Saints and madmen : psychiatry opens its doors to religion / Russell Shorto.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shorto, Russell.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychiatry and religion.

Psychology--Religious aspects.

Psychology.

Mental illness--Religious aspects.

Mental illness.

Psychiatric emergencies.

Peak experiences.

Physical Description:

ix, 256 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Henry Holt, 1999.

Summary:

THE FIRST BOOK TO DESCRIBE THE REVOLUTIONARY EFFORTS BY A VANGUARD OF PSYCHIATRISTS TO REACH OUT TO RELIGION AND CREATE A NEW SCIENCE OF THE SOUL

Psychiatry, once famously opposed to religion, has done an about-face. Like the legendary explorers of a century ago, some psychiatrists have set off into what they see as the last frontier: the spiritual self. In this moving and impeccably researched narrative, Russell Shorto shares with us the fruits of their exploration and tells remarkable stories of people suffering from what once were deemed spiritual afflictions, then came to be seen as purely medical disorders, and now, thanks to this new generation of psychiatric pioneers, are being treated as both.

In the process, Shorto brings to bear issues from the cutting edge of consciousness studies. He explores the shared territory of psychosis and mysticism; the changing meaning of "self, " "soul, " "mind, " and "brain"; the theory that psychotropic drugs have a spiritual dimension; the meaning of religious terrorism; and the possibility that addiction and depression are spiritual conditions.

In weaving his case studies into a single story, Shorto delivers a concise update on the science of the mind and the newest efforts to probe the deepest meaning of human existence.

Contents:

1. The New Psychotics 3

2. The Singular Pluralism of William James 30

3. Zeitgeist 48

4. Storming the Castle 61

5. The Don Quixote of Westchester 90

6. At the Center for the Spiritually Disturbed 103

7. The Patients of Job 125

8. Crusaders 142

9. The Walking Symbol 159

10. Satan in the Brain 179

11. Acid Flashback 197

12. Experience Itself 221

13. Beer, Sex, Shopping, Chocolate, God 230.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [237]-242) and index.

ISBN:

0805059024

OCLC:

40489132