Posted on 05/04/2005 9:19:47 AM PDT by ksen
The brain is an organism that can suffer from injuries, disorders, and other malfunctions. While alcohol and drug dependence and other self-abusing behaviors may be initiated by a person's free will, the long term effects of such substances and behavior may destroy a person's volitional capacity. As a result, psychiatric drugs and behavior modification programs (like the 12 Step Programs) serve useful purposes in addressing problems. A person who needs an anti-depressant to function or is impaired due to drug or alcohol problems is likely not to hear the Gospel message any more than a deaf or unconscious person. Not even a separationist, fundamentalist Baptist or a "double predestination" Calvinist would oppose obtaining a hearing aid or reviving an unconscious person. The use of medication or behavior modification would fall into the same category.
The opponents of Christian psychology would do well to develop an alternative that would incorporate what has been proven to be sound practices in the treatment of mental disorders.
Well, sadly, you have missed the point. When the author uses the term "Psychology", he is implying the popular use of the term and how it is practiced in the western world today. Obviously he is not proposing that the "study of the mind" is evil.
It is akin to saying nuclear weapons are evil. Obviously nuclear weapons are merely an object and are inherently neutral. Psychology as a concept is not evil - it is the popular practice of psychology which does not align with scripture.
Defining psychology as you have below is like calling pornography "love-making":
xzins: "It involves the functioning and biology of the brain and goes from there to an attempt to understand how individual behavior is affected by that mind. It's really no different than understanding how the function (or malfunction) of the heart has certain physiological responses.)"
I do believe there is a difference between psychology and psychiatry. One is a medical science and the other is not.
With all due respect, if your depression was indeed sin and not medically induced, I'd like to suggest the possibility of it being the sin of unthankfulness. I am persuaded that unthankfulness is the key ingredient behind all depression. Repentence and thankfulness to God are the true remedies. I know it's a hard pill to swallow when dealing with a crisis such as cancer, but even then, a grateful heart inclined to rest in the Providence of God will vanquish depression.
Well, thank you for that judgment.
Well, if it helps any, I got a "C" in psychology at a Christian college...
I didn't do too well in high school psychology either........but I do remember reading about an experiment where they cut the connection between the two halves of the brain of a live cat. They then covered one eye and trained it to do a trick. After it had been trained the uncovered the eye and covered the other one. They had to retrain the cat to do the same trick.
I'm still not too sure what good that was..........but that's probably why I got a "C." ;^)
I have a foster care story about the judge not giving us custody of a family of kids...until we told him about the day the CPS worker showed up and the kids were playing with the cat...on two different sides of the yard.
But perhaps that belongs on another thread.
All truth is Gods truth.
But not all "truth" is true.
You no nothing about the roots of clinical depression. Aside from physical roots of clinical depression, such as a serious illness or injury; the roots of clinical depression are generally either an unwarranted sense of guilt that one is not good enough or narcissism.
You might want to get the Minerth and Maier books "Happiness is a Choice" and 'Love is a Choice" for a very Christian look at psychiatry.
You expressed your curiosity about the possibility of your depression being sin. I merely offered food for thought. If you are experiencing judgment, perhaps an examination of conscience is in order. Certainly, no offense was intended on my part. I'm no more immune to the sin of unthankfulness than you are.
I think I said that psychology has a definition, and that it isn't all that terrible.
Isn't it amazing how two people can differ on what one person said?
Actually, I don't really need to.
1. It's a dumb title that deserves reaction.
2. I've got a background in the subject matter.
No, I didn't. The question was rhetorical. Sorry if that wasn't clear.
ksen knows me well enough to have caught that.
bflr
Calvinists can be extremely rigid and "just so". I'm sorry. I would like to enjoy the things in marriage that others enjoy. I don't want to live in misery.
Actually, it appeared to me that your question contained an element of cynicism. I know you well enough to have caught that.
Yep.
Anyone considering seeing a "pyschologist" should ask the prospective therapist what they think of Carl Jung.
Ninety-nine percent will no doubt speak of him favorably. This narrows down your choice considerably to the remaining one percent.
I recommend the excellent book, "Aryan Christ: The Secret Life of Carl Jung" by Richard Noll, for a look into the dark and misdirected roots of "psychology."
I know you're not suggesting that modern psychology bypasses the brain?
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