Comments on: FWOTW: psychoheresy-aware.org

By: Steve Condrey

Steve Condrey — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:57:46 +0000

My exodus from fundamentalism began with a friend of mine who wanted to enter full-time ministry. He was denied the opportunity because some dumbass lay pastor told him that his faith wasn’t sufficient due to the fact that he needed medication to control severe clinical depression. In order to prove he had sufficient faith, my friend stopped taking his meds. Three days later, after a very incoherent telephone call with me in which we argued about waiting periods for guns, he killed himself. He borrowed his father’s shotgun (apparently the three-day waiting period was too much for him) and blew his brains out.

Since then I’ve encountered many other people who’ve had problems with mental illness that a legitimate practitioner could have helped them cope with. But they went the Fundie approach–pray more, read Scripture more, beat yourself up for something that isn’t your fault, and watch your life spiral out of control.

It’s especially bad for women, who already bear a disproportionate level of guilt and shame in the operation. Some fall away from faith completely; others embrace the madness fully to the point they’re convinced that God told them to raise up the dead feral cat the landlord is getting ready to throw in the dumpster (I’ve seen this happen! After 45 minutes of intense prayer, the poor woman decided her faith wasn’t sufficient…and drove herself further over the edge. This was an educated woman–a mechanical engineer–who was also told that her education was a source of pride, and therefore remade herself into a complete airhead.)

I am still convinced that Jesus can heal the sick, but most of the time He’s going to pass along the number of a skilled, licensed medical professional…because we are *all* supposed to be going about His business.

Since then, I’ve been diagnosed with some learning disabilities (as has my son). These too are seen as signs of insufficient faith by hardcore fundamentalists. Fortunately the pastor of our church is aware of modern medicine and psychology and endorses both when needed. Otherwise I’d be out the door.

I’m convinced that Fundamentalism is a religion entirely separate from Christianity (or Islam, or Hinduism, or any of the other great worldviews that get abused by human beings).

By: Steve Condrey

Steve Condrey — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 17:46:26 +0000

Well aren’t you just being silly! Don’t you know that quantum mechanics and general relativity are reconciled neatly in the book of Habukkuk?

By: W.E. Orchard

W.E. Orchard — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:33:17 +0000

Sadly this nonsense has been exported to the UK.

By: maria berg

maria berg — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:27:22 +0000

Why is it that so many young people, 2 at my church, are going into Biblical Counseling”? AND at the alma mater of so many of you…I will consult the KJV….

By: RJW

RJW — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:57:56 +0000

I can’t even read this crap. It’s sad. This was the mentality that basically tore my family apart because “reading the Bible and going to church” should be enough for anyone. Counseling isn’t for people who are right with God. . .at least not more than 6-12 weeks of counseling, at which point the problems should be solved.

By: reader mo

reader mo — Mon, 10 May 2010 03:27:47 +0000

@Rob: thanks for the kind words. unfortunately, 1 wife, 2 jobs, & 3 kids under the age of 4 prevent me from taking the time to contribute anything other than the occasional smart-ass remark.

@JimE: you are awesome! i had never considered the computer-generated-kjv-superstitious-numerology angle. i have a lot of work to do- perhaps the kjv does indeed hold the key to winning the lottery, and thus casting off the burden of 2 jobs, and thus devoting more time to mockery.

off-topic: speaking of “burdens”, has sfl done a post on having “burdens” yet? you know, like “i have a burden for the lost”, “i have a burden for the philippines”, etc.

come to think of it, i think there may be more fundy missionaries in the philippines than there are philippinos. also, i’m not sure how to spell “philippines”, and don’t feel like googling it.

that is all.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:48:33 +0000

The brain is an organ. As such, it can fail to function at 100%, just like any other organ. In other words, the organ itself can get “sick”. Because it’s our “thinking” organ, its malfunctions are likely to show up in our thinking processes. Depressed people know this well. Before I began taking an antidepressant, admonishing myself with Scripture and “claiming the truth” were just like trying to stick velcro to teflon. The truth was plenty sticky, but until I began the medication it would not stick to my thoughts. Only when my brain got “well” again did Scripture begin to stick again. I believe we honor God when we reckon with the way He designed us, including how the truth of the Fall has corrupted our physical nature. It’s the orderliness of creation that enables science to devise remedies that enable us to live more as God intended.

By: Hannah G.

Hannah G. — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:22:58 +0000

When I had post-partum depression, one of my [very Fundy] sisters told me I just needed to have more faith, and, in order to get that, I had to read the Bible more. That’s Christ-like compassion for ya!

By: Jordan

Jordan — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:36:32 +0000

This hurts me. There are more than likely Fundies out there who do have legitimate mental health issues and then morons like this come along and tell them, “Oh you’re not depressed, you just need to read the Bible more.”

By: Morgan

Morgan — Fri, 07 May 2010 14:45:53 +0000

@Mac: hence the term “crazy fundamentalist”!