Greetings Andy;
I have lots of knowledge and work experience in the field of psychology and psychiatry, and am happy to offer a very brief reply to your excellent question which has many many depths and complexities.
One might start with the fundimental question of what do you mean by the word "psychotic?" (..but lets leave that alone for today...OK?)
You mentioned religious figures (Jesus, devil, god) that are "seen." Are they also "heard?" (People who have the disease of schizophrenia have audio hallucinations, but rarely visual ones!)
When the religious figure is "seen," are there independant verifications of the observation?
I would say that if the reported observation originates solely within the head of the observer, that any religious figure within the memory or imagination of the observer is possible. And yes, in the West, Jesus is more likely then Allah; and in Soudi Arabia, Allah is more likely than Jesus.
I have lots of knowledge and work experience in the field of psychology and psychiatry, and am happy to offer a very brief reply to your excellent question which has many many depths and complexities.
One might start with the fundimental question of what do you mean by the word "psychotic?" (..but lets leave that alone for today...OK?)
You mentioned religious figures (Jesus, devil, god) that are "seen." Are they also "heard?" (People who have the disease of schizophrenia have audio hallucinations, but rarely visual ones!)
When the religious figure is "seen," are there independant verifications of the observation?
I would say that if the reported observation originates solely within the head of the observer, that any religious figure within the memory or imagination of the observer is possible. And yes, in the West, Jesus is more likely then Allah; and in Soudi Arabia, Allah is more likely than Jesus.