NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: First off, I'm NOT atheist or anti-religion- this is an idea I've had for a while and could be something that other nations could use. I'm pretty sure that there HAVE been psychological studies done on the subject and, by me doing this I do not claim to know that much about psychology, but I don't think I'll need it. The basis for this is that a psychologist- for a backwater University somewhere in the "neither regions" of the Roman Empire- is doing a research project on religion, and, when he finishes with it, he concludes that *all* religions are a form of psychosis. He publishes the report, which gets soundly thrashed by his colleagues, the general public and even the government itself (which did NOT finance the study nor support it). In fact, the only reason it even gets published is because of the Romans' guaranteeing of freedom of press in its Constitution, which is followed to the letter in Rome. However, I figure that some nation, looking to outlaw religion, would pick up on the study and use it as a basis for outlawing religion in their country, because this is the type of study would be a gold-mine for an oppressive nation looking to justify its oppression (and its rule).

Oh, and for clarification, this is NOT based on any of the Earths (except my own, on the NS Earth), and it is a modern RP.

IC:

Psychology Professor Lucius Martianus- just barely in his thirties- arrived home at 10:30PM, after another long day at work at Patriot University in Helios Nord (OOC: Alert, Ellesmere Island). Martianus was new at the University- a badly-managed, poorly attended University with an extremely poor reputation located in the outskirts of the city- and thought that he could make a name for himself in University circles with his study. He'd been interviewing people from all different kinds of faiths and cultures, and felt ready to report its results.

He turned on his computer and began to type- "Religion & Psychosis: An Analysis". He would spend most of the night and most of the following week typing up his findings, which he enclosed in a 22-page report that would be published in the University's monthly newsletter. His findings: "religion" is nothing more than random halucinations, with many followers' ascertation of an "unproveable" deity being a form of psychosis, because the follower, he reports, has lost their comprehensive ability in believing in such an irrational object. His concluding paragraph read rather authoritatively:

"No rational human would ever believe in something that they cannot prove, and thus this proves that religion is nothing more than a fallacy invented by humans to justify whatever inequalities they wish to pursue. Subjects have been thoroughly unable to 'prove' the existence of the deity they believe in, with many saying that the deity either directly or indirectly governs their entire actions. Thus, the only reasonable conclusion to this matter is declare that every 'follower' of a religion is deemed psychotic, for the religion causes them to abandon all self-control to a master not one subject was able to verify as existing."

He saved his work and E-Mailed it to himself, extremely excited. He didn't care that he might become the centre of controversy, or that every religious group would probably declare him a heretic. I'm going to make a name for myself! he thought. He could barely contain his excitement, hastily running up the stairs and making his whole apartment shake. He would wind up in bed, but he wouldn't sleep, for the only visions he had in his head was fame and glory.

OOC: I changed the location of the origin of the report to Ellesmere Island...it doesn't change anything to the RP itself, but I figure that if I made it originate in the Arctic it'd have a greater feel of "remoteness" to the report.

Obscure Report Calls Religion “Psychosis”
“Irresponsible”, say Rome’s top psychologists

HELIOS NORD (RFP)- A report released today from an Arctic university is sparking controversy all over the Roman Empire with its assertion that all forms of religion are forms of “psychosis”, even going so far as to recommend that the people representing those religions be “brought in for counselling” or even thrown in jail. Furthermore, among the 22-page report’s conclusions is a so-called “history of lies” invented by religion and that all sacred books- such as the Bible and Qur’an be burned- so that they cannot be used to “create more psychotics”.

The report- titled “Religion & Psychosis: An Analysis” was commissioned by Psychology Professor Lucius Martianus of Patriot University, a small university located in the outskirts of Helios Nord that has only 214 students. The students of Patriot University- as well as the students and faculty of the more reputable Arctic University in Helios Nord- were quick to chastise both Martianus and Patriot University, calling the report “tasteless” and “offensive”. The University defends its assertions, stating that Martianus was “objective in his study and had no previous bias towards religion before completing his report”, but the University’s students were not convinced by Patriot’s statement. Martianus could not be reached for comment.

“How can they say that Martianus was ‘objective’? It’s clear that he wasn’t,” said Arctic University Muslim Student’s Association (AUMSA) Consul Farouk Faderek. “To boldly state that all religions are a lie is not just a fallacy but offensive. We all entered the religions by choice- to say that we were ‘tricked’ or ‘brainwashed’ is insulting and proof that Martianus did not do his research properly.” Faderek continued by saying that Martianus may have just looked at militant or fundamentalist followers of religions and inaccurately applied their ways to every member of those religions, although Faderek did not want to say so exactly so that he could not make “a baseless claim (himself)”.

The reaction was so strong that the protests shook the normally pacific Arctic inhabitants, and went all the way to Rome itself. Religious groups were just as quick as the AU students to denounce the report, also calling it “offensive” and “inaccurate”. “People like him should not be allowed to speak,” said Vincent Mordella, the Catholic Bishop of Rome.

The criticism was not just confined to religious groups- several of Rome’s top psychologists also denounced the report, all of which said that the study was “poorly researched”. “Modern psychology has proven that just because someone thinks of a ‘mystical being’ it doesn’t mean that they’re psychotic,” said University of Rome Psychology Professor Marcus Cornelius Amandius. “If you go to that end, then you might as well label all authors as ‘psychos’ too, because they also create beings that are not real.” Amandius even went so far as to state that Martianus is a “fake” Professor, going so far as to say that Martianus’ “highly intolerant” report was “irresponsible of him to release. He knew that he would anger a lot of people with his intolerance, and the fact that his report is completely inaccurate only compounds the issue further. This was not an impartial study- this was a bigot with an axe to grind.”

Roman Emperor Rodin Hartian, when asked about the report, stated that he is considering investigating Patriot University’s standards to ensure that the professors they hire are “professional and not impartial”, but would not go further. “I personally do not support what Professor Martianus wrote, but the laws of this Empire ensures his right to publish his findings. However, we do have to make sure that our education system is as impartial as it can be and does not promote bigotry or hatred.”

"...in other news, a recent report by a Roman psychologist is causing an uproar in faith communities worldwide. Lucius Martianus, the report's author, says that religion is a form of psychosis. Reaction in Ximea has been mixed. The nation's nonreligious majority has taken the study in stride, but religious groups are protesting it as 'secular propaganda.' Dr. Martin Horn, president of the Academy of Psychology, had this to say."
The image cuts to an older, genial-looking man with thinning white hair and spectacles with small lenses. "We've understood religion to be a delusion for quite some time, but its causes are far more complex than the study indicates. Dr. Martianus's openly hostile tone actually gives us reasonable atheists a bad name."
He continues speaking, but his voice is muted and the anchor's voice is played over him. "Larry Farwell, leader of the End Times Harvest Faith Congregation, one of the most vocal religious groups in Ximea, disagrees."
The image cuts to a jowly man with liverspots, slicked black hair, and a powder-blue suit. "This is an affront against God, perpetrated by the Satan-worshiping secularists pushing their scientific agenda. Revelations tells us that the people will turn away from the Lord in the Last Days..."
The image cuts back to the studio. "What do you think? Call our toll-free number to participate in Channel 91's Voice Your Opinion poll."

The Kreynorian Empire, being strongly religious and fundamentalist, is absolutely appalled by the report of Martianius :mad: . He has been declared an enemy of state and will be barred from entry to Kreynoria, punishable by burning at stake :) . Anyone seen possessing a copy of Martianius' report shall be tried for heresy, and his writings burned. The Patriarch of Kreynoriapolis has officially condemned him to eternal damnation :D and suffering in the Abyss of Hell. ;)

Third-Degree Otaku #827-03-928, Conclave of Friendship, Foreign News & Information Office, sat mulling over the newspaper clipping on his desk. "Obscure Report Calls Religion 'Psychosis', its headline read in bold monotype.

"Psychosis?" he said to himself. "Curious way of putting it." He buzzed his junior assistant, #936-01-369. "Kouhai, have you finished reviewing that report we discussed earlier?"

The junior otaku walked into his senior's office, holding a sheaf of papers. "Just looked through it, senpai."

"Your conclusions?"

"Disturbing, depending on how serious you think it should be taken," the younger man replied.

"How so?"

"It basically calls us all a bunch of madmen," the junior assistant said, a half-smile on his face. "It claims the manifestations of the Eternal Kawaii are nothing but illusions, and the Eternal Kawaii itself merely a figment of our imaginations. The report's quite detailed, but that's what it boils down to, essentially."

"I see," the senior otaku said, slowly. Foreign writings on religion had always been been his bugbear. Orders from the Conclave of Wisdom demanding access to foreign news and data...conflicting orders from the Conclave of Joy to suppress heresy. This one looked particularly annoying.

"Perhaps we could have it posted in the news archives under the 'Humor' section..." he said to himself, punching up the necessary request forms on his network terminal.