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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]He began dating a Catholic girl at age 19 and converted to Catholicism. They’ve since broken up, and he has become even more involved in the church and the religion. He has no interests outside of the church and is flailing. He’s 22 and about to graduate with a degree in history, but has no interest in pursuing a career in his field of study.

He’s been brainwashed. He can’t talk about anything without putting a religious spin on it. We are not a religious family and interactions with him are uncomfortable.

Has anyone here experienced religion taking away a loved one? I’m concerned about his future. Can anyone offer some words of wisdom or share a similar experience?

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Its about your dislike of religion not his liking of it.[/quote]

It is not about my dislike for religion. It is about his inability to connect to the secular world and his family. He can’t have a conversation without bringing religion into it. He’s lost any motivation he once had for a career and independence, as he waits for God to provide.  He is consumed with thoughts of becoming a saint.[/quote]

Oh, the horror! Keep clutching those pearls, OP. [/quote]

Pp here. This doesn’t sound concerning to you? Really? I’m not talking about being overly-religious, but the possibility of mental illness. Although I’m Jewish and perhaps I’m not understanding the saint part?[/quote]

A well-formed Catholic would see their ultimate goal as going to heaven. By definition, anyone who has gone to heaven is a saint, not just people who have been canonized by the pope. Someone who joined the Church as an adult and is more familiar with the catechism (teachings of the church) might frame things in that way. Many faithful Catholics are very productive members of their communities. I also don’t find it unusual that an early 20 something does not have career direction (we are looking at college students who’ve had a pandemic education, looking at an uncertain economy, etc). There are therapists who are Catholic who might be a good match for him. They will understand spiritually where he is coming from but also be able to identify ways in which he is using his faith as a crutch or an excuse. No Catholic therapist is going to tell him it’s okay to just sit around.[/quote]

I appreciate where you are coming from, but as a Catholic who has experience with a mentally ill family member, OP is not being anti-religious or misunderstanding Catholicism -- this young man's behavior at this age is not a part of religious observance; it is a red flag for serious mental illness. [/quote]

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