Yes.
Really.
In terms of the psych residency . . . depends on one’s goals.
Even the profession’s own research has shown that a LOT of laymen, grandparents, etc. are great at helping others through emotional, mental, relationship problems somewhat on a par with highly educated professionals.
IIRC, there’s never been any research to demonstrate that
AS A CLASS OF PEOPLE,
credentialed, licensed folks were significantly to greatly better at a range of things than sensitive, communicative, discerning, caring lay persons.
Sure, I’m thankful for my PhD. It enhanced my skills, effectiveness with more difficult cases and life a lot. However, I did a lot of good, effective counseling before I had the PhD.
And with some sorts of cases, nothing sort of a Damascus road experience or major deliverance or a residential 3 year program . . . will do a whole lot of good, on average . . . unless some other sort of miracle occurs and the person decides they have had enough of living in that kind of pain and begins to do some opposite things to their usual.
“Even the profession’s own research has shown that a LOT of laymen, grandparents, etc. are great at helping others through emotional, mental, relationship problems somewhat on a par with highly educated professionals.”
There is a vast difference between laymen “helping others through emotional, mental, relationship problems somewhat,”
and a diagnosis of mental illness and its treatment.
You stated, “Experienced pastors, deacons, elders and even laymen and women did quite well at discerning the difference between demon possession/oppression and mental illness”
That’s absolute balony.
At any other time, I wouldn’t bother replying to one of your posts. However, the idea that one can determine demon possession from mental illness simply from “discernment” by a layman needs to be trashed.
There is enough suffering from mental illness, especially untreated mental illness caused by biological problems without some ridiculous statement that anyone can tell who is demon possessed and who is sick.
That nasty bit of false piety and spiritual abuse had ended or so I thought.