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The sad, twisted truth about conservative Christianity’s effect on the mind (Salon)
Salon ^ | Marlene Winell and Valerie Tarico

Posted on 11/01/2014 3:37:19 PM PDT by Faith Presses On

If a former believer says that Christianity made her depressed, obsessive, or post-traumatic, she is likely to be dismissed as an exaggerator. She might describe panic attacks about the rapture; moods that swung from ecstasy about God’s overwhelming love to suicidal self-loathing about repeated sins; or an obsession with sexual purity.

A symptom like one of these clearly has a religious component, yet many people instinctively blame the victim. They will say that the wounded former believer was prone to anxiety or depression or obsession in the first place—that his Christianity somehow got corrupted by his predisposition to psychological problems. Or they will say that he wasn’t a real Christian. If only he had prayed in faith believing or loved God with all his heart, soul and mind, if only he had really been saved—then he would have experienced the peace that passes all understanding.

(Excerpt) Read more at salon.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; General Discusssion; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: antichristian; christianity; christianpersecution; mentalhealth; salon
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To: Resettozero

I believe so. As much as I dislike giving them traffic, this is what they’re working on, and it’s already quite comprehensive. They’ve “scientifically” pathologized so many aspects of Christianity. Please see for yourself. I was going to put “must read” but the title would probably have been too long. Psychology already studies cults and they’re pulling Christianity in under that category.


41 posted on 11/01/2014 4:51:57 PM PDT by Faith Presses On
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To: Faith Presses On
Veteran psychiatrist calls liberals mentally ill - WorldNetDaily
42 posted on 11/01/2014 4:52:01 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: Faith Presses On

The article is obviously ridiculous. What’s sad is that they probably will not lose their jobs for it.

A suffers from B
A is a member of C
Therefore, C caused B.

The logical fallacy is so obvious a child could pick it out.


43 posted on 11/01/2014 4:59:32 PM PDT by The Ghost of FReepers Past (Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light..... Isaiah 5:20)
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To: JudyinCanada
Perhaps this person doesn't understand real Christianity.

Perhaps?
44 posted on 11/01/2014 5:00:13 PM PDT by 98ZJ USMC
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To: Faith Presses On
If a former believer says that abortion made her depressed, obsessive, or post-traumatic, she is likely to be dismissed as an exaggerator. She might describe panic attacks about the procedure; moods that swung from ecstasy about her overwhelming feelings of freedom to suicidal self-loathing about a death of a baby that she caused; or an obsession with so-called women's rights. A symptom like one of these clearly has a religious component, yet many people instinctively blame the Christian republican right. They will say that the wounded former patient was prone to anxiety or depression or obsession in the first place—that her pro-choice evangelism somehow got corrupted by her predisposition to psychological and physical problems like cancer...

It works both ways...

45 posted on 11/01/2014 5:01:46 PM PDT by Captainpaintball (Immigration without assimilation is the death of a nation)
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To: Jim Robinson

Yeah BJ prayed alright. “Dear God please keep Hillary away from me...’’


46 posted on 11/01/2014 5:03:54 PM PDT by jmacusa (Liberalism defined: When mom and dad go away for the weekend and the kids are in charge.)
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To: KC_Lion

Contradiction thy name is libtard.


47 posted on 11/01/2014 5:04:12 PM PDT by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)
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To: Faith Presses On

Certain states have already made counseling a child against homosexuality illegal. How easy it would be for the leftists to extend this to all religious teaching as being psychologically harmful.


48 posted on 11/01/2014 5:06:13 PM PDT by kaehurowing
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To: Faith Presses On; betty boop; marron; Alamo-Girl; Jacquerie; CottShop; xzins; GodGunsGuts; ...
Atheism is a mental disorder,

Beep!

49 posted on 11/01/2014 5:12:39 PM PDT by YHAOS
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To: metmom

I have never seen a person who put all their faith and trust in Jesus alone that was depressed. I think that anyone who has any of those maledies has their focus on something other than Jesus.


50 posted on 11/01/2014 5:14:18 PM PDT by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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To: LearsFool; metmom; caww
I don’t know what religion the author is talking about, but it’s not Christianity. When did Jesus ever say that following Him would make all our problems disappear?

That does kind of sound like The Church of Osteen.

51 posted on 11/01/2014 5:25:07 PM PDT by Gamecock (USA, Ret. 27 years.)
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To: Faith Presses On

They are nuts, it makes me at peace.

Western World Atheists are all really believers that want to refuse God’s existence out of guilt so they can live their sinful lives, not because they don’t believe.


52 posted on 11/01/2014 5:48:31 PM PDT by dila813
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To: Faith Presses On
She might describe panic attacks about the rapture; moods that swung from ecstasy about God’s overwhelming love to suicidal self-loathing about repeated sins; or an obsession with sexual purity.

Christians know that, for them, fear is not of God. Do Christians fall prey to panic attacks? Certainly. Is it as prevalent as among unbelievers? I've never seen a study on this but have a hard time believing that Christians are more prone. I'd say Christians are less prone. Prayer is quite the source of relief and peace. I've had a bout with panic attacks myself, back in 2008, when my world came crashing down. Prayer kept me on an even keel. I can't imagine facing that without being able to lift my burden up to God.

If someone is prone to wild mood swings, I'd suggest that religion is not the source. Some of the most severe cases of bipolar disorder I've ever known were among promiscuous women who rejected Christianity, followed closely by homosexual men. Maybe this is the source of the author's contention, but these were not Christian individuals. Maybe, somewhere, somehow, they knew they were in the wrong and that on occasion tormented them? Remove Christianity and the torment goes away? No, they rejected Christianity. The knowledge that they were doing wrong was innate.

As far as self-loathing about repeated sins, there's plenty of self-loathing being taught by the left, just in regard to different behaviors. Christianity has no trademark on this. The left actually has far more taboos and far more reason for self-loathing. The left is inherently anti-individual.

Obsessing over sexual purity? Sin is sin, remaining chaste until marriage is preferable from both a moral and a health standpoint. Do people stray? Of course. Obsession indicates a belief that forgiveness is not possible. Christians know that forgiveness is theirs for the asking with sincere repentance from the behavior. Repentance is the problem with which the left contends, as it finds the sexual impurity desirable.

They're just so simplistic and obvious. If it weren't for their owning pop culture and the news media, they'd be easily refuted. But, they do own them and they're not easily refuted. So, the damage they're doing gets pinned upon those insisting upon moral behavior that would prevent such psychological damage.

It takes a special sort of hardened heart, to be able to have wanton sexual relations and not care about the consequence. Most are damaged by this. Leave it to the left to blame the group having nothing to do with it. Christians.

53 posted on 11/01/2014 5:49:54 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Faith Presses On

The woman described in this hit piece likely doesn’t exist in real life. She has been created for the author’s purposes, which is to trash Christianity and lay the ground work for having it declared a mental illness.
Of course parents are going to be forbidden to teach their children Biblical truth. Nothing must get in the way of the march to Marxism.
The irony is Marx himself was a psychopath.


54 posted on 11/01/2014 5:51:52 PM PDT by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Wiser now

They always project their own failings onto others.


55 posted on 11/01/2014 5:53:37 PM PDT by darkangel82
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To: metmom
It’s a sewer in thinking and you will feel contaminated by the time you’re done with it.

Very tempting indeed but, Look! Squirrel!

Thanks for the invite. Yet...I must be leaving you all for tonight.

8>)

R2z
56 posted on 11/01/2014 6:20:14 PM PDT by Resettozero
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To: CynicalBear

I have to agree.

As long as it’s not caused by a physical factor, like medication.

I react like that to Zyrtec. I was very depressed for about a month one time. Couldn’t figure out why, when it occurred to me that it might be the medicine.

I went off it and was feeling a lot better in a couple days. In two weeks, I was a new person.


57 posted on 11/01/2014 6:30:14 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

They’re coming to take me away haha hoho heehee....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-lJZiqZaGA


58 posted on 11/01/2014 6:50:42 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“The sad, twisted truth about the effect of abortion on the mind “



Are you still killing your unborn?

-- GOD


 

59 posted on 11/01/2014 6:52:10 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“The sad, twisted truth about the effect of homosexuality on the mind “

Genesis 13:13
Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and
their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men
from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them
."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.

Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Doonesbury Cartoon for Feb/08/2013

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.


Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.



2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.
Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.



But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.


If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...
 

 
 
 
 
 
 


The Health Risks of gay sex.


60 posted on 11/01/2014 6:52:55 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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