hi maz
i have heard of this 'religious mania', i think it is quite common in bipolar disorder.
my perspective is a bit different, in that i was brought up in a christian home, my father is a pastor of a baptist church. i became a christian myself when i was 15, and my faith has always been important to me.
however, i was hospitalised one time, when i was manic, and i was hallucinating vivdly about hell. i was so scared of going to sleep, because when i went off to sleep, i felt like i was dying, and the vision of hell was just terrifying. i hadn't slept for about a week. the hospital doctor said i had 'religious mania' and that my faith was damaging to my mental health.
nowadays, when i am high, i do feel more intense about my faith, i'm more devout, just 'feel' it all so much more. when i am low, i doubt my faith completely, and i feel totally bereft. normality for me is just a steady life of faith, i don't 'feel' much, but i don't anyway, on lithium, i'm pretty numb.
there is another forum called 'christian mental health'.. i think it'd be really interesting for you to post your question on there as well.
i wish you all the best with your book
