Multiple personality disorder

[Darth Executor]

If somebody has a MPD, and one of his personalities is a Christian while the other is an Atheist, does he go to heaven or hell?

[FlimFlamboyant]

If somebody has a MPD, and one of his personalities is a Christian while the other is an Atheist, does he go to heaven or hell?
Does that actually happen? The disorder is, afterall, Multiple Personality Disorder. Perhaps other personalities can lie about what the person believes, but can their core beliefs actually change like that? I have my doubts...

In any case, I don't think it matters. The flesh serves the law of sin, and that doesn't change even after we're saved. It seems to me that faith and salvation are things that take place on a spiritual level, thus they transcend the evil thoughts and behavior of our flesh.

[Durthorin]

Does that actually happen? The disorder is, afterall, Multiple Personality Disorder. Perhaps other personalities can lie about what the person believes, but can their core beliefs actually change like that? I have my doubts...

In any case, I don't think it matters. The flesh serves the law of sin, and that doesn't change even after we're saved. It seems to me that faith and salvation are things that take place on a spiritual level, thus they transcend the evil thoughts and behavior of our flesh.

I know a girl who has diagnosed MPD, trust me.. the personalities are for all intents seperate people. She has gone for weeks one of her "alters" as she calls them in charge.. come back and had no idea what she said or did. Each of them has their own distinict personality.

I guess the real question would be do each of those distinct personalities have a soul.. or is it one to a body? Or frankly, you may take the same attitude towords someone with MPD that some Christians take towards those that can not freely accept Christ because of mental or pyhisical disorders.

Brighid Bless, Dur

[Darth Executor]

I guess the real question would be do each of those distinct personalities have a soul..

That is also what I was wondering. Many souls stuck in one body. Maybe a "birth defect".

[Durthorin]

That is also what I was wondering. Many souls stuck in one body. Maybe a "birth defect".

A meta phyisical birth defect? Don't see why that would not be possiable. But from my talks with my freind, I get the impression that most MPD sufferers seem to have been created in later childhood.. usually based on abuse/trauma.

How many spirits/souls can one human body hold? One? Infinity? In theory, if each one of those personalities is distinict then each one has a choice for salvation. If not, then if one is saved and repents then all are saved.. having been told of some of my freinds other Alts.. it would be like a Christian 6 year old accepting salvation and giving Ted Bundy a free ride to Heavan.

Brighid Bless, Dur

[technomage]

A meta phyisical birth defect? Don't see why that would not be possiable. But from my talks with my freind, I get the impression that most MPD sufferers seem to have been created in later childhood.. usually based on abuse/trauma.

How many spirits/souls can one human body hold? One? Infinity? In theory, if each one of those personalities is distinict then each one has a choice for salvation. If not, then if one is saved and repents then all are saved.. having been told of some of my freinds other Alts.. it would be like a Christian 6 year old accepting salvation and giving Ted Bundy a free ride to Heavan.

Brighid Bless, Dur
Dur--Christians only forum.

Sorry, folks. We were just leaving. We're not the droids you're looking for anyway. :teeth:

[Darth Executor]

That's ok, you guys can hang out here as long as you play nice.

[James Peter]

I think multiple souls is unlikely on the basis that personalities develop based on, as mentioned, trauma suffered rather than being genetic in nature (though there may be a genetic factor). The 'possession' theory probably has more weight but I'd put that as being only a small fraction of cases.

Actually I'd question whether someone with such serious trauma-related problems could become a christian and not be 'healed'. Perhaps not instantly but I strongly believe in the healing power of the Spirit and rather than just ignore the issue whoever is discipling the person should (in my opinion) consider resolving this fundamental hurt asap...

[technomage]

That's ok, you guys can hang out here as long as you play nice.
Oh. *looks at Dur* Well, I hit him pretty hard, but he should come around ... sooner or later....

[commonman]

If somebody has a MPD, and one of his personalities is a Christian while the other is an Atheist, does he go to heaven or hell?

Wow! If such a person really exists (and I have no reason to doubt the possibility) what a wonderful example of the human condition.

On the one hand giving our lives for Christ and on the other acting as though our lives are our own. We all do this, the MPD example only magnifies the disorder in all of us. The division of personalities is what I think Paul spoke of in Romans 7.

If such a person exists, what a great example for the rest of us to see the same fault in ourselves.

I guess the real question would be do each of those distinct personalities have a soul..

Only one soul at war with itself.

[FlimFlamboyant]

Wow! If such a person really exists (and I have no reason to doubt the possibility) what a wonderful example of the human condition.

On the one hand giving our lives for Christ and on the other acting as though our lives are our own. We all do this, the MPD example only magnifies the disorder in all of us. The division of personalities is what I think Paul spoke of in Romans 7.

If such a person exists, what a great example for the rest of us to see the same fault in ourselves.

Only one soul at war with itself.
Not a bad way of looking at it. :thumb:

[Darth Executor]

This is a lot more complicated than a normal person though because one of the personalities outrightly rejects Christ. No Christian can do that and still be a Christian.

[BronzeArcher]

"If such a person really exists (and I have no reason to doubt the possibility) what a wonderful example of the human condition"

If you knew a few things about this, I don't think you'd hold that up to be representative of the human race. But to the OP. I'd be particularly interested in what some answers are, and what their reasoning is... personally, I'd LIKE to say that God would have mercy. I take it to be a severe sickness which the Master will heal. However, I don't believe this strongly, since I can think of no reasons to give.

[Sheepdog]

Duth, Cup, please refrain from posting in Christianity 201.

[magus]

If you think MPD is bad, how about the poor fellow who was called 'Legion'? Imagine having 6000 demons possessing you all at once!

As we know, MPD is a psychiatric disorder. I believe God will judge people with mental conditions lightly.

Love in Christ,
Magus

[commonman]

This is a lot more complicated than a normal person though because one of the personalities outrightly rejects Christ. No Christian can do that and still be a Christian.

Darth,

I agree with you, but yet everytime you try to do something good, you reject Christ. Every Christian does this. Most famously, Peter did this when he rejected Christ three times. I do it whenever I assign judgement on someone else.

[commonman]

"If such a person really exists (and I have no reason to doubt the possibility) what a wonderful example of the human condition"

If you knew a few things about this, I don't think you'd hold that up to be representative of the human race. But to the OP. I'd be particularly interested in what some answers are, and what their reasoning is... personally, I'd LIKE to say that God would have mercy. I take it to be a severe sickness which the Master will heal. However, I don't believe this strongly, since I can think of no reasons to give.

Bronze,

Not to be picky, but to clarify: I did not say that MPD is, "...representative of the human race," but rather that this case is, "...a wonderful example of the human condition"

MPD is an amplification of what we all experience. And while, I don't have direct experience with MPD, there are several people near and dear to me that struggle with bipolar tendencies (a less severe version of MPD). And I see their condition in the same light.