Christian Perspectives on the Cause of Psychological Problems

So its late at night and here I am writing. I probaly should be sleeping. Maybe I should blame the soda. Maybe I should blame this computer for existing! No computer and me and few other million would be asleep right now. Anyways, no too much has happened. I still don't know what I think about forgiveness. Well, actually, I do. I know forgiveness is the right thing to do, but I still have to convince my emotions of that. That's the bottom line. Anyways, what I really want to write about are these thoughts I read somewhere online. They look into the orgins of psychological problems from a christian perspective. Religion and psychology always get me thinking. So here I am writing...

In secular psychology, the cause of problems arise from genetic predispositions, your environment (your family and society), conditioning, brain wiring and illogical thoughts. There is more, but this isn't meant to be comprehensive.

Anyways, I found some christian perspectives about the cause of psychological problems quite interesting. I'll put it in bold so you know. They say, " Man is insecure and involved in a natural contingency; he seeks to overcome his insecurity by a will-to-power which overreaches the limits of human creatureliness. . . . Man is ignorant and involved in the limitations of a finite mind; but he pretends he is not limited. He assumes he can gradually transcend finite limitation until his mind becomes identical with universal mind. All of his intellectual and cultural pursuits, therefore, become infected with the sin of pride. Man's pride and will-to-power disturb the harmony of creation. The Bible defines sin in both religious and moral terms. The religious dimension of sin is man's rebellion against God. . . . The moral and social dimension of sin is injustice. The ego which falsely makes itself the center of existence in its pride and will-to-power inevitably subordinates other life to its will and thus does injustice to other life.Hence, estrangement from God, "unbelief," is presupposed as that which transmutes our finitude into a problem. Then anxiety about our life and its meaning becomes the inevitable temptation to sin."

What the hell does that mean? I'm still digesting it actually. But it seems to me that they explain pride as a delusional way for us to think that we're equal to God. Then with this pride, we make people try to serve us and then we make their lives miserable and vice versa. Then, because we lack trust in God , we become anxious about the meaning of life and do very immoral things. That leads to more bad things happening in our lives. I dunno, that's what I get out of that.

There is more too. There is something about how depression is a result of looking to others besides God for love and selfworth. Ofcourse, as great as these all sound, they don't explain the chemical deficiencies that vary. Why is it that some of us have less activation of serotonin and norepinephrine than others? Though I do like some of the ideas as they can be useful if I ever decide that I want to be a christian psychologist. Something I have some interest in doing.

One thing I didn't see was anxiety. Though one could easily say that perhaps it is the lack of faith that God will take care of you causes the distress.

Why is it that I always hear people say, "God is testing you" Is He really though?? It would almost seem to follow in that if you overcome your struggle, you will be stronger. But many people become far worse. They loss their wivies, jobs and friends; sometimes they commit suicide. I mean, does God use us as his lil pawns as to prove the devil that we do have faith. *I'm thinking of Job in the bible* Or to prove we really have what it takes? Why is it that we always put human attributes on God??? Why isn't it, well, the person just choose the wrong path in life and has to live with the circumstances. I guess what I'm getting it is that I believe that perhaps God is just watching us. He does few blessings and curses. I mean, in cozy Western society, its easy to say that a nice blessing will save the day, but how come that model of ask and he will give breaks down in 3rd world countries? Ok, I'm way off now. I guess what I'm trying to say is that perhaps our problems are caused by straying from belief in God but at the same time, its not a perfect system. It does intrigue me though.

It is entirely possible that all my problems are due to a disconnect with God. Then it'd solve the problem I'm facing now. I think I'm partially sad because I feel that the meaning in my life has been taken away from me. I have this hole
inside me that I keep trying to fill with things and people and it never works...... Yet there is this small skeptical voice that says, "religon is full of unprovable crap and is only here to prevent us humans from truely having to face our mortality" THough, as I have said before, I think I need to believe. For when I truely say to myself, "this is it", I feel utterly depressed.

I've searched for answers all over but it seems that everyone is biased. *well DUH!* I feel that few are open to truely looking for the REAL answer to the purpose of life. I either encounter people who are admantly for or against religion. Actually, there is this third set of people who don't want to face the question much at all. *who could blame them* So far, I have only determined for sure that a more powerful entity than myself exsists. *GOD* I'm almost there with Jesus, but the answers I find are biased. Seems everyone has some sort of agenda. Even when I read this book kaliko sent me from Lee Strobel, I can't help but think that he will come to no other conclusion at the start of his book than to show that Jesus is who he says he was. Plus, where is the interigative questions??! Questions from other "unbiased" authors also leave me with something to be desired. Its as though the authors ask 1 hard question, then nod in agreement to everything else. Then, the "atheists" only say bad things and never even try to keep their minds open that they could be wrong. *Then I guess they wouldn't have much of an audience for their books if they alienate their target audience*

Oh wow, its late....... Sorry for being all over the place. I'm like that at night. Take care people

Comments (2)

salted (Legacy)

O.K. almost impossible to link religion and pshychology. try these thoughts. this is my own personal findings after many years of searching. God is in each one of us. it's a life force which makes us all a part of one energy, the God part. he does not set upon a throne somewhere in heaven making let's test em decisions. Since we all have a part of him inside it is essential that we make the best we can and do the best to others with this life we have been given. I know at times you have heard a little voice mentally telling you "that's not a good idea or i shouldn't do this, or even I should do this and went against it and it turned out BAD. I feel that was your God voice. some call it intuition. You don't need a church or a definate religion to be religious..human factors enter into it then. The Bible is a good guideline however,like the old game where one tells a story and they pass it on we aren't sure of the actual occurance or statement while there may be an element of truth there in the basis. religion has been used down thru the ages to keep the people in line and as a fear based thing. Also i'm sorry to say for monitary purposes. NOw the chemical problems are blamed on d.n.a. and no different than being born with green eyes. Just the bad luck of the draw there. Tests us? perhaps if we pass we get closer to a higher level if you believe in reincarnation. Life itself is a test. I believe in God i believe in Jesus, i believe if you go on your way and try to help where you can and not cause any undo hurt and make the best possible of yourself and listen to your inner spirit you will not go wrong. I have studied every book i could find on any type of religion thse are the common threads and the only things that apply to todays world. (hugs)

kaliko88 (Legacy)

Yes, people are biased. But, one should always try to look at why they are biased. Sometimes those reasons are just as important as what they are biased about.

And Lee Strobel's book? Yes, the purpose of writing his book was biased, because when he wrote it, he had made his decision. But you need to also look at his purpose when he started the investigation. Remember that he started as an atheist, went into the investigation as a somewhat intrigued agnostic, and came out of it a surprised believer. So it doesn't surprise me that he went to these scientists, philosophers, scholars, and other experts who were also Christian, with the basic premise of "Prove me wrong."

There are lots of people out there with that attitude. The difference with Lee Strobel is, he listened to the answers, researched them, and then made his decision. Most others I've heard of making the same challenge, don't really want to hear any proofs. They've already made up their mind.

And I agree with you. That explanation makes no sense at all. Why can't people learn to write in plainer language? Sheesh!

>^..^<