"Kathleen Taylor, a neurologist at Oxford University, said that recent developments suggest that we will soon be able to treat religious fundamentalism and other forms of ideological beliefs potentially harmful to society as a form of mental illness..."

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/351347

My personal opinion is that holding strong beliefs, whatever they may be, is wrong, but to go so far as to consider it a mental disorder seems too much. It appears to me that this is a part of that recent trend to qualify everything that's not socially acceptable as a form of illness. Moreover, I think this could have far-reaching consequences, since it seems like it might absolve people from any epistemological responsibility whatsoever.
What do you think of this?

THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TOPIC.
Anyway, I agree with your statement. Holding beliefs is something we humans have been dong for thousands of years and, unless it is supporting or causing harm to the believer or those around them, I think we can classify it to be normal.
However, some people get a little TOO embroiled in their beliefs. Think of the terrorists and radicals in the Middle East, or even the Westboro Baptist Church. They are using their beliefs as an outlet to hate and cause harm to others because they (and I'm using this word reluctantly) delude themselves it is truly justified.
Personally, I can't believe people would use their religion (Which I always viewed as a way to find peace, answers and purpose) as an excuse to dehumanize and injure people.
However, it comes down to the big philosophical question: what is right?
I can't PROVE it's right to put people in jail, and I can't PROVE it's wrong for the Westboro Baptist Church to picket funerals. Because it all comes down to personal belief.
So, I guess, that means we are all mentally ill or 'brainwashed' to an extent. We are influenced by the world around us - and being influenced is effectively brainwashing.
Back on topic, I think that casually religious (Or, that's what I call them) people - people who are just the same as you and I who believe in their chosen religion but don't use it as a defining characteristic - should not be considered mentally ill. It's people who take it too seriously who need a reality check.

I think it's absurd to try to classify "religious fundamentalism and other forms of ideological beliefs potentially harmful to society" as mental illnesses. So many things are *potentially* harmful. With that logic (or lack of), you could classify trying to implement high ideals into society as a mental disorder because it would disrupt the current social order.

>>1 Why do you think holding strong beliefs is wrong? What we feel strongly about tells us what's most important to us. You can use strong convictions to inspire people--to do good or bad things; admittedly it's a double-edged sword.

There are people in this world whose beliefs have led them to behave harshly, or even violently, towards those who don't share their beliefs (extremists, radicals, or whatever other word you think fits). But, those people are far from being the majority. More often than not, I think people are able to reconcile their beliefs with the beliefs of others.

On a different note, as wrong as I think it is, labeling someone with a mental disorder can create huge barriers for that person to have to overcome.

^

>>3 Well, that's because we are rarely, if ever, justified in believing the things we believe, so knowing that, it doesn't seem rational to hold strong beliefs. Not that I think good things can't result from it, of course they can, as you've said it can go both ways, I just consider it irresponsible in itself.

I believe that religious beliefs are fine as long as they don't hurt anyone. Calling it a mental illness doesn't sound right, it's too much; it can be called an obsession or something to that effect. But treating that sort of thing doesn't necessarily appear to be a bad thing because it can protect people. Although in the long run, this can lead them treating other minor obsessions as well which could have a negative affect.