Saturday news and blogs

Reading material:

• The Three Christs of Ypsilanti: What happens when three men who identify as Jesus are forced to live together? – By Vaughan Bell – Slate Magazine — In the late 1950s, psychologist Milton Rokeach was gripped by an eccentric plan. He gathered three psychiatric patients, each with the delusion that they were Jesus Christ, to live together for two years in Ypsilanti State Hospital to see if their beliefs would change. The early meetings were stormy. “You oughta worship me, I’ll tell you that!” one of the Christs yelled. “I will not worship you! You’re a creature! You better live your own life and wake up to the facts!” another snapped back. “No two men are Jesus Christs. … I am the Good Lord!” the third interjected, barely concealing his anger.

• The Great Sunshine Standoff | Psychology Today — Hold the sunscreen—at least for a few minutes. Evidence is emerging that some unfiltered sun exposure repels ills, from heart disease to cancer to multiple sclerosis, not to mention depression—enough to add seven years to your life. Are you ready for a more nuanced view of sunshine?

• Secret Court of Protection can order abortions and sterilisations of mentally ill patients – Telegraph — This is the UK which always seems a bit ahead of us in this sort of thing, but I don’t doubt we could follow. —   A secretive court, which ruled that a cancer sufferer must have treatment against her wishes, can order that mentally ill patients are sterilised, undergo abortions or have life-support switched off.