Did Jesus suffer mental health problems?

[chefmomster2]

Therefore the church tends to emphasise the other three gospels where exorcism is less prevelant and the accounts are more believable to today’s audience.

The Gospel of Mark is not emphasized less than the other gospels in any way. The Gospels are presented in a three year liturgical cycle, each emphasized during its own cycle.

• Cycle A: Gospel of Matthew
• Cycle B: Gospel of Mark
• Cycle C: Gospel of Luke

We do not hear as much from Mark during the Christmas or Easter Season, but this is not because of exorcism. Quite simply, Mark’s gospel was intended to communicate Christ’s mission and teaching. It is all about action. He does not begin the story until Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist and ends with the discovery of the empty tomb. From the first to the last it is characterized by its fast-moving style that emphasizes Christ’s ministry and the discipleship of the apostles. The miracles support the proposition that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

As far as exorcisms go, there is no significant difference in the number of exorcisms in the three synoptic gospels.

Major Stories of Exorcism:

• Matthew: 7
• Mark: 7
• Luke: 7

Briefer Episodes:

• Matthew: 11
• Mark: 11
• Luke: 10

catholic-resources.org/Bible/Exorcisms.htm

All of the gospels contain revealed truths including the fact that Christ performed exorcisms. We believe that this is true because the bible tells us so!

 

[Cricket2]

Hi All

Was reading from Mark’s gospel today where Jesus cast out a demon from a Syro-phoenician woman’s daughter. I find this passage troubling for two reasons. He refers to gentiles as dogs. Secondly he believes in demonic possession.

Jesus initially refuses to help the woman saying that its not good to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. Elsewhere he says he was sent only to the children of Israel. He does not appear to even like gentiles

Jesus also believes literally in demonic possession. He does not appear to understand modern medical science but attributes illness physical and mental ailments to devils.

My question is this. Was Jesus himself suffering from mental health problems? These problems are demonstarted by the fact he believes that he and others are under attack from literal demons and devils, he has the power to cast out demons, can give this power to others. He is also has behavioural problems such as being hostile to outsiders (non Jews), clearly xenophobic and unhelpful to them.

Thanks

No, Jesus did not suffer from mental illness.

Secondly, your comments reflect a severe misunderstanding of the scripture and Jesus. You have taken a few scriptural examples out of context of the entire Bible and used them to apply an understanding of Jesus and the Bible that is false at best.

Demonic possession is possible and has been documented. Mental illness is another problem all together, though one could argue that it can at times be an outward manifestation of a possession. Just because Jesus or others believe in possession does not mean they are mentally ill, and modern science certainly has no understanding or means of dealing with demonic possession.

Just because modern science and medicine have discovered many ways to diagnose and treat all health matters including mental health, it does not mean that they are close to understanding spiritual matters at all. They never will, as the spiritual is greater than the physical and always will be.

 

[NextElement]

Turning water into wine… Plausible.

Healing a leper… Alright.

Making a blind man see… Cool!

Rising from the dead… Okey doke!

But demons?! Oh my gosh how irrational! Modern people will never believe in those! OP, this is a baseless and somewhat offensive question.

 

[seagal]

Hi Dorothy

I think the passage in Mark proves two things:

1. His message was to Jews only.
2. The age he was in was superstitious (belief in demonic possession)

I will reiterate what I said in my previous post (#13).

1. His message was for the Jews first. Then after he rose from the dead he told his apostles to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
2. Believing in demonic possession is not merely superstitious nonsense. The Church has exorcists for very good reasons

You also said you weren’t sure about the resurrection. As another poster to this thread pointed out, St. Paul said “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17). If you don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead then the rest of the New Testament is total nonsense. Jesus is not God, his death was a tragedy and nothing more, and the Christian faith is built on a lie.

 

[ClearWater]

Hi All

Was reading from Mark’s gospel today where Jesus cast out a demon from a Syro-phoenician woman’s daughter. I find this passage troubling for two reasons. He refers to gentiles as dogs. Secondly he believes in demonic possession.

He believed in possession, because that’s what it was. He was God. He would know.
Besides, she wasn’t cured and with psychotherapy and medication, which doesn’t always cure, so who do you think knows more about this issue, psychologists and psychiatrists or God?

If he was crazy, how did he cure people? If he were crazy, he might have thought he cured people, but people would have known he hadn’t. If you believe the Bible, Christ cured people with incurable diseases.

Jesus initially refuses to help the woman saying that its not good to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. Elsewhere he says he was sent only to the children of Israel. He does not appear to even like gentiles

I think he said this to test the woman’s faith, and she passed with flying colors. If he hated the gentiles, then why did he send St. Paul to preach to them, and finally, why Christ agree to be humiliated, falsely accused when he was innocent, scouraged, crowned with thorns, carry a very heavy cross and crucified to save them?

If that’s not love, what is? We have to love our brothers and sisters, but it doesn’t mean we will always like them.

Jesus also believes literally in demonic possession. He does not appear to understand modern medical science but attributes illness physical and mental ailments to devils.

Again, psychology and psychiatry can treat illnesses, often not cure them.

My question is this. Was Jesus himself suffering from mental health problems? These problems are demonstarted by the fact he believes that he and others are under attack from literal demons and devils, he has the power to cast out demons, can give this power to others. He is also has behavioural problems such as being hostile to outsiders (non Jews), clearly xenophobic and unhelpful to them.

Thanks

See above. Christ gave his life, suffered torture and death to save not only Jews but foreigners. He sent St. Paul out to save them, though it meant his death.

Recall that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for a friend.

 

[ClearWater]

**Hi, I am not sure about the resurrection. I would like to believe its possible, but am having doubts about it.
**
You are right on the first bit. Believing in devils in the 21st century is a sign of a mental illness. If a Muslim was to claim seeing Jinn and people being possessed by Jinn, I imagine that most here would be skeptical of that.

Well, with the resurrection, consider the alternatives. If you don’t believe Christ was resurrected, what do you believe? There are actually only a handful of other alternatives…conspiracy, “swoon”, (that Christ didn’t die in the crucifixion), mass hallucination, etc.

What do you believe, then?

 

[Iron_Donkey]

Hi All

Was reading from Mark’s gospel today where Jesus cast out a demon from a Syro-phoenician woman’s daughter. I find this passage troubling for two reasons. He refers to gentiles as dogs. Secondly he believes in demonic possession.

Jesus initially refuses to help the woman saying that its not good to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. Elsewhere he says he was sent only to the children of Israel. He does not appear to even like gentiles

Jesus also believes literally in demonic possession. He does not appear to understand modern medical science but attributes illness physical and mental ailments to devils.

My question is this. Was Jesus himself suffering from mental health problems? These problems are demonstarted by the fact he believes that he and others are under attack from literal demons and devils, he has the power to cast out demons, can give this power to others. He is also has behavioural problems such as being hostile to outsiders (non Jews), clearly xenophobic and unhelpful to them.

Thanks

Yeah, no. First, you’re completely wrong about demons. Second, rather than waving away Jesus’ actions as being mean, you might want to consider why he might have been doing them.

 

[marywarfield]

As God is rational, just and all loving, then I guess he would accept asking questions. I can’t see anything wrong with asking the question otherwise our faith will be blind and without good reason.

I am trying to figure out why Jesus and the apostles thought as they did. I think a part of it may be the stress they were under could account for how the stories of Jesus took shape. Visions of the risen Lord could have been occured in the mind of the apostles as they really wanted him to be alive and to counteract feelings of guilt for not helping him out.

Let me understand this: you are an Anglican who
thinks possibly Jesus Christ was nuts? Is this a new
Anglican doctrine?
Or are you committing blasphemy cause you are
trying to provoke a response?

 

[Cinderbella]

I think Mark’s gospel is the least populat today partly due to this issue. People today are more skeptical of the idea of demon possession, and Jesus exorcisms could be interpreted as superstition rather than the acts of a sane and rational person.

This is something I don’t understand because if you take a look around you the world is clearly going down the sewer.

 

[Dave_B]

I can see I am in a minority on this one. However there is plenty of evidence of Jesus’ mental health issues from the gospels:

• having a vision of a dove coming down from the sky
• auditory hallucination of hearing voices from the sky
• announcing oneself as the judge of the universe
• frequently journeying back and forth throughout Judea
• a forty day fast in the desert, 40 days!!!
• and belief in demons and being under attack from devils and possession

Can we honestly say if we met a person today with this resume we would think him/ her of sound mind?

 

[marywarfield]

I can see I am in a minority on this one. However there is plenty of evidence of Jesus’ mental health issues from the gospels:

• having a vision of a dove coming down from the sky
• auditory hallucination of hearing voices from the sky
• announcing oneself as the judge of the universe
• frequently journeying back and forth throughout Judea
• a forty day fast in the desert, 40 days!!!
• and belief in demons and being under attack from devils and possession

Can we honestly say if we met a person today with this resume we would think him/ her of sound mind?

I would probably think they were nuts until they rose
from the dead, told me to feel their wounds and ascended
to Heaven before my eyes. After that it would never
occur to me that they were nuts.

 

[Dave_B]

I would probably think they were nuts until they rose from the dead, told me to feel their wounds and ascended to Heaven before my eyes. After that it would never occur to me that they were nuts.

Hi Mary, I agree that first hand eye witness testimony of the events would be powerful evidence. However we personally have never seen God, Jesus, the devil, angels or demons, or witnessed miracles such as ascending by physical levitation into the sky. We have to rely on third hand reports by unknown people. This can make it difficult to believe the validity of the evidence.

 

[Cricket2]

I think we are dealing with an Atheists attempt at discrediting those of us who do believe in God and the miracles surrounding His life, Death and Resurrection. Those who believe will know that Jesus was not a crazy, mentally ill fanatic. Those who don’t will find the rest of us as beneath them and of course crazy.

If believing in Jesus, Demons and God makes me a mental case, well good.

 

[BernadetteM]

Let me understand this: you are an Anglican who
thinks possibly Jesus Christ was nuts? Is this a new
Anglican doctrine?
Or are you committing blasphemy cause you are
trying to provoke a response?/QUOT

No this is not new to the Anglican Church. My nieces’ father-in-law was the Episcopal Bishop of a large diocese and did not believe in the Resurrection, years ago. He is just one of several who feel that there was no resurrection, which negates the Christian faith, however, Bishops make much money, or at least the F-I-L did, why leave a good income. Sorry to be sarcastic, however, I am a former member of TEC and saw this belief system years ago and now except for some externals the Anglican church is nothing like the Catholic Church. Liturgy does not mean their theology is what the Catholic Church teaches, as I noticed many on CAF think because their liturgy is very close, that they believe what Christ’s Church teaches.

The Anglican Church today really doesn’t have any set beliefs, it is whatever one wants to believe. There are orthodox Anglicans still within the church, however, thousands have left it to start new Anglican groups or some have become Catholic

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[Bookcat]

Hi All

Was reading from Mark’s gospel today where Jesus cast out a demon from a Syro-phoenician woman’s daughter. I find this passage troubling for two reasons. He refers to gentiles as dogs. Secondly he believes in demonic possession.

Jesus initially refuses to help the woman saying that its not good to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. Elsewhere he says he was sent only to the children of Israel. He does not appear to even like gentiles

Jesus also believes literally in demonic possession. He does not appear to understand modern medical science but attributes illness physical and mental ailments to devils.

My question is this. Was Jesus himself suffering from mental health problems? These problems are demonstarted by the fact he believes that he and others are under attack from literal demons and devils, he has the power to cast out demons, can give this power to others. He is also has behavioural problems such as being hostile to outsiders (non Jews), clearly xenophobic and unhelpful to them.

Thanks

No he did not.

Nor did he sin. He is the Son of God and truly a man. But no sin.

And yes demonic possession is a very real thing. As is casting them out.

No he did not have any behavioral problems nor was he xenophobic.

And your welcome.

 

[Dave_B]

Thanks for the responses. I am taking a break, maybe I am better suited to an atheist forum. Au revoir.

 

[Dorothy]

Hi Dorothy

I think the passage in Mark proves two things:

1. His message was to Jews only.
2. The age he was in was superstitious (belief in demonic possession)

Jesus’ message was to the Jews first, and those who accepted Him were to be other Christs and bring Him to the rest of the world. Jesus came for all!

Superstition is when one puts their faith in things and not the Lord.

 

[marywarfield]

Thanks for the responses. I am taking a break, maybe I am better suited to an atheist forum. Au revoir.

Yes an excellent idea!! Thank you.

 

[Bookcat]

Hi Dorothy

I think the passage in Mark proves two things:

1. His message was to Jews only.
2. The age he was in was superstitious (belief in demonic possession)

1. First came to the Jews…then the Gentiles.
2. Demonic possession is a very real thing - just talk with any Catholic Exorcist. They know quite well (and some of the signs of possession -knowing unknown languages, or even more at times things like lifting off the floor - are quite pronounced and have nothing to do with superstitious and are not explained otherwise)

I propose Jesus of Nazareth to you - in his full reality - the Lord. Accept no impostors made according to the minds of authors and their personal ideas (I say the following not to infer that you do not believe this or that but to give a more full glimpse at reality). The real Jesus. The Lord who yes cast out demons, healed the sick, walked on water, raised the dead, calmed storms -was crucified and indeed historically and truly rose from the dead -not coming back to life as Lazarus -but risen with a glorious body. Who is Risen and is Lord.

 

[chefmomster2]

Hi Mary, I agree that first hand eye witness testimony of the events would be powerful evidence. However we personally have never seen God, Jesus, the devil, angels or demons, or witnessed miracles such as ascending by physical levitation into the sky. We have to rely on third hand reports by unknown people. This can make it difficult to believe the validity of the evidence.

Many things have been discovered “second hand” and often by their effects. For instance, the presence of some planets have first been found by noting unexplained “wobnles” in the orbits of known bodies. At the time no one could “see” anything.

The effect of Christ’s appearance in the world testifies to His presence. There is the Church which has survived for 2000 years. There is the faith of an immense body of Christians around the world. Obviously, something caused this to occur. We may not have the testimony of first-hand observers, but we do have the written testimony of those who lived within a generation or two of Christ and we do know that important information had long been documented in the form of scriptures and legal documents. The Gospels are such scripture as were the books of Genesis and Tobit. In addition, oral tradition was steadfastly treasured and protected not only by the people of that time, but for many generations before. Much of our modern knowledge is based on this essential information.

How do you reconcile your statements here with your membership in the Anglican Church?