The Concept of God and Severity of Symptoms

In 2007, Baylor University released a controversial study detailing Americans' concepts of God.

According to this study, 91.8 percent of Americans believe in some sort of Higher Power. Four distinct concepts emerged, and these concepts spanned religions. The person's concept of God was a stronger predictor of his/her moral beliefs than denominational or political affiliation.

• 31.4 percent believed in an Authoritarian God, who is actively involved in human affairs in order to judge people and punish wrongdoing
• 23 percent believed in a Benevolent God, who is actively involved in human affairs and loves to love, help, and forgive
• 16 percent believed in a Critical God, who watches with a judgmental eye but does not intervene
• 24.4 percent believed in a Distant God, who created the world and left it to its own designs

Based on this Baylor graduate's experience, the concepts of an Authoritarian God and a Benevolent God have a powerful impact on the severity of symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD).

[caption id="attachment_358" align="alignnone" width="114" caption="Ary Scheffer's painting "Maria Magdalene Praying" depicts a woman talking to God. A person with BPD may have symptoms affected by his/her concept of God."][/caption]

BPD viewed through an eye of rage

The Authoritarian God is full of wrath and ready to punish. So are this Being's followers.

One symptom of BPD is self-injury. According to 1 Kings 18:28, priests of Baal "slashed themselves with swords and spears ... until their blood flowed" in an effort to invoke the Canaanite storm god. An Authoritarian believer might use this Scripture as "evidence" that symptoms of BPD are "Satanic".

This accusation can be explicit--"that's straight from the Pit of Hell" or "you're under demonic attack". The words on their own are hurtful, but when they lead to actions like an exorcism (it's happened), they spiritually, emotionally, and physically destroy a person.

This accusation can also be implied--"you don't have the joy of the Lord, so you must have done something". In the Book of Job, this theory is discussed, and many argue debunked. However, the view is still prevalent.

The accusations and their consequences make suffering even more painful. These negative beliefs may keep a person with BPD from seeking help due to fear of further condemnation. Unjust judgment will prompt negative feelings, which can lead to negative coping skills such as self-injury, which leads to further condemnation.

Judgment and condemnation worsen symptoms

Another problem with an Authoritarian God concept is lack of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a powerful and healing mystery. It enables people to move on with life after unspeakable disasters, it allows one to get a suffocating burden relieved, it can lead to radically changed behavior.

A lack of forgiveness, however, poisons everyone involved. It leads to physical and emotional problems. When internalized, it leads to one of three responses: a constant frantic effort to "make things right", despair and anger over the damaged relationship, and a self-destructive mentality in which the person believes "I'm doomed anyway, so why bother?"

Interestingly enough, all three of these responses can be symptoms of BPD. Overcompensating in an effort to make things right can hint at a fear of abandonment or a need for approval. Despair and anger over the status of a relationship might indicate swinging between extremes: depression over the damaged relationship indicating a desire to reconcile, anger over the damaged relationship indicating no desire for reconciliation. Self-destructive mentality can result in reckless conduct, one of the criteria for BPD.

The power of a Benevolent God

While the concept of an Authoritarian God can leave a person with BPD in a downward spiral, the concept of a Benevolent God can provide a powerful motivation for treatment. The person might believe, "God loves us and wants what's best for us, so I should stay in treatment." This belief can convince us we're worth saving and that we are valuable and loved.

However, it can be difficult to believe in this concept of God, especially if we've survived abuse. Theologians call it "the Question of Evil": if God is loving and all-powerful, why do bad things happen to good people?

You could fill several libraries with books attempting to answer this question. I'm no theologian. I'm just a writer with opinions.

In John 9, these two concepts of God clash. Jesus, acting on the belief in a Benevolent God, heals a man born blind. The religious authorities, believing in an Authoritarian God, are enraged because the healing didn't fit into their concept of God. As they question the healed man, he exclaims "All I know is I was blind, and now I see!"

All I know is that under the Authoritarian God I had no hope, and under the Benevolent God I do. What about you?