R A Clark

Religious delusions among Jews.

American Journal of Psychotherapy January 1, 1980 R A Clark

Religious delusions are not limited to Christians; a review of cases at Friends Hospital found they are equally common among Jews. Five cases are presented, four showing psychotic reactions to stress and one illustrating that a religious experience does not necessarily lead to psychosis. Delusional content may draw from the Old or New Testament. The Messiah delusion is examined in detail, including a historical 17th-century example. The authors argue that persecution and social stress can foster fantasies of a savior, making Jewish people particularly vulnerable to Messianic delusions.