God complex 1831896 224836944 2008-07-10T17:12:29Z 208.27.111.121 /* Napoleon Bonaparte */ {{Unreferenced|date=April 2008}} {{cleanup-rewrite}} {{POV-check|date=December 2007}} {{Merge|Megalomania|date=June 2007}} {{God}} A '''God complex''' is a psychological state of mind in which a person believes that they have supernatural powers or god-like abilities. The person generally believes they are above the rules of society and should be given special consideration. Historical examples of God Complexes include Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, who had temples built in honor of himself. ==Scholarly research== There are few academic works specifically addressing god complexes, although a great deal can be found about [[narcissism]]. According to the book ''All Mighty: A Study of the God Complex in Western Man'', by [[Horst Richter]] (ISBN 0-89793-028-2), [[authoritarian]] [[compulsion]]s are related to the [[rebel]]lious stage of childhood development. Richter argues that the arrested development of such compulsions leads to denial of suffering, self-doubt, and death, and an expectation of [[servitude|servility]] for women, minorities, and lower class. ==Concept used to criticize modernity== A particular use of the god complex is to be found in attempts to criticize modern societies. Some groups of people, especially those bound by their own culture to live in a God-based mental universe, usually advance the theory that a collective god complex, rooted in what they call the utopianism of the [[Age of Enlightenment|French Enlightenment]] lies at the basis of Western modern civilization and is considered by some to have led to the reign of terror that afflicted all of Europe beginning in the late 18th century. Details of such theory are available online at this [[United States]] conservative Christian movement website.<ref>[http://www.renewamerica.us/analyses/050930hutchison.htm Historical roots of the culture war<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For a defense of the rationale of modern times from a mainstream philosopher, see [[Hans Blumenberg]], "The Legitimacy of the Modern Age" (Frankfurt, 1966 [in German], Cambridge, 1983 [in English]). ==Napoleon Bonaparte== The [[French Revolution]] may well, in the opinion of some, illustrate the destructiveness of arrogant reforms attributable to god complexes. The purported god-like intention of intellectuals to reinvent the world, and in particular the retroactively claimed god complex of [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon Bonaparte]], may have been in some opinions the catalyst for the twenty years of war that ensued. A collective god complex, rooted in the utopianism of the [[Age of Enlightenment|French Enlightenment]], is considered by some to have led to the reign of terror that afflicted all of Europe beginning in the late 18th century.<ref>[http://www.renewamerica.us/analyses/050930hutchison.htm Historical roots of the culture war<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> '''In Theatrical Releases''' In the movie "Malice", Dr. Jed Hill, the character portrayed by Alec Baldwin, was accused of having a "God complex". Dr. Hill gives a brief discussion about his God complex while being deposed for having removed a healthy ovary from Tracy Kennsinger, portrayed in the movie by Nicole Kidman. ==See also== * [[Hubris]] * [[Megalomania]] * [[Messiah complex (self-concept)]] * [[Narcissism]] * [[Playing god]] * [[Pride]] * [[Superiority complex]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.mclemee.com/id97.html McLemee.com] - 'The Shrink with a God Complex' Ronald Hayman ''Newsday'', (April 22, 2001) * [http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2003/september10/caligula-910.html News-Service.Stanford.edu] - 'Did Caligula have a God complex? Stanford, Oxford archaeologists find evidence that depraved tyrant annexed sacred temple', John Sanford (September 10, 2003) [[Category:Figures of speech]] [[Category:Popular psychology]] [[pt:Complexo de Messias]]