My counselour says I'm delusional b/c I'm Muslim

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I had a psychotic break 2 1/2 years ago, and although I experience little symptoms now, I feel my counselor isn't treating me very well. You see I have autism and also schizoaffective disorder, there has been some recent debate on WP forums about whether you can have both, well I believe I do.

I am a white male of European decent who was raised in a catholic family and I am currently living with my parents. I am very interested in Islam and I would like to learn about it. My counselor says most Muslims are wannabe terrorists. This is far from the truth, Islam itself is a peaceful religion, there are just some bad apples out there. When I get interested in Islam my counselor says it is because I am having delusions.

Now I realize many people on WP will disagree with my choice, most of us a white people of European decent in the U.S., Australia, U.K., and Canada, so we tend to have been raised by christian or secular families, but us autistics despite lacking empathy, have a good moral understanding of an individuals right to make personal choices and have them respected.

I guess I need to stand up to my counselor about this issue.

Last edited by Master_Shake on 21 Apr 2009, 8:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

I'd tell your counselor to take a hike.

find another counsler.

There are extremists in every group. Muslim extremists are like Hollywood actors, they get all the press.

Where'd this shrink get a license, a cracker jack box?

Boot him to the curb and find a real shrink.

Your counselor is making the same sorts of leaps in logic that frustrate me often online; faulty syllogisms built on prejudices and assumptions instead of analysis. Islam is not evil or negative - what people do in the name of it can be, just as in any faith. Stand your ground, be calm but assert your right to explore and believe. If you want to talk more about S-A and ASDs, would welcome the PM.


M.

That's exactly the kind of ethnic/religious stereotyping
that all men and women of good will need to work against.
For the sake of my own mainline Christianity (Anglican
Church of Canada), I have had to be ready to defend
myself and my beliefs for years against...do you prefer
evangelicals , Conservative Evangelicals,
or Fundamentalists within Protestantism.

The God who loves justice grant you His guidance.

Agreed

Here is her syllogism:

Most Muslims are terrorists
I am a Muslim
So I am likely to be terrorist

For one thing, I like Islam because is preaches predetermination rather than free-choice. In the West science and religion are separate, for example Darwinism vs. Evolution, but in Muslim countries science and religion are one in the same, scientific theories are tried to be made congruent with religious teachings. Most people in the West won't even consider the idea that religion can support science.

There is a theory called Quantum Multiverse, it is a derivative theory of multiple universes, universes that exist in the abstract realm of multiple dimensions. It has been neither proven or disproved, but I choose not to believe in it, because it wouldn't fit with my religious beliefs, predetermination and the existence of one world.

I know most of you are not Muslim, but the same theory could be applied to anyone who believes in predetermination and one world.

Please check out my theory:

The concept of heritability trumping free will and the interaction between our heritability and enviroment can be further examined using Quantum Multiverse Theory. This derivative of multiple universe theory, which has been neither proven nor disproved, argues that for every moment in time (every minuscule movement of every atom) the universe branches off into multiple copies for every possible scenario or possible way the universe can be. For example if one were to roll a six-sided die, the universe would branch off into six copies, one for each outcome. These alternate universes occupy the same physical space as our universe, but are suspended in the abstract realm of multiple dimensions.

On an individual level, quantum theory states that random quantum processes in our brain control our actions. For every possible way our neurons can fire in reaction to our environment, that are in accordance with the physical laws which control how our brain works and in accordance with our brain structure, the universe branches off into multiple copies.

Therefore, our actions could be controlled completely by random quantum processes which govern both our brains activity and our environment independent of human intervention, in accordance with the laws of nature.

If one believes that the Koran preaches that we are predetermined and that there is only one world, one must question the preceding theory. Perhaps everything that every was, is, and will be in the human world follows a linear path determined by our neurological activity acting in reaction to our environment. In this way we are simply "reaction machines" whose subjective experience is an illusion and we are simply agents of God's divine will.

In this way, what the Koran describes as our souls are imprinted into our genes and therefore also on our brain's biology, which is modified by our experience of an created by a series of consecutive non-random reactions.

If we are predetermined, quantum multiverses must not exist.

"Here is the her syllogism:

Most Muslims are terrorists
I am a Muslim
So I am likely to be terrorist " ??????????

Ok first things first Asalam Alaikum.
Now onto business your councelor needs to be replaced NOW besides the fact that their logic is false it's a basic banwagon fallacy (because one is one way they all are)

Your councelor is a bigot plain and simple and should not be practicing therapy of any kind.

Standing up to her is unlikely to help you much because it would seem her hatred is so ingrained that she'll just say you're delusional is you question her logic so do yourself a favour get as far away from her as you can. If she was assigned to you apply for a transfer based on the grounds of her infringing on your religious freedom

Did this counselor give you any official diagnosis? You mentioned something before, what was it? Just curious.

P.S. your thoughts about religion/philsophy/etc. sound totally legit.

Talk about "painting people with the same tar brush"...

I'm sorry, but starting with an assumption and eliminating possibilities because it doesn't jibe with an arbitrary point of belief. I do not share your belief is a pure predeterminate state; I do believe in the steering effects of free will, the chaos that a single change can inflict elsewhere down the line. That bias affects my choice of theories as well, but the possibility of a multiverse does not imply that it was never whole, or does not overlap... denying the possibility is to deny the scope of potential. However, that has nothing to do with your choice of faith, but a point of personal perspective. To be derided for your faith is inappropriate for a professional counselor. [edit] I would suggest finding someone supportive of your thoughts; if they have legitimate concerns, they will ask questions to pursue those instead of making statements of assumption. [/edit]


M.

Last edited by makuranososhi on 21 Apr 2009, 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Eh... having done the "lets convert to Islam" thing in my teens, I would caution against doing it, but that's my personal experience.

It could be that your desire to convert is rooted somehow in the psychotic break you had, but I don't think your counselor telling you that all Muslims are "wannabe terrorists" is the right way to broach the subject.

This.

I will definitely consider changing my counselor, the only problem is despite her bigotry she has helped me out a lot.

My counselor does not have the authority to make a diagnoses, she just goes on information from psychiatric evaluations I've had. I am officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS and Schizoaffective, but I think I have McDD and also undiagnosed NLD.

The exact diagnoses really isn't that important.



I see your point mak. But, my point is considering making religion fit with science not having the two conflict, like evolution vs. creationism in the West. As far as quantum multiverse, it is neither proven not disproved, so believing in quantum multiverse or not has to depend on your viewpoint. So until it is proven or not, I don't see the problem with not believing in it because of my religion.



She didn't exactly call me a terrorist but I just think her assumption that my interest in Islam is delusion was because she thought I wanted to destroy the world or something. People think Western whites who convert to Islam are weird, so when your a quirky person they really think your strange.

I would also advise caution with converting to a religion. This is for any religion but especially ones that do not take kindly to "unconverting".

The problem is that when you join a religion you will soon enough find that it is NOT the basic theoretical religion you are joining but the actual group of people involved and in my experience the actual experience will not be what the religion theoretically teaches.

A religion is primarily a social construct and that means that converting to a religion is not so much about adhering to a specific ideaology but identifying with and joining a particular social group.

In the end, make your decision on your social group identity. If you really fit with them, then that is that and you might just want to take the consequence and difficulties that go with being part of the group.

In any case, I follow a mystical path so my interaction with the Illimitable Inconceivable One is not via religous intermediaries so I am very loathe to allign myself with these. Your path may be different and you may require such a vehicle in which case it is of course your decision. In any case, certainly in the way you present what has happened the councelor is out of line.