belief substitution...

Belief Substitution
© Copyright 2009 M7

Sometimes it is necessary to replace one belief with another if the belief in question causes one to be in personal danger, as with health. If a belief in a dangerous ritual practice is causing a person depression or anxiety, stopping the ritual may not be the solution. Rather, believing in a separate ritual would remove the memory of the original one. Example: a person is fixated on a belief in the paranormal, that a demon is in the room and it is his role to communicate with it. The solution from a medical standpoint is to say the person has a fictitious illness, and needs treatment with Placebo type medicine. The ritual of practicing the medical treatment – e.g. taking pills, information about the illness, positive feedback – is the new ritual. If the person remained in the room with the belief that the demon was still there, he might stay there indefinitely, fascinated by the illusion. The illness would be fictional but described in extreme detail to appear real, thus maintaining the belief in that illness. Only the doctor would know the difference. Then as the belief in the demon is forgotten, the person recovers and needs less treatment.

© M7 2009