Jump to content
Science Forums

Church Pastors Dismiss Mental Illness


Moontanman

Recommended Posts

The only pastor I know was a trained psychologist beforehand, and I can't see him ever dismissing out-of-hand somebody's mental illness. Pastors are often well equipped to provide emotional support through trying times, but they are no more trained to diagnose mental illness than to diagnose a physical disease.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I grew up in churches that were very fundementalist, and very adapted to rural life in small country towns in the deep South. In the 1960's I saw a few instances of preacher's (and their flocks) trying to "cure" mental illness by getting the victims to accept Jesus into their hearts. Talk of certain kinds of mental illness (like chronic depression) being due to some horrible past sin was not uncommon. I saw one occassion where a girlfriend of mine went into a mental institution and tried to "save" the patients -- she was promptly kicked out of the building.

 

But I am quite surprised to see this pathological thinking still going on today.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have family members that go to churches that hold the position that all mental problems are due to demonic possession. Things like autism downs syndrome, and birth defects are either the result of demonic possession or sins of the fathers. Homosexuality is demonic possession or failure to resist temptation by demons. Really sad that these people are being controlled and mislead by their churches to think theses things are true.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

indeed very sad,

I have viewed this as well.yet more examples of how people can twist what ever they want to fit their own ideology

If you are a Christian, how can you be possessed by a demon? light and darkness do not share the same space-light cancels it out

If you are saddled with" the sins of your fathers" what happened to freedom of choice? If you are "confessing" your sins to be "saved" do you have to recite back to the tenth generation everybody's sins as well?

This type of crap has everything to do with religion and absolutely nothing to do with faith. And they wonder how anyone could be an atheist.....their actions and words is what drives people away

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...