ABSTRACT
This chapter considers ideas of madness contained within the Bible through the examination of the text and portrayals of key figures. It summarizes the Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist ideas on madness and consider overarching themes present within all major religious thought. The chapter also considers perspectives on madness and portrayals of the mad within non-Christian religious traditions: Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Psychological features of temporal lobe epilepsy have also been identified and these include hyper religiosity, hyper graphia, pedantic speech and altered sexual behaviour. These symptoms have all been subsumed under the name of ‘Geschwind Syndrome’. There are numerous different ways that the religion can be followed, and the wisdom and guidance of as many as 40,000 gods and goddesses can be sought. Buddhism is distinct from the other major religions because it does not recognise any God or gods as the rulers of humankind.
