Let me say that my Hawks’ crushing victory over the Broncos is nothing short of legendary. Hell, I even lost my voice halfway through the opening snap! Safety! Safety! Safety! Yes, it was beautiful. I screamed and cheered for all the right reasons! And though my 10-month-old daughter may well develop a nervous twitch, at least my Hawks won!
Nevertheless, the unfortunate demise of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, of whom I am a fan, eclipsed the football game entirely, and indeed, everything else. Such outrageous news set my emotional compass in a tailspin, alternating disbelief and sadness throughout the day. Even as I write I cannot bring myself to believe that such a gifted person could find peace in something as loathsome and deadly as heroin. It’s hard to believe.
It shouldn’t be, I agree. Hoffman struggled with drug addiction for more than twenty-years according to those who knew him best as well as an interview he gave 60 Minutes in 2006.
“It was all that [drugs and alcohol], yeah. It was anything I could get my hands on . . . I liked it all.”
Sadly, Hoffman is merely the latest in a long line of famous people whose lives were snuffed out by drugs. Lenny Bruce, Judy Garland, Chris Farley, Margaux Hemingway, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, Michael Jackson, Cory Monteith, Jim Morrison, and too many others to mention.
Celebrities are too often placed on pedestals and thought to have superhuman abilities they couldn’t possibly possess, and so when they fall, they crash and become nothing more than a punchline. Society doesn’t seem to realize that celebrities can suffer from mental illness just like anyone else, and turn to drugs to self-medicate just like anyone else.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not making excuses for Hoffman. I abhor drug use. I’ve seen firsthand the effects it has on the body, mind, and soul. I know what it does to families. It’s wretched and even users know it. So why do they do it? I don’t know. But I think there needs to be more awareness of psychological problems. We can’t write them off as fictional anymore. These problems are real and often lead to drug abuse. How many more have to die before we wake up as a society?
Sifting Reality 
I mean this in all earnest, but I have little sympathy for hard drug abusers. I realize, and even concede, that many and maybe most times there is a psychological problem that theyre covering up, even if they dont realize it. For all the emotional lows ive had in my life, ive never thought to turn to drugs or alcohol abuse. Moreover, when I get hurt and the doctor wasts to proscribe a narcotic pain medication, I refuse it. I know they can be addictive.
The decision to put the needle in is always one’s own. Why does drug addiction garner sympathy but other destructive actions not?
Maybe I’m too cynical, maybe im too cold. But when people voluntarily destroy themselves, I dont feel it.
Families and friends need to deal with their own denials and insecurities and intervene, which is what you say. But if they wont, I cant do it.
I agree with your comment, John
John,
So, when you get depressed you don’t do anything one might consider destructive? You don’t drive fast, eat junk food, drink beer, nothing?
People deal with things differently.
Terrance,
In my most deepest depression, I never, ever did anything harmful to my body or that would bring reproach upon the name of Christ.
To say people handle things differently is not an acceptable excuse. Everyone has control over their behaviors. No one is forced to behave irrationally.
Glenn,
And that’s you. Other people are different.
Regardless, the nature of a mental illness is by definition irrational behavior. But I wouldn’t expect you to understand that – since you ridiculously deny the existence of psychological disease.
Besides, you are in no position to discuss rational behavior after your actions on Facebook.
Terrance,
Just because you have been brainwashed to think there is such thing as a mental disease, that doesn’t make it ridiculous for me to deny it. Find one disease of the mind. Just one. You can’t because the mind is not tangible. You can’t touch it, feel it, see it, so it can’t be diseased. And the whole psych industry is built on fraud. Ever read my articles where I prove it? There is no science behind clinical psychology.
And just what was my behavior on FB that you find so reprehensible?
You want to enable people to behave as they want, and take away their personal responsibility. NO ONE has to take recreational drugs, and no one has to get drunk. In fact, those who claim to be Christian are violating God’s laws when they do get drunk, because all throughout scripture drunkenness is condemned. Recreational drugs (so-called), like drunkenness, leaves a person unable to function properly, endanger their own health, and possibly endanger the lives of others.
Glenn,
How much does it cost? The membership fee, I mean. Does the Flat Earth Society charge much?
There is a lot of science behind clinical psychology. Read a book.
You unfriend over political disagreements. That is not logical. That’s schoolyard, liberal-sque behavior.
Like I said, those affected by mental disease are irrational by definition.
How much does it cost to remain as ignorant as you want to be in regards to psychology? I have studied the field for almost two decades, at least, and I KNOW there is no science behind it. If there was science, then why are there thousands of ideas of what methods are proper? How many books have YOU read on the subject? I have read probably at least 100 from both sides of the fence, and have friends who used to be psychological counselors.
Again, name me one illness of the mind and explain how it was discovered since you can’t see, touch, feel, smell, etc the mind.
I didn’t unfriend you because of political disagreements – I unfriended you because I got tired of so many posts with foul language. None of the other people I am “friends” with use that language as consistently as do you. And by doing so, you bring disgrace upon the name of Christ. I certainly didn’t need to see the “F” word every day. I figured it would be worthless to confront you with it, knowing your immature attitudes and beliefs as well as condescension to your elders who just might happen to know a little bit more about life than you do, so rather than confront you with it I just dropped you from my daily view.
By the way, I have friendly political and theological discussions with most of my friends, and we disagree over much on both subjects, but I don’t “unfriend” for that reason.
Glenn
Upset stomachs are real despite there being hundreds of differing opinions on how to remedy the belly ache.
Glenn,
Studying books written by anti-science evangelicals doesn’t count as a familiarity with the field.
Many psychological disorders cause measurable physical symptoms, and any insinuation to the contrary is sheer ignorance.
Take bipolar disorder, for example. Research has shown that the Myelin Sheath increases conduction of nerve impulses in the brain. Scans have shown that people with bipolar disorder have abnormal amounts of this sheath.
Also, neurologists have proven that the mind – thoughts – can change the patterns of the brain. This wouldn’t be the case if the mind was simply illusionary. And people with anxiety disorders, also classified as mental illness, can create all sorts of physical symptoms with their illogical thoughts. I should know; I have such a disroder.
And I could go on. But why bother? You’re totally ignorant of the scientific facts and wish to remain that way, it seems.
I’m an adult and I use adult language when it fits, and I couldn’t care less if you approve. And I’m immature? This coming from the guy who refers to Catholics as “Romanists” and liberals as “homosexualists,” clearly terms intended to be derogatory. And whenever someone disagrees with your fanatical views you call them heretics, children of Satan, etc, etc, etc…So I really don’t care what you think of my language, attitude, or devotion to Christ. You simply don’t matter.
Furthermore, I disagree with my elders when my elders – i.e., you – are plain wrong. I’m not going to pat someone on the backside just because they’re older than me. If you’re wrong, you’re wrong.
@T
Yeah, you might have me there. Im sure I do something when I get a depressed feeling. I get anti social at the least.
@Glenn
If youre willing to accept that the body can be disordered, organs not functioning properly, why is it a stretch to thing the brain could malfunction. At the very least, you should be able to admit samesex sexual attraction is a mental abnormality, for example.
Im racking my brain trying to figure out why youd think accepting that mental disease or disorder being true is a matter of brainwashing.
Terrance,
You shouldn’t make assumptions – you just make an ass out of yourself. I have studied college textbooks, several books by E. Fuller Torrey (who was a clinical and research psychiatrist and special assistant to the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health for five years), books by Paul C. Vitz (professor of Psychology at New York University); and Tana Dineen (http://www.tanadineen.com) to name a few off the top of my head since several of these books I own and sit on my shelf. I said I have read and studied BOTH sides of the subject.
You confuse brain issues with mental issues, which is what the psychobabblers want you to do. IF the brain has an organic defect, either from injury or genetics, it may affect the thinking processes. THESE are bonafide MEDICAL issues and not psychological issues.
The BRAIN is ‘ill’ – the MIND is not.
SOME thoughts have been shown to affect the brain; e.g., sexual thoughts stir specific sections of the brain so that the stimuli affecting arousal takes place. It has also been shown that constant viewing of porn continues to release the specific hormones, etc to where more and more is needed to arouse. None of this has any bearing on the subjects at hand – you know, the responsibility for one’s actions.
Funny how so many of your “illness” claims, found in the DSM, have been satisfactorily resolved by Christian counseling rather than “rent a friend” and pills. But you don’t study the other side of the issue because you’d rather remain ignorant and brainwashed by the priests of the psych field – a field proven to be anti-God and anti-Christian, and developed by atheists.
It is YOU who are ignorant of the SCIENTIFIC facts.
FOUL, crude, obscene language is NOT “adult.” IT is childish, lazy, and demonstrates a lack of ability to use proper language. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for a Christian to speak/write with such language, and Paul’s letter to the Ephesians commands us to avoid such language. In my pre-Christian days I had language as bad as, if not worse, than anyone you’ve ever known. When I became a Christian that was the first thing I wanted to change so as not to bring disgrace on the name of Christ. I strongly suggest you grow up and clean up your language.
And yes, you are immature. You act as if you have virtually complete knowledge of every subject discussed. You are an intelligent man, and I have been very impressed with much of your writings, but then you demonstrate your total ignorance of subjects while blathering on about things of which you are sorely lacking in information.
An example is your chastising me for “Romanists” and “homosexualists,” demonstrating again your lack of knowledge. “Romanists” is a term long used to differentiate Roman Catholics from Orthodox Catholics, and also used to make a point that these people follow Rome vs the Bible. “Homosexualists” is a term developed a long, long time ago to discuss those people who promote, support, advance the homosexual agenda. Since they are not all homosexuals, “homosexualist” is a term describing the entire group so one doesn’t have to determine whether the individual is or is not a homosexually-inclined person. You really need to read more.
I have no “fanatical” views – I challenge you to demonstrate one. Nor do I label people as heretics, children of Satan, etc just for disagreeing with me. In fact, the only person I remember labeling a child of Satan was Dan Trabue, and I was citing a Bible passage which was directed at the type of person he is. I only call a person a heretic if they violate a fundamental, non-negotiable Christian doctrine. And everyone with any theological knowledge at all does the same. Labeling heretics is how we protect people from following false teachers.
There is a grave difference between disagreeing and being condescending, the latter of which you have been to me multitudes of times. If I’m wrong, give me convincing evidence and don’t treat me condescendingly.
By the way, you really need to be open to correction. That is part of maturing in the faith, let alone maturing in life in general.
John,
I never said anything about the brain. We were talking about “Mental illness.” The mind is not the brain. Same sex attraction is learned just like every other sexual attraction not designed into us, unless one can demonstrate a brain malfunction which causes it – which no one has been able to do yet.
The psych field has brainwashed most of society for decades that there is such thing as mental illness. It is the anti-God way to tell you why you are the way you are, when the real reason is sin and choices. The psych field could be missing tomorrow and the only affect it would leave would be a better society which finally realized that people are responsible for their behavior and choices. There is absolutely no science behind any of Freud, Maslow, Rogers, et al with their theories.
Stomach aches are bonafide medical conditions. Don’t be foolish.
Glenn
I’d agree that the psych field has brainwashed most of society as to the cause of mental illness, but I think it’s a strange thing to say mental illness doesn’t exist. The reason there is so much speculation in the field is that it is completely reliant on the subject being able to accurately articulate the issues. The mind can’t be examined like physical aspects of our bodies, but that’s no reason to say there can be no mental illness.
John,
There is every reason to say mental illness doesn’t exist. It doesn’t. Show me one “mental illness” which is really a mental illness and not bad thinking processed due to organic brain problems. 90% of Mental illness are only labels to absolve personal responsibility.
Glenn
What is the basis for believing the mind is infallible, or at least uncorruptable and unable to be disfunctioned?
Glenn
What is the basis for believing the mind is infallible, or at least uncorruptable and unable to be disfunction?
Straw man.
It’s not a straw man, it’s a question.
I asked what is the basis for believing the mind is not susceptible to illness. I’m hoping you provide an answer.
John,
It’s not a straw man, it’s a question.
I asked what is the basis for believing the mind is not susceptible to illness. I’m hoping you provide an answer.
No, your question was: What is the basis for believing the mind is infallible, or at least uncorruptable and unable to be disfunction?
I never said the mind was infallible (we all make mistakes in out thinking), nor did I intimate it was not corruptible (cults and false teachings corrupt the mind all the time.)
The mind is not a tangible thing. It isn’t organic. In order to have an illness – a sickness – it must be organic and subject to some disease, injury, or defect. You people keep confusing the brain with the mind, which is what the psych industry has brainwashed people into thinking. As I stated, the brain can suffer injury, illness, or defect which can alter thought processes. But the brain is an organ and can be treated medically.
The mind cannot be treated medically. If people have bad thinking processes due to self-focust, trauma, poor training, etc, they need education and proper counseling. I’m still waiting for someone to show me an illness of the mind.,
You read books by so-called experts that agree with the evangelical viewpoint while ignoring the other 95% of experts who disagree. You’re like the angry infant who desperately tries to fit the square block in the round hole, who ignores all correction. You resist the evidence because it doesn’t fit with your view. Scientists can clearly demonstrate the existence of mental illness.
No, I don’t.
It proves that the mind – you know, that thing you claim doesn’t exist – can be dysfunctional and influence the rest of the body. And I’m not sure anyone is arguing that people aren’t responsible for their actions. I’m simply saying that you need to put people’s actions into the proper context.
I’ve taken classes at Liberty University in Christian Counseling. You shouldn’t assume, Glenn, because you just make an ass out of yourself.
Regardless, Christian Counseling can do more harm than good, just like secular counseling. It greatly depends on the counselor. I’ve heard of Christian counselors who do nothing but scold and blame the sufferer for their illness, thus doing even more harm. The problem is that many so-called Christian counselors rely on Scripture to solve every single problem, seemingly unaware that many psychological problems have biological causes, and so when the person doesn’t get better, they tell them their faith is weak, etc, etc, etc…I have no respect for such ignoramuses.
From Wikipedia:
“Romanist” is a derivative of “Romanism.” It’s derogatory – whether you realize it or not.
You use it in a derogatory manner, Glenn, and you know it.
Anyway. My foul language, I’ll grant, is sometimes uncalled for. But I don’t believe that mere words are something adults should treat as “icky,” and this belief comes from growing up in a household where swearing was completely normal. It sounds almost too ridiculous to believe, but I’ve been swearing since I started speaking. My mom hated it but my father laughed and encouraged it. Why? I don’t know.
Personally, I don’t believe children should swear so I don’t allow my kids to use foul language. However, adults shouldn’t be prohibited from using it because, given the situation, profanity conveys a sense of vehemence; it’s emphatic language that demonstrates sincerity.
But you made another assumption about me. You assumed that mentioning the matter would have done no good, so you unfriended me. Well, you’re wrong. I would have cut it out out of respect for you, but instead of saying something, you unfriend like a child.
In any event, your latest response shows how confused you really are, Glenn. You simply don’t understand psychology.
Glenn,
I’ll also admit that my rhetorical style can at times come off as condescending. You aren’t the first person to complain about that, believe me. It’s just the way I write. I’m matter of fact and to the point.
Oh, and Terrance,
I’m also matter of fact and to the point, but without using condescending language. (except for Trabue – because I have absolutely no respect for him in any way, shape or form.)
Terrance,
You read books by so-called experts that agree with the evangelical viewpoint
Don’t be so foolish. These people are professionals who could care less about Christian viewpoints. I don’t care if a million psychobabblers disagree with them – they are only trying to keep their jobs, supporting their dying profession. I suppose you believe in man-caused global warming because the vast amount of scientist preach it?
Numbers of people believe something doesn’t thereby make it true. Look at the facts, Terrance. Read the data – there is absolutely no scientific backing for secular psychology.
Anyone who says that the mind is ill is an idiot, plain and simple. THINK, man, THINK. How an a mind be ill?!? You can’t see, touch, feel, hear, etc a mind. IT is intangible!! Use your brilliant mind to understand that!
Yes, you do indeed confuse the brain with the mind. You did it again in this last comment.
Since when did I say that the mind doesn’t exist?!?! I never, ever said that, so quit misrepresenting me. The mind exists, but it isn’t tangible. Use you mind and think about it!
The whole psych field is based on finding something to blame other than the person for that person’s actions.
By “Christian Counseling” classes, do you mean like the James Dobson variety – syncretizing secular psychology with the Christian faith? If you took REAL Christian counseling, they would teach against the psych field. I have a couple dozen books on Biblical counseling on my shelf, none of which will support the psych field’s claims. I have been to several Biblical Counselor’s Conferences, and have studied everything needed for my certificate except the simulated counseling exercises, but I don’t have the money or time to complete the course.
“Christian Counseling can do more harm than good”. That’s true if you’re talking the syncretized versions. And your description of what they do is nothing at all proper. Psych almost ALWAYS does more harm than good. They rarely “cure” their patients and are no more than witchdoctors.
Nor do REAL Christian counselors ignore the fact that there may be bonafide organic brain problems causing defects in the thinking process. WE are actually trained to isolate that FIRST!!!!
Wikipedia is your authority for the use of “Romanism”?!?!? HAH. Anyone can put articles on Wiki, and that one sounds like it was put there by a Romanist!
Oh, so you know my mind and you just KNOW I use the term “homosexualist” in a derogatory manner. No, child, I use it as a descriptor, and if you ever read my comments containing the word, you would know it is so that I can discuss those who support queers as well as including the queers themselves. (Yes, I like to use “queer” because THEY like to use it, and beside, no one IS a homosexual – homosexual is a descriptor of the behavior or desire, but they – the queers – took it as a noun so as to make themselves a minority in need of special protective rights. If you read a bit of history on the subject, you’d know that)
Your excuse to allow foul language is unacceptable. Argue with Paul.
Oh, so in your house you can swear like a trooper but forbid your kids from doing so? Do as I say and not as I do?!? Nice example.
Funny, I don’t need foul language for emphasis, nor does anyone with a proper command of the language. You cannot justify it.
In any event, I understand psychology much better than you apparently do. Have you even bothered to look at the series I wrote for my blog? I can give you the links. And then I’d like to have you try to refute what I wrote.
It’s bedtime.
Glenn,
Neuroscience has plainly demonstrated that the mind can influence the patterns of the brain causing dysfunctional behavior. So, what do “psychobabblers” (yet more evidence of your own immaturity) have to worry about? Not only that, psychology doesn’t depend upon the existence of mental illnesses; it’s merely a field that seeks to understand human behavior, whatever the cause.
I believe in anthropological environmental change, yes. But climate change? No.
Yet more evidence of your immaturity.
You’ve already conceded that a person’s thoughts can influence the brain. You admit that dysfunctional and illogical thoughts can cause bad behavior, thus you’ve admitted to the existence of dysfunctional minds. Your problem is the next logical step: the dysfunctional and illogical thoughts are involuntary, and thus pathological. But this is oftentimes the case, whether you see it or not.
I enrolled in their B.S. in Psychology program and chose Christian Counseling as my cognate. I switched to a local university so I could study biology and psychology. So, I’ve approach the issue from several different perspectives, Christian and Secular.
Absurd. My psychologist certainly helped me. He saved my marriage, for crying out loud!
Wikipedia is repeatedly checked for inaccuracies and sources must be cited. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with the site instead of jumping to conclusions.
I never said I swore around them. Why do you assume so much, Glenn? Bad form.
My command of the English language is quite extensive – and I use profanity for emphasis because it’s something people understand. And while you may not use profanity for emphasis, you use insults, as this thread demonstrates.
I’ve read the series on your blog and it’s yet more evidence of your ignorance.
Terrance,
I agreed that SOME thoughts can affect the brain due to stimulii from the particular thinking processes setting about chemical reactions. Adrenaline is another example of a physical reaction to fear, etc. But please show me an “illness” as found in the DSM which is caused by thinking affecting the brain.
“Psychobabbler” is not an immature name. It rightly defines them. They babble about unscientific, atheistic, materialistic beliefs.
Why is it “immature” to say that only an idiot would say the mind can be ill? It actually takes more maturity to realize that!
dysfunctional and illogical thoughts can cause bad behavior, thus you’ve admitted to the existence of dysfunctional minds.
No, the MIND isn’t dysfunctional. The mind is perfectly functioning with what it has been fed. Illogical thoughts don’t CAUSE bad behavior, the result in bad behavior. The cause of the bad behavior is the choice made by the person.
The only way the thoughts can be involuntary is if the BRAIN is malfunctioning. The BRAIN is not the mind. The BRAIN is treated medically. You don’t need “rent a friend” for a damaged brain.
Yep, you took the Psych program, which is evident base on your belief system. You’ve taken it hook, line, and sinker.
No, your psychologist didn’t save your marriage. Your acceptance of his counseling and putting it into action did. But the same – or most likely better – counsel could have been done by any good counselor using biblical basis and marital experience. We’ve been married almost 38 years and have been asked to counsel those with marital problems because we are seen as solid Christians with a solid marriage. You don’t need to PAY for a friend to give you good advice.
I’m familiar with Wiki’s policies, but they are also quite liberal. I have found many mistakes in technical articles about aircraft. If the checkers don’t know the subject, they won’t see the problem.
And I’ve never yet met a person who swears like a trooper who doesn’t occasionally slip
in the home. BUT, if you don’t use such language around the home, then that PROVES you don’t need to use it and that you CAN control it. You have no excuse.
Insults are as bad as foul language? Christ used insults, Paul used insults. Try again.
Try showing me the errors in my articles rather than just making a useless blanket statement.
Glenn,
Anxiety. Like I said, I have an anxiety disorder.
It’s a derogatory term. In the same way my profanity is immature, so too is your constant barrage of insults.
Read above.
If the mind is thinking illogical thoughts that interfere with a person’s life, you might say his or her mind is dysfunctional.
Easily the single most ridiculous statement anyone has ever uttered. A person cannot control every single thought that runs their mind in a day, and to suggest otherwise proves how ignorant you really are.
My psychologist was a pro-life, anti-gay Christian…
Their insults were justified; yours are not.
Terrance,
So you think there is a change in your brain because of anxiety? And therefore you have a disorder? Everyone in the world has anxiety about something. Guess what, you CAN control that – self control. What does the Bible say? Read Philippians 4:8-9. The problem is that you need to think biblically.
What does it mean to “babble”? Let’s look at the definitions of the context “psychobabble” was meat to describe. “To talk idly or irrationally,” “senseless prattle,”
Babbling, in this context, includes “foolish talk.”
Okay, let’s look at the so-called fathers, movers and shakers in the psyche field. I’ll start with Sigmund Freud, the inventor of psychotherapy. His primary teaching was that all of our problems derive from some sort of sexual dysfunction. I’d say that is irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Carl Jung. He gave us the occultic “inner healing,” “archetypes,” and a “collective unconsciousness.” Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Alfred Adler. He determined that “striving for superiority” was the motivation for all people. He also taught that everyone’s “life style” was formulated and determined within the first five years of his life. He gave us the teaching of “inferiority complex.” Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Erich Fromm. The origin of the self-esteem movement. His concept was that god has evolved to the point that humankind is God, and if the sacred exists, its center is in the self and the selves of others. Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Abraham Maslow. According to him, evil is the result of ignorance and weakness, and self-esteem – based on self-knowledge and self-improvement – is the answer to the problem. He also borrowed heavily from Freud. From Maslow we get the “hierarchy of needs.” He stated that a child “knows better than anyone else what is good for him” and that adults should “not interfere too much. . . but rather let them grow and help them grow in a Taoistic rather than an authoritarian way.” Maslow’s idea for humans was that “any full perception of any woman or man includes their God and Goddess, priest and priestess possibilities, and mysteries embodied in and shining through the actual and limited human individuals before one’s eyes: what they stand for, what they could be, what they remind us of, what we can be poetic about.” Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Carl Rogers. Originator of the “client-centered” or “nondirective” therapy. Supposedly this therapy does not influence the client and is value-free. However, studies have shown that this therapy is very directive indeed. Rogers himself was shown to be directive because “his response to his clients rewarded and punished and therefore reinforced or extinguished certain expressions of the clients.” Of course, this also destroys the idea of “value-free.” He is the origin of the “self-actualization” theory.
Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Albert Ellis. He says Christianity is a cause of mental illness! His idea of curing “mental illness” was the “Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.” His explanation for human behavior was (1) that emotional problems come from the person making himself disturbed through irrational beliefs and (2) that the person can make himself undisturbed through the ABC’s of REBT, that is, through admitting his feelings and then exploring what irrational beliefs are causing them and then by changing his beliefs. The whole point of REBT is the client’s acceptance of himself as he is, no matter what sort of person he is. The client is to just feel good about himself, and the theory at the bottom line is no more than hedonism. Right and wrong are personal concepts and what is right for you is what makes you acceptable, while what is wrong for you needs to be “disputed” away. It is a very man-centered philosophy.
Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
Arthur Janov. Developer of the “Primal Scream” therapy. Insane idea at best. Heavily dependent on Freud and evolution. I’ll let people look up what the therapy consisted of.
Irrational, senseless, and foolish.
All current psych theories have their origins in one or more of these teachings. Hence, it is nothing but psychobabble. It is not immature to give it that label, and, yes, it is derogatory because there can be no praise for such nonsense.
Again, the mind cannot be dysfunctional. Any illogical, irrational, etc thinking which is not caused by the person’s worldview would be caused by a dysfunctional BRAIN.
Oh, so you can’t control every thought of the day? Then why does the Bible tell us to “capture” our thoughts and submit them to Christ? Would God tell us to do something we can’t do?
So, your psych was conservative? SO! What has that got to do with him being a “rent a friend”? You could have gotten the same advice from any mature Christian.
My insults are indeed justified. Just because you don’t think so, that doesn’t mean they aren’t. Your opinion on that matters not.
It’s not possible to have a reasonable conversation with you, Glenn, because you’re blissfully unaware of your own ignorance. Take anxiety, for example. You correctly assert that everyone has anxiety, as though I dispute this. I don’t. Everyone has anxiety at times. But notice I said I have an Anxiety Disorder….You’re too ignorant to make the distinction.
In a previous reply, you said:
And yet your solution to anxiety is:
You’ve studied the field of psychology for decades, you claim, yet remain unaware of the fact that anxiety disorders can be caused by any number of factors, including environmental, medical, genetics, substance abuse, and others. Yes, there are oftentimes PHYSICAL causes. Yet, according to you, people just aren’t thinking biblically.
From WebMd:
Hmm. Perhaps WebMD just isn’t thinking — how do you say it? — biblically….
Anyway. That alone is enough for me to end this conversation. I’m not going to argue with a damn fool, especially one that rationalizes his own ungodly behavior.
It’s not possible to have a reasonable conversation with you, Terrance, because you’re blissfully unaware of your own ignorance.
Take anxiety, for example. You correctly assert that everyone has anxiety, as though I dispute this. I don’t. Everyone has anxiety at times. But notice I said I have an Anxiety Disorder….You’re too ignorant to make the distinction.
Sorry, but you are wrong; Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive. While the person suffering may realize their anxiety is too much, they may also have difficulty controlling it and it may negatively affect their day-to-day living. There are a wide variety of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder to name a few. Collectively, they are among the most common mental disorders experienced by Americans.
The following anxiety disorders are discussed on this website:
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),
panic disorder,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and
social phobia (or social anxiety disorder).
In other words, any anxiety which over which you have a lack of self control comes under that magic rubric of “Anxiety disorder”, which makes battle fatigue equivalent with OCD (another farcical illness) etc.
So what horrible trauma are you having PTSD over? Been in combat? Serious accidents? Ever watch someone die? (I watched two people die – one who jumped out of my plane and by his own mistake caused a parachute malfunction, and the other as I watched his plane crash)? How many plane crashes have you watched happen? I’ve watched many happen, although only one led to fatalities. I could tell you some stories of REAL anxiety but I’m not going to bother, because you will always be worse off and unable to control it.
Unless you’ve had some horrific trauma which leaves you with nightmares you can’t control, I don’t want to hear such whining about a “disorder” that self-control can handle. Certainly isn’t treated by a rent a friend – what can they tell you to do – change your thoughts?!?!?
And yet your solution to anxiety is:
Read Philippians 4:8-9. The problem is that you need to think biblically.
Do YOU have a bonafide organic problem of the brain such as an injury or defect? Nothing you said even intimated that – you talked of counseling. Counseling won’t fix an organic problem.
You’ve studied the field of psychology for decades, you claim, yet remain unaware of the fact that anxiety disorders can be caused by any number of factors, including environmental, medical, genetics, substance abuse, and others. Yes, there are oftentimes PHYSICAL causes. Yet, according to you, people just aren’t thinking biblically.
You have yet to state you had an organic problem with the functioning of the brain. By saying you have had counseling for it, that would imply no organic/physical/medical/genetic problem.
Substance abuse causing any problem is easily solved by ceasing the abuse of the substance – duh!
I have no problem with “anxiety disorder” (very poor nomenclature which includes so diverse problems) such as battle fatigue and similar experiences. My problem is the blanket label to cover so many DSM “disorders.”
So that alone is enough for me to end this conversation. I’m not going to argue with a damn fool.
You’re right. You are a damned fool. You are an immature child who needs to grow up. So go use some foul language and make yourself feel good.
Glenn,
You’re like the angry child who gets so hopping mad he’s unable to comprehend anything happening around him….
I never claimed I received counseling for my anxiety; I received counseling because of relationship problems.
Lastly, the link I offered clearly explains that anxiety is oftentimes caused by physical problems, like chemical imbalances. You’re backtracking now, Glenn, because you were caught wallowing in ignorance, as usual.
Terrance,
You are so funny! I never had any anger, so how could I be like an angry child? I sit here and chuckle over your silliness and support for a field which was started by atheists, supports a totally materialistic worldview, is anti-Christian, causes more harm than good, and 90% of any “treatment” could have been accomplished by any mature person who can give sound advice; friends, co-workers, etc. I.e., your lack of discernment as a Christian.
I fully comprehend everything that’s happening around me.
Since you only mentioned counseling in the entire comment string, there was no reason for me to believe you had any organic problem.
No backtracking at all. I have stated from the very beginning that thought processes can be affected by organic problems of the brain; i.e, a bonafide medical problem such as an injury or genetic defect or illness to the brain. I have stated that over and over and over. Look above at how many times I have stated that.
You are the one wallowing in ignorance. If it is a bonafide organic problem, psychobabblers aren’t necessary – real medical doctors are. That has been my claim from the very beginning, where I keep pointing out how you confuse the brain with the mind.
Perhaps you need to take a course in reading comprehension.
Okay, I know. I’m just an old man who has no real life experiences compared to you so I know nothing. I give in to your superior intellect and life experiences.
Terrance,
By the way, look back where you first introduced “anxiety disorder.” I asked you to show me an “illness” as found in the DSM which is CAUSED by thinking affecting the brain. You said “Anxiety”, as the response, followed by the claim of anxiety disorder.
How did I respond to your claim that anxiety was caused thinking affecting the brain? I asked if you had an anxiety disorder because you claimed anxiety was caused by thinking affecting the brain.
If anxiety affects everyone, then everyone would have their brains affected by thinking in regards to anxiety.
NOW, you are saying that you have an organic problem which causes an anxiety disorder. Which is it – did the thinking affect the brain to cause anxiety disorder or does an organic brain issue cause it?
Do you see the problem? I asked for an “illness” as found in the DSM which is caused by thinking which affects the brain. We agreed that there are things which can affect the brain in that certain stimuli release specific hormones, etc. But I’ve never heard of anxiety causing any organic change to the brain. If that was so, there are way too many of us who have lived for long periods with anxiety over many issues and our brains have never been affected.
Glenn,
Yet more ignorance. Carl Jung was not an atheist. Or, in your alternate universe, do atheists often say, “I know God exists.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ25Ai__FYU
And while the others may have been, so what? If you think the field of psychology seeks to replace God, you simply misunderstand the field. Loosely defined, psychology seeks to understand human behavior, whatever the cause. When psychologists find no biological or physical cause, they create theories and test those theories where possible. You’re angry with them for not begining with the same assumptions as yourself. You are anti-knowledge. You’re a liberal with conservative points of view, and nothing else.
On anxiety, read the link I offered. Anxiety has several causes, one of which being illogical thinking. This thinking causes the release of chemical substances that cause the anxious feeling, manifesting itself in a number of ways. It’s another example of a dysfunctional mind – i.e., a mind not thinking logically, always assuming the worst, etc… – creating physical problems for the body.
Terrance,
Jung’s worldview was as an atheist, even if he did believe in “A” god. Even though his father was a Lutheran minister, Jung was an unbeliever and he believed that all religions are “collective mythologies, not real in essence.” Jung “delved deeply into the occult, practiced necromancy, and had daily contact with disembodied spirits, which he called archetypes.” The Bobgans cite Jung as saying, “These conversations with the dead formed a kind of prelude to what I had to communicate to the world about the unconscious; a kind of pattern of order and interpretation of its general contents.” The Bobgans point out that Jung even had his own personal “spirit guides,” one of whom he called Philemon, and that “much of what Jung wrote was inspired by such entities.” At one point Jung even stated that he was demon-possessed. On top of all of this, Jung studied alchemy and Gnosticism.
Who’s the ignorant one here? YOU
As I said, his worldview was anti-Christian. He was an occultist. He was satanic. Yet you want to give approval to a system founded on these teaches.
Psychology was developed to understand how man thinks and behaves without reference to God. The Bible tells us why man thinks and behaves as he does – it isn’t any mystery.
I’m not any more angry with pscychobabblers than I am with Mormons. I know that their teaching are false and lead people into spiritual danger. You really need to stop ascribing emotions to people when you have no idea what they are thinking. You’ll probably find a “mental illness” listed for that in the DSM.
You are an ass for suggesting I’m a liberal. There is nothing at all in my beliefs that are liberal. And like all evolutionists and liberals, you call a Christian who stands on the word of God “anti-knowledge.” That is about as stupid and asinine as anything I’ve seen you say. I’m 100% FOR knowledge, which is why I study so many diverse subjects. There is never a day when I’m not reading a book, whether it is on scientific discoveries, engineering, history, theology, biology, etc. I love knowledge – it is you who refuse to learn something new, something that goes against your favorite ideology. You are deceived by your investment in psych, evolution, etc.
You’re dysfunctional all right. Oh, and I thought you were finished with me! HAH.
Like I said, you are so intelligent, have had so many experiences in your short life, that no one could know more than you. Again, is bow to your superior intellect.
And I ,>b>AM finished with your arrogant foolishness.
I’ll offer yet more evidence that mental illnesses exist.
Studies have shown that depressed people who attempt suicide have significantly higher levels of serum kynurenine. Of course, you’ll just say I’ve done nothing but offer proof of an organic problem, etc, etc, etc….And you’d be right, I did. But what you fail to comprehend is that mental illness doesn’t have to be intangible! You blast the field of psychology without understanding it! And why? Because you’re ignorant.
Psychology is the study of human behavior — REGARDLESS THE CAUSE! And sometimes when physical causes cannot be identified, psychologists present theories that are sometimes a little far-fetched. Freud, for example, might say that your extreme and often unprovoked anger is compensation for latent homosexual feelings…
So, yes, there’s all sorts of crazy theories in psychology, I agree. But the beauty of psychology is the many different approaches, including biological psychology which hinges on the belief that mental illness is caused by organic factors…Your beliefs regarding sin and unbiblical living are also an approach to psychology. You realize, of course, that Christian Psychology is a field, right?
I encourage you to familiarize yourself with this wonderful scientific field instead of making blanket and blatantly idiotic statements that merely reflect your own misunderstandings.
Terrance,
Sorry, I missed your last post which needs a response.
1. Mental illness doesn’t exist, and you show how stupid you are for not understanding such a simple concept that something intangible, not organic, can not have an illness.
2. Christian psychology is an oxymoron, and is nothing but secular psychology syncretized with Bible verses. I already mentioned it way at the beginning – like Dobson, Crabb, et al, who practice psychoheresy.
And again you are an ass ascribing emotions to me which do not exist except in your “sick” mind. There are so many theories because there is no science behind it. But you know better. It doesn’t matter that I’ve studied the field for 20 years, I could never know as much about it as you. Of course your ignorant bias due to your needing “mental health” treatment just might be a blinder for you.
I think your mental illness has to do with some sexual deviancy – since you agree with Freud, he must have hit the nail on the head with you. HAH!
End of discussion on my side. GO have the last word if you feel the childish need.
Glenn,
A few things.
Jung was not an atheist, as I’ve proven. You can rationalize your intellectual hiccup however you want, but the fact remains: Jung believed in God.
Like I said, you reject an entire field because it began with assumptions different from your own. This is mindless anti-intellectualism.
You behave exactly like a liberal. Like them, you throw childlike tantrums whenever your opinions aren’t accepted as gospel; you’re brash to the point of nausea; and you imagine some celestial sanction for your indelicate and churlish behavior.
Unlike you, I don’t suffer from delusions of omniscience. I’m sure I could learn quite a bit from you – if only your delivery weren’t so reckless.
You’re placing limitations on something not fully understood – and I’m stupid? Right.
I see. So, you’re telling me there are NO psychological principles applied by Christian Counselors like yourself?
I was being facetious, attempting to lighten the mood while agreeing that crazy theories abound in the field of psychology. Pity you didn’t catch on.
No doubt. :D
Okay.