the intersection between genius, insanity, creativity and spirituality

The connection between genius and insanity is recognized by many and it seems to be a very fine line. A person who has enough creative genius, whether artistic, mathematic, or whatever (good question actually- how many types of genius are there and how are they classified?) might border the line between what we would deem unprecedented intelligence and ingenuity and neurotic tendency. Perhaps it depends on the day. I'm picturing Russel Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind".





I was on the train to the airport this morning at O dark:30
trying to stay awake when I started thinking
about this. A minute or so before the train stops people typically line up at the door to make a quick exit. There was one particular man this morning who I was fascinated by. He was in his seventies at least, and looked a tad bit shaky on his feet as he stood up at the door. As I watched, he reached into the pocket of his knee length winter coat and pulled out a rosary. He kissed it and crossed himself before getting
off the train. I was so struck by the act, whether he was giving thanks for the safe journey or blessing the day to come I will never know.

As I continued to watch, I saw him moving his lips to recite a prayer. And then it occurred to me, this man full of faith and fervor looked a lot like a man talking to himself in neurotic ramblings.



If genius and insanity and creativity seem to be so interdependent, should it surprise me that something like religion might fit into this mix?
After all, is spirituality not a creative recognition of that which we can only imagine? So should not those with the highest levels of creativity, and possibly even insanity be those with the highest amount of spirituality?

The man on the train will continue to serve me with a powerful image of faith and commitment to tradition. I am not proposing that religion is insanity, only that there seems a somewhat causal relationship between creative genius, insanity and the capacity for spirituality.

Is it permissible to say that religion is an intersection
between genius and insanity?