For teological practition like Bishop or Priest maybe it is not difficult to differ the message from God or just a delusion and hallucination. But how about common people that they maybe don't understand about teology ? Is it possible that ordinary person get revelation without become mad and looked so strange to his/ her society ?
Delusion and hallucinations are the main symptoms of a psychiatric condition called psychosis. Yet, they can also be experienced by people who do not suffer from psychotic disorders. Things to consider are the age at which these experiences emerge (if the person is a young adult, for example), frequency of episodes, use of substances such as marijuana or chemical drugs, if the person is undergoing a time of great personal or work-related distress, etc. In these cases, it is advisable to consult a psychiatrist. If the episodes are frequent in the absence of any of the above, it would also be appropriate to perform brain scans to exclude a brain tumor, which could cause hallucinations. If nothing emerges, then it is difficult to tell whether they are a product of (maybe temporary) brain malfunction or a revelation from divine entities. Hope this helps!
Hi! If you saw a vision of pure light, not a dream-like vision filled with images of people, places and things, you can learn more about what those visions look like, how famous mystics describe them, and what has to happen in the brain to cause them to appear at my secure website, www.religiousvisionsoflight.com.
I think one also needs to consider the cultural background against things are taking place. At the end of the day, what might be considered in Western psychiatry as delusions or hallucinations can be equally interpreted in others cultures as messages from God.
The nature of reality is much more complex than we actually assume. All forms of reality involve an alteration of consciousness even 'the revelation from God.' The verification then becomes subjective or by set conventions, which could be wrong or right or create further problems. I am not of the believe that theological training can protect one from this confusion, in that regard, both the theologian and the not so theologically trained person's mind can fail to tell whether they are hallucinating or having a divine experience (both altered states of consciousness). Some of these could be purely psychiatric conditions while others could be experiences we'll never be able to verify.
I believe that the religion upon which your question is predicated, is the Christian religion owing to your mention of the bishop, an ecclesiastical position popularized by the Christian faith. On this basis, I'd like to say that, in Christianity, the line between revelation and hallucination is very thin. Think of Jesus' transfiguration and how the 3 disciples thought they were hallucinating. Think of Peter's release from the prison and how he thought he was dreaming. However, if one is very sure he's filled with the Holy Spirit, he should always be certain that he cannot have delusion (a psychological problem). All he receive are revelations
Thank you for your answers Ms. Hadar Hazan, Mr. Basilius Kasera, and Mr. Prince Peters.
Can it be measured by the patient of the person? Maybe who experienced delusion difficult to be patient, and easily angry.....
Delusion is remain delusion if it already translate strictly into human language and make chaos. But revelation from God when we translate carefully into human language it can make peace for the world.
Actually, it is not easy at all (unless the subject in question is psychotic, insane, hysterical, etc.) the saying is already known: "If someone talks to God, he prays; but if it is God who talks to him, he is schizophrenic" ). Obviously non-believers will always say that in "normal people" it is a "montage", a hallucination, illusion, suggestion, etc .; but, in "healthy", honest, credible people, etc. Those of us who are believers can doubt, although it is appropriate to start from a certain skepticism, BUT NOT ABSOLUTE!
According to Gardner Murphy :
When the dissolution of the reasoning self occurs in a chaotic manner, the result is called psychosis.
When the state is not accompanied by panic or anxiety, it is percieved as mystical.
Hollenback, Jess Byron. Mysticism: Experience, Response, and Empowerment. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1948.
Persinger, Michael A. Neurophysiological Bases of God Beliefs. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1987.
The Physiology of Mysticism by MORGAN.
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