I've been thinking about this quite a bit over the last year that there seems to be some type of connection; almost like a dual diagnosis.
I'm not saying all mental illness is due to immorality, just as I would never say all mental illness is due to alcohol or drugs. However, just as there can be a dual diagnosis in mental health with alcohol abuse it seems plausible that there can be dual diagnosis with mental health and a persons moral status.
Not sure if the mental illness could contribute to immoral behavior or the moral behavior contribute to the mental illness, but just from my observations and light research their does appear to be a connection in some cases.
Why do we excuse one man for beheading his mother as mentally incompetent while a religious sect can commit the same behavior and we excuse it as part of their religion with its moral code of behavior? The person who is abusive and beats his wife or children, does he do that because his mental illness drives him to make poor moral choices or does his moral choice drive him to be abusive? What about the narcissist who manipulates others for self advancement or gain? Is her behavior motivated by poor moral foundation or by mental illness which cause poor moral choices.
Why do we excuse one man for beheading his mother as mentally incompetent while a religious sect can commit the same behavior and we excuse it as part of their religion with its moral code of behavior? The person who is abusive and beats his wife or children, does he do that because his mental illness drives him to make poor moral choices or does his moral choice drive him to be abusive? What about the narcissist who manipulates others for self advancement or gain? Is her behavior motivated by poor moral foundation or by mental illness which cause poor moral choices.
According to Anita L. Allen-Castellitto, (Castellitto & Silverman, 2005) those who suffer with mental illness are just as capable of moral choices as those who do not suffer from mental illness. Maybe this is a case of which came first the chicken or the egg, but if the Holy Spirit impressed that upon my mind as soon as I woke up, I need to pursue some biblical and psychological research on the subject.
Pro 6:17 eyes that show pride, tongues that tell lies, hands that kill innocent people,
Pro 6:18 hearts that plan evil things to do, feet that run to do evil,
Pro 6:19 witnesses in court who tell lies, and anyone who causes family members to fight.
Pro 6:18 hearts that plan evil things to do, feet that run to do evil,
Pro 6:19 witnesses in court who tell lies, and anyone who causes family members to fight.
These behaviors are both internal (thoughts, feelings, executive functioning) and external (speaking, killing with hands, feet running speaks of acting out what one is thinking or planning, speaking lies, and instigating arguments and family breakups).
These behaviors and thoughts of morality and mental processes may be related to personal constructs of the world around them, leading to mental illness. The question is which comes first?
Heb 4:12 What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.
Is it a project worth pursuing?
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