My colleagues and I often care for patients suffering from hallucinations, prophesying, and claiming to speak with God, among other symptoms—in mental health care, it’s sometimes very difficult to tell apart religious belief from mental illness…. Our conclusions frequently stem from the behaviors we see before us. Take an example of a man who walks into an emergency department, mumbling incoherently. He says he’s hearing voices in his head, but insists there’s nothing wrong with him. He hasn’t used any drugs or alcohol. If he were to be evaluated by mental health professionals, there’s a good chance he might be diagnosed with a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia. But what if that same man were deeply religious? What if his incomprehensible language was speaking in tongues?
[Julius] Malema’s story is powerful because it is deep and it is true. There is a resounding dissonance in this country. Politically, we are equal, and that comes from the present. Socially, we are anything but equal, and that comes from the past. Malema says it better than anyone, and that is why he is in our thoughts.- Jonny Steinberg in Business Day
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