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honest (honorable), whatever
is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if
there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on
these things” (Phil. 4:8).
Note that Paul did not limit where truth, honesty, right,
pure, the lovely, the good report, excellence or things worthy of praise were to
be found. Some people can’t see anything good outside their church or religion.
Here is Paul appealing not to fears and cowardice but to
love and courage that Christians may rise to their highest level in Christ
glorifying the Father.
Beware of neurotic religion that appeals to your fears.
Are you afraid to live? Are you afraid to love? Are you afraid of people? Are
you afraid of the future? Are you afraid of the present?
The only fear we need is the “Fear of God” which is the
beginning of wisdom and the awesome worship of our Creator. When a religion
fills you with fear, it is neurotic.
Applied to Other Aspects of Life
In discussing this article with one of my friends,
he suggested that the three characteristics of neurotic religion could be
applied to other aspects of life also. For instance, we could say that a
marriage relationship or a dating relationship is neurotic when it separates you
from rather than strengthening your attachment to other people. We know that
husbands who are abusive, wife batterers attempt to cut their wives off from
relationships with friends and relatives.
We can apply these principles to corporations and
jobs. Let’s take this example: Your career is neurotic when it impoverishes
life rather than making it abundant. Or when your boss appeals more to your
fears and cowardice than to your love and courage.
We can apply all three principles to a family. A
family is neurotic when … it separates you from others, when it impoverishes
your life -- mentally, emotionally, or financially – and when it appeals more
to fear and cowardice than to love and courage.
What is the Cure?
In summary, the cures for the three
characteristics of neurotic religion are:
1) Don’t let religion separate you from other people –
friends, relatives, acquaintances. One of the reasons many so willingly
separated was that they felt like oddballs. They were ashamed of their beliefs
and felt others would consider them odd. But, how can be we a "light to the
world" if we hide under a bushel?
2) Don’t let religion impoverish your life – mentally,
emotionally, socially or financially. Persecution might arise in which hardship
and poverty happen. Recall the “poor saints at Jerusalem.” But it was outside
persecution and the fact that their fellow countrymen would not trade with them
that caused them to be impoverished, not their religion per se. God gave us a
mind. Christianity is a mind religion and we should not shy away from
intellectual growth. Furthermore, the New Testament approves of being
prosperous. Read the parables of the pounds and talents.
3) Note that love is the cure for fear (1John 4:18).
Courage is the cure for cowardice. Whenever you catch yourself being afraid to
love you need to rethink what’s happening to you. Be courageous to express
concerns, introduce yourself to others, and openly welcome them. Have the
courage to let your light shine. Have confidence in God’s love for you and that
He will see you through to the end. He will finish the work He started in you!
You can use these principles in many ways and apply
them to many more situations including friendships. But, the main focus of this
article is to apply them to religion. Now that you have read the article, what
is your conclusion? Is your religion neurotic?
I am not just referring to a church organization. I
am referring to the religion that you adopt in your own life. It is easy for us
to blame organizations for our religion. But the truth is that each of us adopts
beliefs that form our own religion.
If you have not yet heard the six- sermon series on
the subject of the power and consequences of true & false beliefs, please click
on the title to connect to a website that is currently playing my sermons:
All About Beliefs.
You and I are responsible for the religion we employ in
our day to day lives. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ it will
not help us much to plead that it was “that organization” that made us neglect
to help “one of the least of these” – Jesus Christ Himself!
-- David L. Antion
