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What is religious mania?

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Alison

Alison Report 29 Aug 2007 20:59

A relative of mine was put in an asylum in the early 1900's for having religious mania. Can anybody explain what this would have been?

Ozibird

Ozibird Report 29 Aug 2007 21:13

Well here's one example:

Star of Gwent
14th March, 1880
Religious Mania

A farmer and his wife from the Henllys area, became deranged, owing to the close study they have been paying recently to theology. Their brother and sister also lost their reason, owing to the same cause, and now the servant girl has become insane. One of the brothers declared that he is Christ, and the other that he is Anti-Christ. Some days ago the two brothers and the servant girl left the farmhouse, with the object of inducing persons in the neighbourhood, to accompany them, as they asserted, to Heaven. They were followed by the police and a desperate struggle ensued when the officers came in contact with the two men and the girl. On the way to the station, the one who thought he was Christ, picked up his brother and carried him singing "Safe in the arms of Jesus." Both of them have since been admitted into Abergavenny Asylum. The wife is recovering her reason, but the sister and servant girl are still deranged. The former insists that she is Miriam. and that her brothers are Moses and Aaron.

Julie

Julie Report 29 Aug 2007 21:14

Alison

If you google religious mania quite a lot comes up

Alison

Alison Report 29 Aug 2007 21:27

Yeah, I've had a look at Google but I wasnt sure whether the meaning in those days was different to now. Not sure of soteriology etc. Bit heavy going. I thought it might have been a general medical condition for extremist views. His daughter became involved in the Blackshirts so it wouldnt surprise me if there was some truth in this.