Abnormal mental phenomena in the prophets

Abnormal mental phenomena of varying emotional depth are found frequently among the earlier, nonliterary, and literary prophets. Three levels are discerned: inspiration, i.e., a state of excitement with well-preserved reality controls; ecestasy, as a state in which reality control has been lost temp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of religion and health
Main Author: Nussbaum, Kurt (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer Science + Business Media B. V. [1974]
In: Journal of religion and health
Further subjects:B Eidetic Imagery
B Mental Phenomenon
B Reality Control
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
Description
Summary:Abnormal mental phenomena of varying emotional depth are found frequently among the earlier, nonliterary, and literary prophets. Three levels are discerned: inspiration, i.e., a state of excitement with well-preserved reality controls; ecestasy, as a state in which reality control has been lost temporarily; and eidetic imagery characterized by dreams and visions. It is argued that the prophets were psychotics, or mystics, or poets, or endowed with psychic gifts. I have attempted to consider some of these phenomena from the psychiatric viewpoint, keeping in mind that such interpretations many centuries later must remain speculative.
ISSN:1573-6571
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/BF01532658