The topic of Religious Addiction is debatable and not well understood, however my father was diagnosed with a stage of religious addiction. It took my family almost a year to find someone who would consider the possibility that he actually was addicted to the book of Revelation, end-time prophecy, and a literal interpretation to the Bible. 

Here is one online source that describes the common symptoms of religious addiction:

http://www.lexpages.com/SGN/paschal/religious_addiction.html

• Inability to think, doubt, or question religious information and/or authority
• Black-and-white, good/bad, either/or simplistic thinking: one way or the other
• Shame-based belief that you aren't good enough or you aren't doing it right
• Magical thinking that God will fix you/ do it all, without serious work on your part
• Scrupulosity: rigid obsessive adherence to rules, codes of ethics, or guidelines
• Uncompromising judgmental attitudes: readiness to find fault or evil out there
• Compulsive or obsessive praying, going to church or crusades, quoting scripture
• Unrealistic financial contributions
• Believing that sex is dirty; believing our bodies or physical pleasures are evil
• Compulsive overeating and/or excessive fasting
• Conflict and argumentation with science, medicine, and education
• Progressive detachment from the real work, isolation and breakdown of relationships
• Psychosomatic illness: back pains, sleeplessness, headaches, hypertension
• Manipulating scripture or texts, feeling specially chosen, claiming to receive special messages from God
• Maintaining a religious "high", trance-like state, keeping a happy face (or the belief that one should...)
• Attitude of righteousness or superiority: "we versus the world," including the denial of one's human-ness.
• Confusion, great doubts, mental, physical or emotional breakdown, cries for help

However, religious addiction is not listed in the DSM IV. How much of society could have this? Could this just happen to fundamental Evangelicals? Or perhaps many people have a simple delusion that is worth classifying under a psychological disorder?

Please offer your thoughts! My father's obsession with religion has turned me from a simple atheist towards someone with little respect for religion at all akin to Christopher Hitchens. I don't see a problem with this, but if this is a psychological disorder should I be more supportive/understanding? 

Thoughts?