Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
|
|
|
Aug 18, 2014 - 08:40am PT
|
A counterpoint perspective, not concerning depression but concerning Christian mythology...
"The problem I have with religion - at every point on the spectrum from moderate to extreme - is that it stands as a permanent denial of the possibility of developing a truly rational, modern, open-ended discussion about the nature of our subjectivity, about the possibility of ethics and spirituality truly in conformity with our rationality as it exists now. Every religious person, every person who is committed to still being a Christian or Jew or Muslim or Buddhist is essentially giving tacit endorsement to the religious divisions in our world and essentially saying we need some measure of mythology, we need some measure of fairytale, we need to pretend on some occasions that we know things that we do not know. And it's simply untrue."
Sam Harris
.....
That's another funny one, Anita. :)
|
|
JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
|
|
|
Aug 18, 2014 - 11:41am PT
|
The idea that you will get something from God in this life is a notion that you can see in action if you watch a service from Joel Osteen. Osteen and his type preach "prosperity religion," where god will reward you in this life. Apparently, business is booming.
The bible itself tells of many tales of suffering without God's intervention, so I would be leery of promises like the OP.
I agree, BASE104, and as usual, you've offered a thoughtful response, but I don't think that was the OP's intention. "Depression" can describe both symptoms and a disease. For my (endogenous) depression, it describes a medical condition, unrelated to circumstances, that requires medical therapy to counteract. I say this despite being a person who believes in Jesus as his savior. I find my depression no different from, say, a chronic hypothyroidism. Medical treatment solves the problem, so there is no need to put God to the test by refusing that treatment and requesting a miracle instead.
I particularly agree with you about the need for care with any "prosperity gospel." The real Good News has nothing to do with improving earthly circumstances, but much to do with changing a person from the inside out. The self-satisfied, who see no need to change, despise such a doctrine. Those who look for contentment from circumstances, and expect Jesus to save them from their circumstances, expect something neither Jesus nor the Bible promise. Instead, Christ gives us a source of contentment despite our circumstances.
For these reasons, perhaps, we should be wary of any cure-all for depression. Not only do peoples' symptoms of depression result from different causes, but even medications' effects differ from person-to-person. My own medication, Effexor, still works perfectly for me after nine years, but I know of others on ST for whom it proved a disaster.
I don't have pre-approval from Micronut, but I would consider re-wording the thread's title to "I offer an alternate to self-loathing, discontent with circumstances, and emptiness," and leave it at that. For some, that alternative may end their symptoms of anger and depression as well, but some, like me, may require professional treatment, too. Micronut is a medical professional, not a faith healer, and those genuinely interested would be infinitely enriched by taking him up on his offer.
John
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!