Abstract
It was pleasing to see the April 2003 issue of the journal turn its attention to some of the philosophical issues in which psychiatry is embedded. There are questions which cannot be resolved even by the most sophisticated of neural imaging or the pursuit of errant genes and neurotransmitters.
However, some of the arguments advanced are a little complicated and I feel in need of enlightenment before I can accept them.
Philosophical assertions can be tested against evidence when relevant evidence exists and Professor Browning (‘Internists of the mind or physicians of the soul: does psychiatry need a public philosophy?’ ANP April, 2003; 37:131–137) on page 134 turns to empirical evidence to support his argument that those who understand themselves to be religious have many advantages, such as better interpersonal relationships and being more generous in their philanthropy. He urges ‘a variety of practical alliances with religion’ to promote our mental health.
Here is my problem. Mayan priests tore the heart out of living prisoners to keep their world going. For centuries Christians burned alive those who did not share their beliefs. The Crusades provide examples of bigotry and cruelty. In recent times those belonging to different Christian sects in Ireland have murdered one another and unhappily massacres still occur in India and other countries in which there are divergent religious beliefs.
The notion of a jihad is not charitable. On 12 May 2003 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that one of the Bali bombers described the 202 victims as infidels. ‘Australians, Americans, whatever – they are all white people’. I could give more examples of religious-based cruelty and hatred but that should suffice.
Perhaps it can be argued that these acts are not truly religious, but something else. Perhaps so, but I believe that anyone who tried to persuade a mediaeval pope that this was the case may have found himself bound to a stake while his charitable and philosophical companions gathered firewood for his auto-da-fé.
Or is the evidence of no significance?