Best resources for debating religious extremism as insanity

[pchams]

The title says most of it.
I have a student who has asked for help with resources for a debate.

Debate topic:

Religious extremism is a form of insanity.

Any links or help is appreciated.

[Cello Man]

Tell him to pick up a copy of The End Of Faith by Sam Harris. It's accessible, informative, and a good read on top of it.

[Apathia]

Insanity may be carrying the common pathology too far. Most religious addicts still function in society. There's a good deal out there on addiction to religion now. He might try focusing on thet instead.

[pchams]

Insanity may be carrying the common pathology too far. Most religious addicts still function in society. There's a good deal out there on addiction to religion now. He might try focusing on thet instead.
Now you have entered the debate.
I just need resources on the 'for' position.
Thanks anyway.

Thanks Cello Man.

[andyandy]

it all comes down to how one defines "insanity".....

at a click

in·san·i·ty (n-sn-t)
n. pl. in·san·i·ties
1. Persistent mental disorder or derangement. No longer in scientific use.
2. Law
a. Unsoundness of mind sufficient in the judgment of a civil court to render a person unfit to maintain a contractual or other legal relationship or to warrant commitment to a mental health facility.
b. In most criminal jurisdictions, a degree of mental malfunctioning sufficient to relieve the accused of legal responsibility for the act committed.
3.
a. Extreme foolishness; folly.
b. Something that is extremely foolish.

it's somewhat defunct as a scientific term, with derogatory connertations - and a history of usage largely framed in terms of demonic "possessions" of an otherwise sane mind.......

so this would be a poor choice of word if his/her angle was scientific....."mental illness" would be a better, less emotive term if this was the avenue they wished to pursue.....

If it's meant in the legal sense, it would again be a strange choice - as it would mean a general argument for all those who were religious extremists to be relieved of responsibiity for their actions.....

and if it's simply meant as "foolish," well, "foolish" would be a better word to use.

so my advice would be to rephrase the question. :)

edit.
Or if they have to debate it, they should choose to define it as foolish - because then they can just pick holes in extremist ideology for as long as the debate lasts.....

[Q-Source]

The title says most of it.
I have a student who has asked for help with resources for a debate.

Debate topic:

Religious extremism is a form of insanity.



If you or your student start assuming that religious extremism is a form of insanity then it is quite likely that the debate will be pointless.

[ceo_esq]

If you or your student start assuming that religious extremism is a form of insanity then it is quite likely that the debate will be pointless.

Often the task in an academic debating assignment is to marshal the most persuasive arguments possible for the position assigned, regardless of whether the position is actually tenable or even believed by the debater. In this case, though, the definitions are so fluid that I wonder whether this proposition, as worded, is really worth debating.

[drkitten]

Often the task in an academic debating assignment is to marshal the most persuasive arguments possible for the position assigned, regardless of whether the position is actually tenable or even believed by the debater. In this case, thought, the definitions are so fluid that I wonder whether this proposition, as worded, is really worth debating.

My understanding is that that is fairly typical of academic debating assignments as well.

The implicit first task of the debate team, then, is to present a definition that is superficially fair but that will support the kind of analysis that results in a win for their side.

For example, if "insanity" is too vague a term, you can try spinning it as a legal term (which looks like a mate-in-three losing move to me) or as a medical term, and blinding them with the terminology from the latest DSM. Which may still not win, but I think it's a less instant and obvious loss.

[Kopji]

The title says most of it.
I have a student who has asked for help with resources for a debate.

Debate topic:

Religious extremism is a form of insanity.

Any links or help is appreciated.

I don't particularly agree with the premise, but some of these might be helpful.

Jim Moyers -
http://home.earthlink.net/~jcmmsm/article/index.html
'shattered faith syndrome'

This site is more sympathetic to religion:
http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/index.htm

James' book is very old, but his ideas are worth reading & understanding:

William James's The Varieties of Religious Experience
http://www.psychwww.com/psyrelig/james/toc.htm

[Dustin Kesselberg]

I have a feeling that whomever this student is debating against won't actually be arguing that religion is not insanity because it doesn't fit the commonly accepted definition of insanity but that religion is not insanity because religion is true.

[Kopji]

she can't take you anywhere, you don't already know how to go...