Posted by Simcha on January 7, 2002, at 14:38:59
In reply to Reading the bible has helped with my depression !!, posted by janejj on January 7, 2002, at 0:42:01
Good for you!
My pdoc has often said that medication is not enough. There must be a spiritual component to recovering from depression. I need both.
I am not Christian. I'm Jewish. We do not believe in standing on street corners while handing out leaflets trying to "convert" the "heathens."
We tend to believe that religious choice is a private affair and that there are many ways to G-d.
I'm glad that you have found your way. I'd like to mildly suggest that you refrain from attempting to "convert" the masses. If anything you might be setting yourself up for more verbal abuse than you might be able to handle as someone recovering from depression.
On the other side I have found that allowing others their own beliefs and respecting that others have other beliefs than mine has brought me so much peace in this life.
I know that "Christians" have a "mission" to spread the "Word." If you feel you must in order to follow your spiritual path then you must. Just remember to take care of yourself if you get verbally abused. You do not need to open yourself up to abuse.
There are ways of "spreading the Word." I know a lot about Christianity. You may try to "spread the Word" through inner transformation leading to outward acts of kindness. When people see how you have been transformed they might actually ask you what your secret is. Then you have the obligation to tell them about the spiritual path you have found. This might be a better way than outright confrontation on the street. In my world, actions speak louder than words.
Above all janejj, take care of yourself. You are a blessed child of the Universe (and I believe of G-d).
-Simcha.
> Hey,
>
> I think the reason I'm depressed is because I lost my faith. As a child I attended church and became involed in church activities, at about the age of 16/17, I decided I didn't want to go to church any more. So I continued in life forgetting and not really caring about what I had been taught. Well, i guess I just kind of blocked it out. I Also felt as though Christianity had been forced on me and I wanted to rebel against my family.
>
> So here I am at age 22, just finished university and I feel so lost. Its horrible, I feel like I'm in a dead end street.I find it impossible to make decisions about anything and well I'm totally depressed.
>
> Anyway tonight something made me find the Bible which my Nan had given me some time ago. I started to read it and everything became clear. I actually feel as though some of my depression has lifted already.
>
> So now I have made a decision to try and find God, live the way he wants to me to live and have faith. So now I don't have to worry about being in that dead end street, cos I know that God is gonna get me out of there.
>
> Ok that was hard for me to write, because now you all probably think I'm mad. I used to find it so hard to admit to being a Christian, esp. at school! Cos its percieved as really nerdy and un cool. Now I am going to try my best to tell people about Jesus. I know its going to hard though, cos peoples reactions to stuff like that isn't generally good. I hang around with people who aren't religious at all, so I hope they still want to know me after I tell them. I think I'm being a bit paranoid about telling people, oh well!
>
> The only think that bothers me now, is why God created us in the first place ???
>
> Janejj
poster:Simcha
thread:16364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020102/msgs/16399.html