title: [Epilepsy and religion].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Throughout mankind's history, epilepsy has been perceived as a mysterious and supernatural disorder. People with epileptic seizures were seen either as demonic or holy. Here we present a survey of our current knowledge on the association between epilepsy and religion from a medical viewpoint.
  
  
  METHODS
  The article is based on a non-systematic search of the database PubMed, biographies of Wise-Knut, and the authors' own experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A number of people with epilepsy, particularly those with temporal lobe epilepsy, have reported experiencing religious feelings during their seizures. Some experience a feeling of perfect harmony, the presence of God or a state of ecstasy. Insula is probably of importance for the seizure semiology. Postictally, some may develop religious delusions that can last for several days. A subgroup have an interictal personality characterized by a preoccupation with philosophical or religious questions, as well as hypergraphia. Wise-Knut, who lived in the 1800 s, is a well known example of this in Norway. There is now some evidence that a number of religious people, including prophets, saints, and cult founders, may have had temporal lobe seizures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using epilepsy as a model to explain spiritual experiences is controversial. However, temporal lobe epilepsy has probably influenced our religious and literary history more than has been previously acknowledged.
authors: Avdeling for kompleks epilepsi – SSE, Oslo universitetssykehus, Norway. karl.otto.nakken@ous-hf.no
authors: Karl O
authors: KO
authors: Nakken
authors: Eylert
authors: E
authors: Brodtkorb
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology; D005197:Famous Persons; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008513:Medicine in Literature; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D029181:Spirituality