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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Depression is not a real mental illness, but a manifestation of the sin of pride.
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George Spigot
Outcast
# 253
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Posted
So says Malcolm Bowden in this very short clip that made me so angey I wanted to scream.
4though.tv Is faith a remedy for depression?
Dear Mr Bowden,
I would always defend your right to free speech and to believe what you wish but PLEASE if you have any compassion or empathy at all PLEASE stop counselling people.
Depression is a very serious problem and can have many causes, some of them to do with brain chemistry.
To advise a vulnerable person with depression that their problem is a manifestation of sin and pride is a wicked form of abuse. You should think seriously about the damage you are causing to people’s lives.
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C.S. Lewis's Head is just a tool for the Devil. (And you can quote me on that.) ~
Philip Purser Hallard
http://www.thoughtplay.com/infinitarian/gbsfatb.html
Posts: 1625 | From: Derbyshire - England | Registered: May 2001
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Matt Black
Shipmate
# 2210
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Posted
![[Mad]](angryfire.gif)
(Interest declared - on 150mg venlafaxine per day.)
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"Protestant and Reformed, according to the Tradition of the ancient Catholic Church" - + John Cosin (1594-1672)
Posts: 14304 | From: Hampshire, UK | Registered: Jan 2002
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George Spigot
Outcast
# 253
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Posted
Here's the transcript provided by ECHURCH BLOG
"I consider that depression and many other mental illnesses are very deliberately decided by that person.
My name is Malcolm Bowden, I’m a committed evangelical Christian, and have been giving true Biblical counselling to many people with mental health problems. And from my experience, I believe that depression is a behavioural problem, rooted in pride, self-centredness, and self-pity.
True Christians, if they accept the Bible as being the Word of God, they will read in there many encouragements to live the full outgoing and loving Christian life. And a Christian, a TRUE Christian, should not ever be depressed, because he should be living his life for others, and he should have that peace of heart with God, when he knows that God has promised him a wonderful future in heaven with him.
Many depressed people turn in on themselves and feel that people are against them, the world’s not going right, they don’t appreciate how hard they’re working, they’re terribly proud of their situation, and try to be perfect in order to impress people, and people aren’t ultimately impressed, and when they suddenly deflate themselves, they fall right back into a pit of depression.
Man is basically so proud and so self-centred, he refuses to come to God in total humility. But that is ultimately what God is seeking from all of us, and we reject His requirements at our peril."
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C.S. Lewis's Head is just a tool for the Devil. (And you can quote me on that.) ~
Philip Purser Hallard
http://www.thoughtplay.com/infinitarian/gbsfatb.html
Posts: 1625 | From: Derbyshire - England | Registered: May 2001
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Helen-Eva
Shipmate
# 15025
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by George Spigot:
You should think seriously about the damage you are causing to people’s lives.
I wonder what the suicide rate is amongst people with depression "treated" with this approach. I would imagine it might be quite high.
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I thought the radio 3 announcer said "Weber" but it turned out to be Webern. Story of my life.
Posts: 637 | From: London, hopefully in a theatre or concert hall, more likely at work | Registered: Aug 2009
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Jane R
Shipmate
# 331
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Posted
quote:
Man is basically so proud and so self-centred, he refuses to come to God in total humility.
Did anyone else notice the irony here?
Posts: 3958 | From: Jorvik | Registered: May 2001
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
As soon as he says, 'a true Christian should never be depressed', you know he's a quack, as no genuine counsellor or psychotherapist would use the 'should' word in that way.
I'm not sure why this strand of 'Christian counselling' is spreading. It is itself full of pride and ignorance.
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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Helen-Eva
Shipmate
# 15025
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
As soon as he says, 'a true Christian should never be depressed', you know he's a quack, as no genuine counsellor or psychotherapist would use the 'should' word in that way.
I'm not sure why this strand of 'Christian counselling' is spreading. It is itself full of pride and ignorance.
And incredibly cruel. Even if you actually believed all that stuff about depression being the result of a person's bad choices, telling them it's all their own fault is hardly likely to help is it? If you're saying someone is a self-centred perfectionist who feels bad because they can't do well enough to please the world, giving them more things to worry about not doing right is going to make it all worse. This kind of counselling doesn't even make sense on its own terms.
[ 26. April 2012, 08:46: Message edited by: Helen-Eva ]
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I thought the radio 3 announcer said "Weber" but it turned out to be Webern. Story of my life.
Posts: 637 | From: London, hopefully in a theatre or concert hall, more likely at work | Registered: Aug 2009
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Marvin the Martian
Interplanetary
# 4360
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Posted
What a colossal cunt.
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Hail Gallaxhar
Posts: 30100 | From: Adrift on a sea of surreality | Registered: Apr 2003
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passer
Indigo
# 13329
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Posted
Sometimes, it's difficult to know which side of a discussion to empathise with, to feel "on side" with. I experienced that dilemma when listening to this interview.
Also, his voice reminds me somewhat of Stanley Unwin, which decreases even further any possible seriousness with which I might take his words, inasmuch as the content is garbage (which is very similar aurally to garbled).
You know you're in trouble when George Galloway is using you in order to big up his own gravitas. What a wanker.
Posts: 1289 | From: Sheffield | Registered: Jan 2008
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Ender's Shadow
Shipmate
# 2272
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Posted
The answer to this surely lies in fact that drugs make a difference in many cases - a friend and a relative have recently both seen exactly this effect in their lives. So the scientific hypothesis is:
Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance
This predicts:
Drugs may make a difference
This is observed: therefore the hypothesis is 'proved', and this guy is proved to be an idiot.
The problem of course is that in a few cases he may be right; but that's for a counsellor to determine gently, not for idiot to assert to the exclusion of all other explanations.
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Test everything. Hold on to the good.
Please don't refer to me as 'Ender' - the whole point of Ender's Shadow is that he isn't Ender.
Posts: 5018 | From: Manchester, England | Registered: Feb 2002
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
One positive aspect of it is that no professional body, at least in the UK, would countenance this kind of pseudo-psychological talk. It is obviously out of the mouth of someone untrained.
So hopefully, most people who seek counselling or therapy will have the sense to go through such professional bodies.
Of course, this can still go amiss, as with the 'gay conversion therapy' issue, but as far as I can see, that is also being dealt with now.
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
Ironically, there seems to be good evidence that religious faith of some kind (I don't think it matters which), does protect people against mental illness and suicide.
However, it is intriguing to speculate as to which aspects of religious faith do this - current ideas seem to be connected with the social community aspect of religion, and the positive thoughts and feelings which it often engenders.
However, this is a different kettle of fish from this kind of quackery, which I would have thought is quite dangerous.
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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justlooking
Shipmate
# 12079
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Posted
This is his webpage. He thinks people like him are the answer to all mental illness. From looking at his website I think he may be mentally ill.
Posts: 2319 | From: thither and yon | Registered: Nov 2006
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Chorister
Completely Frocked
# 473
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Posted
I wouldn't wish serious depression on anybody. But I'm seriously tempted to wish it on this guy, just so he can experience first hand how wrong he is.
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Retired, sitting back and watching others for a change.
Posts: 34626 | From: Cream Tealand | Registered: Jun 2001
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
Oh no, yet another creationist engineer. What is it about engineering that produces people like this? Apologies to all engineers present, I am sure you are not like this.
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
No. He lacks depth and warmth.
In the 'Team America: World Police' scheme of things he's clearly an asshole.
[ 26. April 2012, 10:01: Message edited by: Amos ]
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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ianjmatt
Shipmate
# 5683
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Posted
Idiotic and irresponsible tosser. Dick.
What is it with crackpot Christians and websites that go on forever on the homepage and basic formatting with endless links circa 1995?
And, of course, the relationship between 'Creation Facts' and 'True Biblical Counselling' should be carefully noted. Good science all round.
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You might want to visit my blog:
http://lostintheheartofsomewhere.blogspot.com
But maybe not
Posts: 676 | From: Shropshire | Registered: Mar 2004
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Chorister
Completely Frocked
# 473
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Posted
A prime candidate for Fruit Tube, perhaps? Or is it too soul-crushingly awful, even for that?
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Retired, sitting back and watching others for a change.
Posts: 34626 | From: Cream Tealand | Registered: Jun 2001
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
The devil wears prozac.
AtB, Pyx_e
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
Oh no, yet another creationist engineer. What is it about engineering that produces people like this? Apologies to all engineers present, I am sure you are not like this.
A civil and structural eng, moreover. I reckon he spent too long on site without a hard hat. Now he needs a tinfoil one.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Marvin the Martian
Interplanetary
# 4360
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
No. He lacks depth and warmth.
In the 'Team America: World Police' scheme of things he's clearly an asshole.
Yeah, but "colossal asshole" doesn't get across the strength of feeling in quite the same way.
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Hail Gallaxhar
Posts: 30100 | From: Adrift on a sea of surreality | Registered: Apr 2003
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Matt Black
Shipmate
# 2210
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Posted
More accurate though because arseholes tend to be full of shit, which they then discharge with unpleasant effect from time to time.
[ 26. April 2012, 10:49: Message edited by: Matt Black ]
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"Protestant and Reformed, according to the Tradition of the ancient Catholic Church" - + John Cosin (1594-1672)
Posts: 14304 | From: Hampshire, UK | Registered: Jan 2002
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
The only way I could better that comment would be to accompany it with a thwack across his face with a large plank.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Cryptic
Shipmate
# 16917
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Posted
What a complete turd. I don't know whether to feel or ![[Projectile]](graemlins/puke2.gif)
![[Votive]](graemlins/votive.gif) for any poor souls that have been "counselled" by this deadshit.
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Illegitimi non carborundum
Posts: 225 | From: Sydney | Registered: Feb 2012
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Jonathan Strange
Shipmate
# 11001
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Posted
The man's a coward too. If you're going to criticise a group of vulnerable people, better choose Depression Sufferers and not - for instance - sufferers of violent psychopathic disorders who have access to sturdy and unkindly-shaped camping equipment.
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"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bears his teeth, winter meets its death,
When he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again"
Posts: 1327 | From: Wessex | Registered: Feb 2006
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
One or two charming souls have gently suggested that I don't need medication to control my occasional epileptic fits. Listen, I tell them: if I discontinue my meds, I have fits.
A substantial part of the probelm is the term 'drugs'. These ignorant zealots take the view that drugs that affect the brain affect the mind (which ain't necessarily so) and as anti-depressants and anti-convulsants do just that they are eevil, so any healing must involve freedom from the drugs.
Note that the proponents of this view aren't at all stupid. They are ignorant and zealous, which does as much harm and with far less excuse.
eta: I don't discount myself from the sin of pride, but anyone who tries to form even the most tenuous link betweeen sin and illness needs some elementary scriptural teaching.
[ 26. April 2012, 11:56: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Matt Black
Shipmate
# 2210
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Posted
'Wilfully ignorant', I believe, is the kindest term I can find to describe them
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"Protestant and Reformed, according to the Tradition of the ancient Catholic Church" - + John Cosin (1594-1672)
Posts: 14304 | From: Hampshire, UK | Registered: Jan 2002
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chive
Ship's nude
# 208
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Posted
I watched this last night while signed off sick with major depression and anxiety. It made me feel a whole lot better about myself. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
Reading the 'case studies' on his website horrifies me with their cruelty - vulnerable people being abused by a so called Christian.
Apparently Rethink the mental health charity are complaining to Ofcom about it.
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'Edward was the kind of man who thought there was no such thing as a lesbian, just a woman who hadn't done one-to-one Bible study with him.' Catherine Fox, Love to the Lost
Posts: 3542 | From: the cupboard under the stairs | Registered: May 2001
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
I wouldn't wish serious depression on anybody. But I'm seriously tempted to wish it on this guy, just so he can experience first hand how wrong he is.
Chorister, you are a good Christian. You stop at "seriously tempted". I'm not a good Christian. I hope he gets it. Bad. That way, he'll also learn the true meaning of Hell - when every waking thought hurts, when the thought that tomorrow will be like today hits you like a raging bull, when your only hope of respite is not only hoping you can sleep, but praying you don't dream.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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Lyda*Rose
Ship's broken porthole
# 4544
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Posted
I know of a woman who does not have classic depression but bipolar disorder. Some jerk-wad, God-heals-everything "friend" (not of her church) persuaded her her that God had cured her, and that she no longer needed meds. She should trust the Lord and not test him by using medication again. She unraveled and started behaving and thinking erratically. One day, not that long after, she killed her husband. (And no, I'm not saying that people with bipolar disorder typically manifest violence. Just that sadly it did in this situation.)
Both she and her husband had been well-liked and well-respected members of a little Episcopal church not that far from mine. Members there still keep in contact with her in prison. She asked why. They told her that she no less than her husband was a member of their church family always. And they loved her.
It's the same way most of us feel about jlg.
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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano
Posts: 21377 | From: CA | Registered: May 2003
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passer
Indigo
# 13329
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
The only way I could better that comment would be to accompany it with a thwack across his face with a large plank.
You reminded me of this individual and his cure for mental health issues - are you perhaps already familiar with his work? His observations on laughter therapy can be found on this page. He validates his research by reference to the Old Testament : quote:
The benefits of laughter have been recorded as far back as the Old Testament. The Book Of Proverbs 17:22 states ''Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.''
I'm not seeking to trivialise the issue - I'm not immune to it myself - but these nutjobs abound on the internet.
Posts: 1289 | From: Sheffield | Registered: Jan 2008
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bib
Shipmate
# 13074
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Posted
I think this chap is obviously seriously mentally ill. That is the only excuse I can think of for such outrageous claims.
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"My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring"
Posts: 1307 | From: Australia | Registered: Oct 2007
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Hawk
Semi-social raptor
# 14289
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by justlooking:
This is his webpage. He thinks people like him are the answer to all mental illness. From looking at his website I think he may be mentally ill.
I agree. Quite apart from the fact that his website screams 'nutjob' this is a man who genuinely believes the earth is the centre of the universe and has posted reams of 'evidence' to support this. The man's a delusional obsessive. Why is anyone even giving him the time of day, let alone being given a voice on Channel 4. I'm sure Channel 4 could trawl the local hospitals and find someone who's convinced the government is stealing his brainwaves and has a garden shed full of evidence to support his convictions. Doesn't mean you take them seriously!!
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“We are to find God in what we know, not in what we don't know." Dietrich Bonhoeffer
See my blog for 'interesting' thoughts
Posts: 1739 | From: Oxford, UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
quote:
Originally posted by orfeo:
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
The only way I could better that comment would be to accompany it with a thwack across his face with a large plank.
You reminded me of this individual and his cure for mental health issues - are you perhaps already familiar with his work? His observations on laughter therapy can be found on this page. He validates his research by reference to the Old Testament : quote:
The benefits of laughter have been recorded as far back as the Old Testament. The Book Of Proverbs 17:22 states ''Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.''
I'm not seeking to trivialise the issue - I'm not immune to it myself - but these nutjobs abound on the internet.
Nope, that's a new one to me. I was just referring to the satisfaction of thwacking this guy with a 2 by 4.
As for the link... whoa. I suppose that takes "snap out of it" in a completely DIFFERENT direction.
I think my favourite bit on that page is where he says using his method 3 times on a paedophile can lead to the paedophile committing suicide. How the fuck exactly DOES HE KNOW THIS? REPEAT TESTING?!
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
Decisive sounding talk that masquerades as knowledge is still ignorance ignorance. We see it everyday with politicians, pundits and assorted others.
Obviously a religious nutbar quack is not the one to consult about mental health troubles. Try a psychiatrist, psychologist or other actually knowledgable specialist. Is he flogging a book? I also would not suggest consulting such lunatics about home plumbing problems, auto repair, making pastry or environmental problems.
Media outlets, also not expert in anything that they report about, like people like this because they draw attention, and modern society, made up of voyeurs with boring lives likes something to distract from their pathetic lives. Maybe he can move in with the Kardashians or Ozzy.
Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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Evensong
Shipmate
# 14696
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by no_prophet:
Media outlets, also not expert in anything that they report about, like people like this because they draw attention, and modern society, made up of voyeurs with boring lives likes something to distract from their pathetic lives.
You mean like us?
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a theological scrapbook
Posts: 9481 | From: Australia | Registered: Apr 2009
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Mary LA
Shipmate
# 17040
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Posted
A friend who calls herself a 'recovering evangelical' sent me the link posted by the OP and noted that this appalling view is gaining ground in certain fundamentalist and evangelical circles. Some evangelicals call for what they call 'accountability psychology' in which the depressed person needs to repent and turn to God rather than to a godless psychiatrist. Their key objection is that therapists/psychiatrists are not trained in biblical principles and ignore the problem of sin.
She linked to one or two blogs
[URL=http:Should Christians Go to Psychiatrists?[/URL]
And an interesting comment here on the Gnosticism of evangelicals who believe that accepting medication indicates a lack of faith in the spiritual and who develop a 'spiritually based defensive structure' for dealing with mental health care.
Evangelicals and psychiatric services
The same delusional thinking that would attempt to 'cure' homosexuality or exorcise people suffering from schizo-affective disorders.
[bad code. go to your room]
[first link opens 50 times -DISABLED]
[ 27. April 2012, 06:30: Message edited by: PeteC ]
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“I often wonder if we were all characters in one of God's dreams.”
― Muriel Spark
Posts: 499 | From: Africa | Registered: Apr 2012
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Mary LA:
A friend who calls herself a 'recovering evangelical' sent me the link posted by the OP and noted that this appalling view is gaining ground in certain fundamentalist and evangelical circles. Some evangelicals call for what they call 'accountability psychology' in which the depressed person needs to repent and turn to God rather than to a godless psychiatrist. Their key objection is that therapists/psychiatrists are not trained in biblical principles and ignore the problem of sin.
She linked to one or two blogs
[url= http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Believer%27s%20Corner/should_christians_go_to_psychiat.htm]Should Christians Go to Psychiatrists?[/url]
And an interesting comment here on the Gnosticism of evangelicals who believe that accepting medication indicates a lack of faith in the spiritual and who develop a 'spiritually based defensive structure' for dealing with mental health care.
Evangelicals and psychiatric services
The same delusional thinking that would attempt to 'cure' homosexuality or exorcise people suffering from schizo-affective disorders.
I would have thought the same reasoning process would lead to not going to godless doctors for physical ailments, either. Accepting, for a microsecond purely for the sake of argument, that mental illnesses are somehow non-physical.
I've certainly come across the viewpoint that 'physical' ailments, also, are/can be a manifestation of sin.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Avila
Shipmate
# 15541
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Hawk:
quote:
Originally posted by justlooking:
This is his webpage. He thinks people like him are the answer to all mental illness. From looking at his website I think he may be mentally ill.
I agree. Quite apart from the fact that his website screams 'nutjob' this is a man who genuinely believes the earth is the centre of the universe and has posted reams of 'evidence' to support this. The man's a delusional obsessive. Why is anyone even giving him the time of day, let alone being given a voice on Channel 4. I'm sure Channel 4 could trawl the local hospitals and find someone who's convinced the government is stealing his brainwaves and has a garden shed full of evidence to support his convictions. Doesn't mean you take them seriously!!
Even more worrying from the site is that his co-author Robert Law is a doctor turned vicar - meaning he has the titles to convince people to listen to him instead of recognising
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http://aweebleswonderings.blogspot.com/
Posts: 1305 | From: west midlands | Registered: Mar 2010
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ken
Ship's Roundhead
# 2460
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ender's Shadow:
The answer to this surely lies in fact that drugs make a difference in many cases - a friend and a relative have recently both seen exactly this effect in their lives. So the scientific hypothesis is:
Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance
This predicts:
Drugs may make a difference
This is observed: therefore the hypothesis is 'proved', and this guy is proved to be an idiot.
No, not really. Your brain works by electrochemistry. Your thoughts are instantiated as molecules. So its perfectly possible to imagine that depression, or any other mental state, could be caused by circumstances and thoughts.
That's not thr reason he's an idiot. The reason he is an idiot is because it doesn't matter one way or the other. When someone is in that state they need help, no matter how they got there.
You could break your leg by getting angry and drunk and trying to kick your neighbours wall down. But that doesn't mean that you can cure a broken leg by repentance.
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Ken
L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.
Posts: 39579 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2002
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Avila
Shipmate
# 15541
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by passer:
You reminded me of this individual and his cure for mental health issues - are you perhaps already familiar with his work? His observations on laughter therapy can be found on this page. .
And as for being thumped in the head to cure depression, and its ok because I will only be knocked out for 30 sec at a time...
I sure such treatment does remove memories - repeated blows to the head have been known to do that.
As for the broadcast this 5 min slot on Channel 4 is designed to be provocative, and mostly the weirdos hang themselves with their own words in those few minutes
[if bad code was caused by sin you'd be heading straight to hell]
[ 26. April 2012, 15:44: Message edited by: Marvin the Martian ]
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http://aweebleswonderings.blogspot.com/
Posts: 1305 | From: west midlands | Registered: Mar 2010
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Angloid
Shipmate
# 159
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Posted
He's clearly one of the miserable tendency among evangelicals. Where's the grin? Actually he looks depressed.
He'd be dangerous if it was possible to take him seriously. Though I imagine if you are feeling at a low ebb, listening to that sort of crap is not going to be helpful.
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Brian: You're all individuals!
Crowd: We're all individuals!
Lone voice: I'm not!
Posts: 12927 | From: The Pool of Life | Registered: May 2001
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Pine Marten
Shipmate
# 11068
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Posted
No, indeed, it wouldn't be helpful. Like others who have posted I have suffered from depression, one time a severe postnatal depression that lasted about 2 years. My GP merely offered Valium when I burst into tears in the consulting room, and even my husband, though he tried, couldn't comprehend the depths of misery I was feeling. I eventually got through it with the help of several female friends, who offered tea and sympathy, and support.
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Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. - Oscar Wilde
Posts: 1731 | From: Isle of Albion | Registered: Feb 2006
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ThunderBunk
Stone cold idiot
# 15579
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
Amen. And there are some commentators, particularly in Purg, who are adding themselves to the cuntish rollcall.
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Currently mostly furious, and occasionally foolish. Normal service may resume eventually. Or it may not. And remember children, "feiern ist wichtig".
Foolish, potentially deranged witterings
Posts: 2208 | From: Norwich | Registered: Apr 2010
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Spiffy
Ship's WonderSheep
# 5267
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by quetzalcoatl:
I'm not sure why this strand of 'Christian counselling' is spreading. It is itself full of pride and ignorance.
Oh, that's simple. Hey, you have a chemical imbalance in your brain, you're going to be dealing with it for the rest of your life through a combination of difficult and emotionally taxing therapy, and medication with periodic relapses due to some esoteric combination of stress and hormones and life events we can't really predict.
But there's this dude over here who has an instantaneous, 100% guaranteed to work (if you have enough faith) cure!
Fucking hell. If they offered me something that really could in one day could cure my depression forever, I'd give everything *and* my left arm.
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
What a colossal cunt.
No. He lacks depth and warmth.
In the 'Team America: World Police' scheme of things he's clearly an asshole.
As I constantly assert, assholes are useful (otherwise we'd all be full of shit). For someone who encourages the spread of disease, diminishes comfort, and encourages chafing, there's just one descriptor that applies-- douche.
[ 26. April 2012, 15:06: Message edited by: Spiffy ]
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Looking for a simple solution to all life's problems? We are proud to present obstinate denial. Accept no substitute. Accept nothing.
--Night Vale Radio Twitter Account
Posts: 10281 | From: Beervana | Registered: Dec 2003
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Liopleurodon
Mighty sea creature
# 4836
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Posted
I'm going to suggest that this guy is not interested in reaching out to anyone who has a mental health issue, but is more interested in reassuring those who don't. One of the scariest things about depression - like cancer - is that it can hit out of the blue, at any time, and affect anyone. You can do things to lower your risk but it can still happen. So just as there's a massive following for people who claim that if you *insert bullshit preventative measure here* you will absolutely never get cancer, there's an attraction to someone who claims that doing X will absolutely prevent depression.
It also gives you a choice not to have to be supportive to anyone you know who is depressed, because it's their fault. Depressed friends and family can be a lot of work, after all. So it's nice to have an excuse not to have to bother looking after them. Without such an excuse, you might have to think about the kind of loving and patient support Jesus would expect you to provide to someone who was suffering. It's a bit like the way we can get out of helping the poor if we convince ourselves that it's entirely their fault that they're poor and anything we do to help just makes it worse. So yeah, I can understand why this would be an attractive idea to someone who wasn't depressed. It's bullshit, and it's dangerous, but attractive.
Utterly bowled over by the idea that depression stems from a surplus of pride though. That's ballsy, even for this guy. Depression strips away your excess pride, and then every ounce of self worth you have, until getting out of bed becomes a fight against an endless jelly wall of self hatred pushing back against you.
Posts: 1921 | From: Lurking under the ship | Registered: Aug 2003
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quetzalcoatl
Shipmate
# 16740
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Posted
Yes, and then some plonker tells you that you've failed basically! I would say he is the one with excess pride and narcissism.
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I can't talk to you today; I talked to two people yesterday.
Posts: 9878 | From: UK | Registered: Oct 2011
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Avila:
Even more worrying from the site is that his co-author Robert Law is a doctor turned vicar - meaning he has the titles to convince people to listen to him instead of recognising
Doesn't worry me. There's no intelligence bar on what has was well defined upthread as wilful ignorance. It has its roots in self-deception.
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Miffy
Ship's elephant
# 1438
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Posted
Oh mi God!!! ( the one I follow as opposed to the wrathful deity subscribed to by this chap) - he's actually resident in the UK?! ![[Help]](graemlins/help.gif) . Sorry Pondwellers, when I first glanced at the stuff on his site I assumed that he was based across the Atlantic. ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
Well, the words "True Biblical Counselling" say it all. That and the grotty web design.
One word - Bargepole Excuse me while I go away and ponder new and exciting places to stick it.
Posts: 4739 | From: The Kitchen | Registered: Oct 2001
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