JCC Arena The Theist/Atheist Thunderdome™

Yeah... gotta go with wocky on that one. You can't judge how "true" his strength is. You know nothing about him. I mean, we know that he is deeply religious, and his faith helps him cope. We know nothing about his strength, though.

 

Moviefan I'm with Ender on this one. Seek professional help. What if your episodes of depression happen at a much worse interval? You mentioned also that you've attempted suicide after that event too. There is absolutely no shame in seeking a doctor.

 

Let me also weigh in on the side of harps, Ender and others and say that talking to a mental health professional wouldn't be a bad thing, either. Just as with other sorts of ailments, I think people sometimes fall into a trap of thinking it has to be one thing or another. It doesn't. God is not offended by you talking to humans (or taking medicines) to help you cope, and no professional worth their salt should be offended that you want to seek some solace in religion. Their are even psychiatrists that specifically work from a Christian viewpoint.

If it doesn't work for you, no harm done. But if it helps, your life will be that much richer.

 

I'm with Ender on that point, as well... and with wocky on the strength bit. Like I said, there's nothing wrong with utilizing faith to cope, but when combined with professional help, you'll likely be that more successful in finding some sort of "happiness" (I put it in quotes, because happiness is relative and not easy to define).

You can find a Christian psychologist, if you're so inclined. This is probably a good place to start, and you can branch out from there.
http://christianpsych.org/wp_scp/about-the-society/

 

Completely agree with this. God more than likely would encourage you to seek a health professional.

 

Hey, this is the Thunderdome people, no group hugs here..two men enter, one man leaves, you know the rules..no warm fuzzy stuff please. Moviefan has exposed a vulnerability, it is therefore incumbent upon you all to strike and strike hard, no mercy, no quarter, semper fi, oohh ahhh, all that stuff...come on..no hand holding..kill KILL KILL.

 

bust a deal face the wheel

 

Yeah, but this is MY Thunderdome, and I'm not one to go with the grain... so we can branch off from the killing for a group hug, from time to time. When we're ready, the bloodshed can resume.

 

We could hug each other to death.

 

"Gary Wnu here, reminding you that no WNUs is good WNUs..."

 

"This is all going to end in tears! I just know it!"

 

Religion. It gives people hope in a world torn apart by religion.

 

I read that in the movie announcer "in a world" guy voice.

 

I heard Morgan Freeman when I read it.

 

Titty Sprinkles...

 

Yeah in my defence I had just woken up after a 15 hour buck's party. English me not good.

What I meant when I said faith was a coping mechanism was not that it's invalid; but more in his case it's totally a crutch that's propping him up. He talks about doubt threatening to erode his faith but since he's made his faith the foundation of his being the whole scenario looks like a house of cards preparing to square off against a fan.

I don't doubt faith provides strength, comfort, and vitality; but here I worry it's a bandaid on a severed limb.

 

Yeah... a lot of people do this sort of thing, though. I do agree that he'd be better off combining the coping mechanism with professional help. I guess his crutch is relatively safer than a lot of other crutches. You don't hear about somebody drinking too much god and running over a child, or shooting so much god into their veins that they overdose and die.

 

yeah, unstable people never commit unthinkable acts in the name of god.

 

Hey, I'm not defending religious fanaticism. I know it can be incredibly dangerous.

 

yeah, i know. just sayin' the guy is hearing voices telling him to do stuff. doesn't sound all that safe to me.

 

As long as it's not his dog, really...

 

Agreed... the guy could definitely benefit from therapy and possibly medication.