Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mystical Religious Experience and Psychosis: Contours of the Problem

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Psychosis or Mystical Religious Experience?

  • 641 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter explicates the challenges to diagnosing psychosis and mystical religious experience based on the criteria of one psychological approach alone. It introduces the five psychological approaches that will contribute, along with Reformed Theology beliefs, to the new paradigm for distinguishing mystical and psychotic experiences introduced in Chap. 7. The views of mystical experience expressed by Reformed Theology are presented, and a Reformed pastor’s call to ministry is used to demonstrate how a mystical religious experience could be interpreted as a psychotic or authentic mystical experience.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agosin, T. (1992). Psychosis, dreams, and mysticism in the clinical domain. In F. R. Halligan & J. H. Shea (Eds.), The fires of desire: Erotic energies and the spiritual quest (pp. 41–65). New York: Crossroad.

    Google Scholar 

  • APA. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-V (5th ed.). Arlington: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benner, D. G. (1989). Toward a psychology of spirituality: Implications for personality and psychotherapy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 5, 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvin, J. (1559/1960). Institutes of the Christian religion. Philadelphia: Westminster Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick, P. K. (2005). Sanity to supersanity to insanity: A personal journey. In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: Exploring the new frontier (pp. 75–89). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Claridge, G. (2001). Spiritual experience: Healthy psychoticism? In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: Exploring the new frontier (pp. 90–106). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, I. (2005). Psychosis and spirituality: The discontinuity model. In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: The new frontier (pp. 129–142). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, C. C. H. (2004). Psychiatry and mysticism. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 7(2), 149–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeHoff, S. L. (1998). In search for a paradigm for psychological and spiritual growth: Implications for psychotherapy and spiritual direction. Pastoral Psychology, 46(5), 333–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fairbairn, W. R. D. (1952/1992). Psychoanalytic studies of the personality. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1959). Obsessive acts and religious practices. Standard Edition. In R.C. McWatters (Ed. & Trans.), Sigmund Freud: Collected Papers (Vol. 2, pp. 25–35). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1961). Civilization and its discontents. Standard Edition. New York: Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freud, S. (1975). The future of an illusion. Standard Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuller, R. C. (2001). Spiritual but not religious. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberg, D., & Witztum, E. (1991). Problems in the treatment of religious patients. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 45(4), 554–565.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grof, S., & Grof, C. (Eds.). (1989). Spiritual Emergency. Los Angeles: Tarcher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood, R. W., Jr. (2001). Dimensions of mystical experiences: Empirical studies and psychological links. Amsterdam: Editions Rodopi B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood, R. W., Jr. (2009). Mystical, religious, and spiritual experiences. In M. de Souza, Francis, L. J. (Ed.), Spirituality, care and wellbeing (pp. 189–207), International Handbooks of Religion and Religion 3. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9. New York: Springer.

  • Jackson, M. (2005). Psychotic and spiritual experience: A case study comparison. In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: The new frontier (pp. 165–190). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, M., & Fulford, K. (1997). Spiritual experience and psychopathology. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology, 4(1), 41–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (1902/1936). The varieties of religious experience. New York: The Modern Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1938). Psychology & religion. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1960/1990). The psychogenesis of schizophrenia. In V. de Laszlo (Ed.), The basic writings of C. G. Jung, (R. E. C. Hull, Trans.). (pp. 395–412). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1968). Psychology and alchemy. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1989). Memories, dreams, reflections (R. Winston & C. Winston, Trans.). In A. Jaffe (Ed.), (Rev. ed.). New York: Vintage Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller, K. D. (2008). Phenomenological understanding of psychosis. Existential Analysis, 19(1), 17–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, M. (1946). Notes on some schizoid mechanisms. The International Journal of Psycho-analysis, 27(3 & 4), 99–110.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laing, R. D. (1973). Transcendental experience in relation to religion and psychosis. In J. Fadiman & D. Kewman (Eds.), Exploring madness: Experience, theory, and research (pp. 97–105). Monterey: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co..

    Google Scholar 

  • Louth, A. (1981). The origins of the Christian mystical tradition. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, F. G., Lukoff, D., & Turner, R. (1997). Commentary on “Spiritual experience and psychopathology.”. Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology, 4(1), 75–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lukoff, D. (1985). The diagnosis of mystical experiences with psychotic features. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 17(2), 155–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukoff, D. (2005). Spiritual and transpersonal approaches to psychotic disorders. In S. G. Mijares & G. S. Khalsa (Eds.), The psychospiritual clinician’s handbook: Alternative methods for understanding and treating mental disorders (pp. 233–257). Binghamton: Haworth Reference Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lukoff, D., & Lu, F. (2005). A transpersonal-integrative approach to spiritually oriented psychotherapy. In L. Sperry & E. P. Shafranske (Eds.), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy (pp. 177–205). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lukoff, D., Lu, F. G., & Turner, R. (1995). Cultural consideration in the assessment and treatment of religious and spiritual problems. Cultural Psychiatry, 18(3), 467–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, C. (1951). A man called Peter. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co..

    Google Scholar 

  • McGinn, B. (1991). The foundations of mysticism: Origins to the fifth century. New York: Crossroad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meissner, W. W. (2009). The God question in psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 26(2), 210–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, N. (2001). The experience of fragmentation in psychosis: Can mindfulness help? In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: The new frontier (pp. 211–221). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozment, S. E. (1969). Studies in medieval and reformation thought. Homo spiritualis: A comparative study of Johannes Tauler, Jean Gerson and Martin Luther (1509–16) in the context of their theological thought (Vol. 6). Leiden: E. J. Brill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, E. (2005). Are delusions on a continuum? The case of religious and delusional beliefs. In I. Clarke (Ed.), Psychosis and spirituality: The new frontier (pp. 191–208). London: Whurr Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, E., Day, S., McKenna, J., & Orbach, G. (1999). Delusional ideation in religious and psychotic populations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 38, 83–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richard, L. (1974). The spirituality of John Calvin. Atlanta: John Knox Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzuto, A. (1981). The birth of the living God: A psychoanalytic study. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzuto, A. (2009). Sacred space, analytic space, the self, and God. Journal of the Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry, 37(1), 175–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanderson, S., Vandenberg, B., & Paese, P. (1999). Authentic religious experience or insanity? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(5), 607–616.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schimmel, A. (1983). Sufism and the Islamic tradition. In S. T. Katz (Ed.), Mysticism and religious traditions (pp. 131–147). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scotton, B. W. (1996). Introduction and definition of transpersonal psychiatry. In B. W. Scotton, A. B. Chinen, & J. R. Battista (Eds.), Textbook of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology (pp. 3–6). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafranske, E. (1996). Religious beliefs, practices and affiliations of clinical psychologists. In E. Shafranske (Ed.), Religion and the clinical practice of psychology (pp. 149–164). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shafranske, E. P. (2005). A psychoanalytic approach to spiritually oriented psychotherapy. In L. Sperry & E. P. Shafranske (Eds.), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy (pp. 105–130). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shafranske, E. P., & Malony, H. N. (1990). Clinical psychologists’ religious and spiritual orientations and their practice of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 27, 72–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shafranske, E. P., & Sperry, L. (2005). Addressing the spiritual dimension in psychotherapy: Introduction and overview. In L. Sperry & E. P. Shafranske (Eds.), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy (pp. 11–30). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Signer, F. (1988). Mystical-ecstatic and trance states. British Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 296–297.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smart, N. (1997). The religious experience of mankind. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, W. C. (1963). The meaning and end of religion. New York: Macmillan Co..

    Google Scholar 

  • Stace, W. T. (1960). Mysticism and philosophy. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co..

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinbock, A. J. (2007). Phenomenology & mysticism: The verticality of religious experience. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stifler, K., Greer, J., Sneck, W., & Dovenmuehle, R. (1993). An empirical investigation of the discriminability of reported mystical experiences among religious contemplatives, psychotic inpatients, and normal adults. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 32(4), 366–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streib, H., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (2016). Understanding “spirituality”—Conceptual considerations. In H. Streib & R. W. Hood Jr. (Eds.), Semantics and psychology of spirituality (pp. 3–17). Bielefeld: University of Bielefeld.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland, M. (1996). Mental illness or life crisis? In D. Bhugra (Ed.), Psychiatry and religion: Context, consensus, and controversies (pp. 214–229). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suttie, I. D. (1935/1988). The origins of love and hate. London: Free Association Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamburello, D. (1994). Union with Christ. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, S.-Y. (1987). Cognitive-behavior therapy: A biblical approach and critique. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 15, 103–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, S.-Y., & Johnson, W. B. (2005). Spiritually oriented cognitive-behavioral therapy. In L. Sperry & E. P. Shafranske (Eds.), Spiritually oriented psychotherapy (pp. 77–104). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Thalbourne, M. A. (1991). The psychology of mystical experience. Exceptional Human Experience, 9, 168–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thalbourne, M. A., & Delin, P. S. (1999). Transliminality: Its relation to dream life, religiosity, and mystical experience. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 9(1), 45–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tillich, P. (1968). Paul Tillich: A history of Christian thought, C. E. Braaten (Ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, R., Lukoff, D., Barnhouse, R. T., & Lu, F. G. (1995). Religious or spiritual problem. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 183(7), 435–444.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughn, F. (1991). Spiritual issues in psychotherapy. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 23, 105–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • von der Heydt, V. (1977). Jung and religion. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 22(2), 175–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Rad, G. (1972). Genesis: A commentary. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wildman, W. E. (2011). Religious and spiritual experiences. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1953). Transitional objects and transitional phenomena: A study of the first non-me possession. The International Journal of Psycho-analysis, 34(2), 89–97.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1965). The maturational process and the facilitating environment. New York: International Universities Press, Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Woollcott, P., Jr., & Desai, P. (1990). Religious and creative states of illumination: A perspective from psychiatry. In D. S. Browning, T. Jobe, & I. S. Evison (Eds.), Religious and ethical factors in psychiatric practice (pp. 230–263). Chicago, IL: Nelson Hall in association with the Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and Ethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wulff, D. (1997). Psychology of religion: Classic and contemporary (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B. J., & Pargament, K. I. (2005). Religiousness and spirituality. In R. F. Paloutzian & C. L. Park (Eds.), Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality (pp. 21–42). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinnbauer, B. J., Pargament, K. I., & Scott, A. B. (1999). The emerging meanings of religiousness and spirituality: Problems and prospects. Journal of Personality, 67(6), 889–919.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Susan L. DeHoff

Authors
  1. Susan L. DeHoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

DeHoff, S.L. (2018). Mystical Religious Experience and Psychosis: Contours of the Problem. In: Psychosis or Mystical Religious Experience?. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68261-7_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation