Life Without the Numb (8)

The Myth of Mental Illness

Bible gives a category for insanity:

Acts 12:12–16

12 When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.

13 When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered.

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate.

15 But they said to her, “You’ve lost your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!”

16 Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished.”

Acts 26:24–25

24 As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, “You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”

25 But Paul replied, “I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words.”