Comment on Those Who Know: A global discussion about revelation, insight, truth, and fear by seraphima

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seraphima · 3/16/2026, 9:22:20 AM · permalink

Here are the primary ways to refute the claim that prophets were schizophrenic:

High Functioning and Coherence: Unlike many individuals with schizophrenia, who may suffer from cognitive decline and disorganization, prophets often demonstrated extreme intellectual coherence and high functional levels, often leading, teaching, and managing communities.

Lack of "Negative" Symptoms: Schizophrenia is often accompanied by "negative symptoms" such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and diminished emotional expression, which are generally absent in the accounts of prophetic figures who were actively involved in intense social, political, or religious activities.

Consistency and Long-Term Impact: The prophecies and teachings of prophets often show long-term internal consistency, rather than the incoherent or fragmented thinking often associated with psychotic disorders.

Distinction Between Hallucination and Insight: Proponents of this view point out that what is called a "vision" in a religious context differs from a psychotic hallucination in that the prophetic experience is typically understood as having purpose, coherence, and profound insight, whereas schizophrenic episodes are often terrifying and disorganized.

Absence of Schizophrenia Markers: Historical or literary accounts of prophets frequently lack the key indicators for schizophrenia, such as progressive decline, and some argue that bipolar or schizoaffective disorders would be more compatible with the evidence than schizophrenia, if one were to suggest a mental health condition at all.

Contextualizing Behavior: Some actions described in religious texts that might be considered "bizarre" today (such as those of Isaiah or Ezekiel) were often symbolic, deliberate acts aimed at conveying a message, rather than the result of a disorganized mind.

Unsuitability of Retrospective Diagnosis: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and many scholars consider it unethical to diagnose historical figures, as they are not present for clinical evaluation, making any such claim speculative and unprofessional.

Cultural Context: Many anthropologists and psychologists note that experiences seen as "hallucinatory" in a modern, secular context may have been culturally validated and interpreted differently in the ancient world.

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