I was in my psychology class when we came to the subject of mental disabilities, one being bipolar. Some of the things talked about were when the person goes manic, they will promise everything, give everything away, and believe they have powers they don't actually have. Here is the wiki on Bipolar disorder.
Here is the part that is really interesting, as well as the one that pretty much sets it apart:
Manic episode Main article: Mania
Mania is the signature characteristic of bipolar disorder and, depending on its severity, is how the disorder is classified. Mania is generally characterized by a distinct period of an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood state. People commonly experience an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep. A person's speech may be pressured, with thoughts experienced as racing. Attention span is low, and a person in a manic state may be easily distracted. Judgment may become impaired, and sufferers may go on spending sprees or engage in behavior that is quite abnormal for them. They may indulge in substance abuse, particularly alcohol or other depressants, cocaine or other stimulants, or sleeping pills. Their behavior may become aggressive, intolerant, or intrusive. People may feel out of control or unstoppable. People may feel they have been "chosen" and are "on a special mission" or have other grandiose or delusional ideas. Sexual drive may increase. At more extreme phases of bipolar I, a person in a manic state can begin to experience psychosis, or a break with reality, where thinking is affected along with mood.[7] Many people in a manic state experience severe anxiety and are very irritable (to the point of rage), while others are euphoric and grandiose.
To be diagnosed with mania according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a person must experience this state of elevated or irritable mood, as well as other symptoms, for at least one week, less if hospitalization is required.[8]
It fits him to the letter. So was he mentally ill?
The question you ask is so simply, if your a Jesus hater and you want to mock Christianity you would call him Bipolar, and a maniac who had a mental disorder and that the Christians based their whole religion on someone with a mental disorder. If you are christian you would think that he is god so he is not Bipolar. If you are just some simple in between person, or an Atheist who just simply does not think about these things you would be a: hmm maybe?
I disagree with psychology when it comes to a great many things, they know nothing about bipolar and that could cover a great many people within the world who live quite normally. Jesus, if he was even real, was either nuts and needs no defending or excuse or was a very nice guy (see monty pythons "life of brian"
Brian: ...Will you please listen? I'm not the Messiah! Do you understand? Honestly! Woman: Only the true Messiah denies his divinity! Brian: What? Well, what sort of chance does that give me? All right, I am the Messiah! Crowd: He is! He is the Messiah! Brian: Now, f**k off! [Silence] Arthur: How shall we f**k off, oh Lord? Brian: Oh, just go away! Leave me alone!
He already heard voices and thought he was the son of God - why not pile another mental illness on there?
As far as I know, he never personally claimed to be the son of god. Secondly, this mental illness would account for him thinking a divine being was helping him, as it fills him with all those things. Delusions account for the voices, so I hear(Pun intended!). I think this covers everything he would have.
Secondly, does it worry anyone else that the majority of the world think that a man who would be hospitalized for his mental illness infallible and a good example to live by?
I don't hate people with mental disorders - I perhaps have pity for them but never hatred. I just think we shouldn't base any religion around someone with so many mental illnesses.
Also, if you are saying that he was bipolar you are also saying that Jesus existed. :P
No... you can say that a character that is believed to have existed would likely be a certain way. Oh never mind... chew on this...
Brian: Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves! You're all individuals! Crowd: [in unison] Yes! We're all individuals! Brian: You're all different! Crowd: [in unison] Yes, we are all different! Man in crowd: I'm not... Crowd: Shhh!
disagree with psychology when it comes to a great many things, they know nothing about bipolar and that could cover a great many people within the world who live quite normally.
It does, it has several classifications from what I have read, and a good many people have it. But of course when they don't have drugs to help them, and they have it as severe as this man would, it can cause trouble for them and others...
Also, if you are saying that he was bipolar you are also saying that Jesus existed. :P
Mania is the signature characteristic of bipolar disorder and, depending on its severity, is how the disorder is classified. Mania is generally characterized by a distinct period of an elevated, expansive, or irritable mood state. People commonly experience an increase in energy and a decreased need for sleep. A person's speech may be pressured, with thoughts experienced as racing. Attention span is low, and a person in a manic state may be easily distracted. Judgment may become impaired, and sufferers may go on spending sprees or engage in behavior that is quite abnormal for them. They may indulge in substance abuse, particularly alcohol or other depressants, cocaine or other stimulants, or sleeping pills. Their behavior may become aggressive, intolerant, or intrusive. People may feel out of control or unstoppable. People may feel they have been "chosen" and are "on a special mission" or have other grandiose or delusional ideas. Sexual drive may increase. At more extreme phases of bipolar I, a person in a manic state can begin to experience psychosis, or a break with reality, where thinking is affected along with mood.[7] Many people in a manic state experience severe anxiety and are very irritable (to the point of rage), while others are euphoric and grandiose.
Most of this does not describe Jesus.
This argument is pointless depending on which Jesus you are referring to. If you are referring to Jesus, son of God, then he was not grandiose or bipolar. This is the Jesus most people refer to because it works around the Jesus that Christians believe in and works to attack christian beliefs with their own Jesus.
If you are referring to a man who claimed to be the son of God who's name was Jesus, I'm pretty sure he would be considered a schizophrenic of sorts rather than bipolar. Obviously this man would be suffering from illusions of grandeur. However, this is not the same Jesus, the son of God, and therefore you must distinguish between the two.
If someone believes in Jesus as the son of god, then the whole "he was grandiose" argument doesn't really work.
It does, it has several classifications from what I have read, and a good many people have it. But of course when they don't have drugs to help them, and they have it as severe as this man would, it can cause trouble for them and others...
I understand there are people who actually DO have delusions. If jesus existed (which I believe he didnt, as there were many prophets around at the time and christianity nicked everything else so why would this be any different) then he was, as I said, either crazy or brian. However... chew on this. I read aboput ADHD in a book of a reputable psychologist. My son fits the bill perfectly some of the time. I was waaaay worse when I was younger and they wanted to prescribe Ritalin to me but my mum refused. If you knew me, you would see quite a calm and gentle person (well 90% of the time anyway).
If they gave me the drugs, chances are it would have f**ked me up. Its not good to supress people. Jesus was more than just "bi-polar"... he would have been full blown delusional to believe he was the son of god.
I read aboput ADHD in a book of a reputable psychologist. My son fits the bill perfectly some of the time.
The dangerous thing about things like ADD/ADHD is that, when applied to children (especially late pre-teens and teens) nearly every child will exhibit some symptoms, in most cases enough to be diagnosed. This is not indicative of any actual disease, but rather a parallel between the behavior of the developing youth and the behavior of an adult with a chemical disorder. Much of the parallels are because it is typically an imbalance in the fully developed brain which causes these symptoms, however these same chemical imbalances are naturally occurring in a developing person.
Meh, he probably did exist - not as the son of God or anything but some crazy dude with delusions of Godliness.
Or delusions of a better world where all nations were united under a banner of love and service. Either way it didn't happen and your description of bi-polar disorder sounds almost nothing like Jesus.
