It is sometimes assumed that when the gospels talk about demon possession they are just using different terminology for what would now be called psychosis or epilepsy. However, these terms come from different discourses that need to be distinguished, but do not need to be kept completely separate. The nature of the relationship between religion and mental health is complex. There is usually a positive correlation, but it is more difficult to be confident about the nature of the causal connection. Poor mental health can become intertwined with religion in a way that drags both down. It is a consistent feature of Jesus' interactions that he encourages people to believe that more is possible than might have been imagined. His impact on the mental health of those around him seems to have been largely a matter of what might now be called positive psychology.

中文翻译：

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心理健康与福音：对小白菜煮饭的反应

有时会假定，当福音谈论魔鬼的拥有时，他们只是对现在称为精神病或癫痫症使用了不同的术语。然而，这些术语来自不同的话语，需要加以区分，但不必完全分开。宗教与心理健康之间关系的性质很复杂。通常存在正相关关系，但对因果关系的性质要更有信心。不良的心理健康会与宗教纠缠在一起，从而拖累双方。耶稣鼓励人们相信比想象中更多的可能性是耶稣互动的一个一致特征。