--- Frank Mayhar <frank at exit.com> wrote: . > > Sigh. Well, if you would read what I wrote, you > would note that I didn't > say that the _beliefs_ were a system of denial, I > referred to the reaction > to a perceived _threat_ to those beliefs. Well, if you would not assume that I didn't read what you wrote, but simply failed to understand your point, this would be a more pleasant discussion. The > "system of denial" is the one > that prevents the belief system from being > threatened. The emotional > reaction to such a threat is what exposes the > disorder. The result is that > the person with such a disorder clings even more > tightly to the belief and > denies (at a very deep, usually unconcious level) > the evidence that might > contradict it. Ok, so not everyone who believes in their religion or their God is crazy, just those who get upset when it's threatened? > > This is true whether the belief relates to "I have a > personal relationship > with God," to "he hits me because he loves me," or > to "I don't have a > drinking problem." Among many, many others. I *don't* have a drinking problem, I have a *stopping* problem. :)