|
snakechic
|
1#
|
Rank:none
Score:3587
Posts:3587
Registered:11/02/2004
Time spent: 6158 hours
|
RE:My experience with
(Date Posted:03/30/2008 14:34:31)
Hi John
I'd love to help you in anyway I can but I don't live in the USA. But yes it happens in Aust as well!
I've had some experiences with xain counselling. For example: I did a 3 mth contract working with the Salvation Army Family Services on a group project for Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse (in Aust) You may not know but the Salvo's are fundamentalists ( I didn't know at the time) That was the one and only time I ever worked with christians - It was shocking. I complained to other agencies. In fact made no offer to look into it.
On another unrelated occasion, I needed to find out some info and sought the 'advice' from christian leaders - all I got was crappy 'cult' talk - that any 'church' that was dodgy or abusive was naturally a 'cult' and they the 'good' christians had no jurisdiction over them.
I'm also aware that in some denominations - the 'paster' is the only person who apparently has the 'authority' to counsel people but you know the drill.
So anyway...I know a little bit of the abuses people suffer at the hands of christians - counsellors, pastors etc. Its an incredibly vulnerable position to put yourself in. There are no accountability checks or any of the 'normal' client care systems in place. Amazing betrayals!
I wish you all the luck in the world! Hope your project gets the attention it deserves! I believe ANY kind of christian based counselling is going to offer an unethical biased at the very least and when they start talking 'hell' and devil possession its outrageous! Most christian counsellor are not sufficiently trained & receive in house christian training.
--------------------------------------------------------------
In exchange for obedience, Christianity promises salvation in an afterlife; but in order to elicit obedience through this promise, Christianity must convince people that they need salvation, that there is something to be saved from. Christianity has nothing to offer a happy person living in a natural, intelligible universe. If Christianity is to gain a motivational foothold, it must declare war on earthly pleasure and happiness, and this, historically, has been its precise course of action. In the eyes of Christianity, woman(man) is sinful and helpless in the face of God, and is potential fuel for the flames of hell. Just as Christianity must destroy reason before it can introduce faith, so it must destroy happiness before it can introduce salvation.
-- George H Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God
|
| Support us |
Create free forum and click the links below and your donations will make a difference here. |
 |
www.dinodirect.com
Online Huge Store for Various Cool Gadgets, Nintendo Wii Controller, iPod Charger, iPhone Cases, BlackBerry Cases, Laptop Accessories, Rechargeable Battery, LED Tactical Flashlight, iPod Earphones, iPhone Charger, Wii Controller, iPod Cables, Video Players, Music Players, Car Accessories, Cell Phone Accessories, Video Games Accessories and Hobby Gadgets.
If you use the code "DDLIFE", all orders will get 10% discount plus worldwide free shipping!
|
|
Guest
|
|
|
RE:My experience with
(Date Posted:08/09/2008 11:56:58)
Sorry to hear about your experience, I am a fundamentalist and I believe in mental illness. God allows things to happen, it is a sin cursed world so why wouldn't people have chemical inbalances in the brain. Anyone that says mental illness is sin better be concerned about God's jugement on them for such nonsense!! Don't turn from an Almighty God because of a pompus few:-)
|
|
Chirpy
|
3#
|
Registered:03/06/2003
Time spent: 0 hours
|
RE:My experience with
(Date Posted:08/13/2008 10:26:22)
I've found that christian counselling was enough to make me turn away from the religion. I had some extremely bad experiences. I could certainly not talk about any sexual abuse because I knew what their answers would be. If I was being pestered by somebody from the opposite sex it was always my fault for being too sexy, too lonely, too friendly or too available. I was never given help on how to reject pursuers. I could never seek counselling from people or organisations who believe that humans are fundamentally evil and inherently bad (save for themselves of course) especially women.
Most fundies believe that you should be counselled by at least two people in the room at the same time so that you're outnumbered and there is even less of an equal relationship.
Most fundies like to think of themselves as counsellors. All those families who'd invite you round in the evenings are there to only hear of your troubles and to give you advice. They are like foul weather friends. It was time I found some fair weather friends instead and got out.
|
|
Guest
|
|
|
RE:My experience with
(Date Posted:01/05/2009 18:02:00)
Greetings John,
I would be interested in helping but I wish to remain completely anonymous. If that is fine let me know.
The church I went to was in part a deliverance ministry so mental illness wasn't just a result of sin, it also meant that you had demonic influences running your life.
The pastor of the church would single out individual members of the church and give sermons about how seeking counsel outside of seeking him or one of the decons was a choice influenced by the devil and how any benefit of psychatric medication was a trick of the devil leading you straight to hell. Mental illness was a result of unrepented sin and demonic influence.
The pastor and decons would approach you about your mental illness, or if they suspected you had one. To admit you were struggling with anything (it didn't even have to be mental illness, greif, stress- anything) would mean they would tell everyone that you were a dispicable human being, that God might forgive your sins but they would not. And you would be fodder for next week's fire and brimstone sermon. There was a limited range of emotion permissable to show at church. Anything outside of that wouldn't be tolerated by the church.
When I went to college I was warned against taking psychology classes because I would become corrupted by secular ideas of how the human mind works. That mental illnesses were the result of sin and demonic influence not the result of chemical imbalance and psychological injury (like from abusive fundamentalist churches implementing the BITE model on their congregation).
If we are counting cell churches as well I was involved with a campus cell church and went on a missionary trip. I was confronted about being on anti-depressants and coersed to go off from them.
I've expirienced church condemnation of mental illness. I've noticed that the fundamentalists I were around liked to think of themselves as couselors. And they would like to do couseling in groups. Being outnumbered left no room for equality and that there was an unethical demand for and use of confession.
|
| Support us |
Just click the links below and your donations will make a difference here. |
|
|
|
snakechic
|
5#
|
Rank:none
Score:3587
Posts:3587
Registered:11/02/2004
Time spent: 6158 hours
|
Re:My experience with
(Date Posted:01/06/2009 17:54:20)
Reply to Guest (01/05/2009 18:02:00)
Greetings John,
I would be interested in helping but I wish to remain completely anonymous. If that is fine let me know.
The church I went to was in part a deliverance ministry so mental illness wasn't just a result of sin, it also meant that you had demonic influences running your life.
The pastor of the church would single out individual members of the church and give sermons about how seeking counsel outside of seeking him or one of the decons was a choice influenced by the devil and how any benefit of psychatric medication was a trick of the devil leading you straight to hell. Mental illness was a result of unrepented sin and demonic influence.
The pastor and decons would approach you about your mental illness, or if they suspected you had one. To admit you were struggling with anything (it didn't even have to be mental illness, greif, stress- anything) would mean they would tell everyone that you were a dispicable human being, that God might forgive your sins but they would not. And you would be fodder for next week's fire and brimstone sermon. There was a limited range of emotion permissable to show at church. Anything outside of that wouldn't be tolerated by the church.
When I went to college I was warned against taking psychology classes because I would become corrupted by secular ideas of how the human mind works. That mental illnesses were the result of sin and demonic influence not the result of chemical imbalance and psychological injury (like from abusive fundamentalist churches implementing the BITE model on their congregation).
If we are counting cell churches as well I was involved with a campus cell church and went on a missionary trip. I was confronted about being on anti-depressants and coersed to go off from them.
I've expirienced church condemnation of mental illness. I've noticed that the fundamentalists I were around liked to think of themselves as couselors. And they would like to do couseling in groups. Being outnumbered left no room for equality and that there was an unethical demand for and use of confession. | One of the most saddest, abusive and horrific things I've read...is the way those aforemention churches treat their patrons. The ones that they can not 'cure' or heal.......the obvious (like the amputees) . Whether its some kind of obvious mental illness, old age or terminal cancer/disease. Their solution is (in order to maintain good PR)...or not to cause conflict of 'healing' message is to kick those poor bastards out. Make them into some kind of 'evil' sinner and put them out of the congregation. (probably the best thing in the end)....but so stressful and unkind on people who are so vulnberable. Some of these sad/sick stories make the news papers...but most don't.
(Message edited by snakechic On 01/06/2009 18:01:18)
--------------------------------------------------------------
In exchange for obedience, Christianity promises salvation in an afterlife; but in order to elicit obedience through this promise, Christianity must convince people that they need salvation, that there is something to be saved from. Christianity has nothing to offer a happy person living in a natural, intelligible universe. If Christianity is to gain a motivational foothold, it must declare war on earthly pleasure and happiness, and this, historically, has been its precise course of action. In the eyes of Christianity, woman(man) is sinful and helpless in the face of God, and is potential fuel for the flames of hell. Just as Christianity must destroy reason before it can introduce faith, so it must destroy happiness before it can introduce salvation.
-- George H Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God
|
|
snakechic
|
6#
|
Rank:none
Score:3587
Posts:3587
Registered:11/02/2004
Time spent: 6158 hours
|
Re:My experience with
(Date Posted:01/06/2009 18:16:03)
Oh...and one of the things that most worry me..and other health professionals...is that often mainstream and proper health care is refused and given up.
Also no preventive health measures are encouraged. No smear tests or that sort of thing.
btw...off the track a bit...
Scientologist have denied the existence of mental illness...and like many fundies don't recommend meds.
I personally don't like the idea of 'meds' generally ...(the huge multinational pharmaceutical business) unfortunately some patients - mental illnesses like Schizophrenia, Bipolar etc cannot manage without them.
....
the extreme is....
Andrea's children (drowned) would be still alive if she had not thrown away her drugs or if she didn't have another baby.
?
anyway...I don't think the 'church' should meddle -
They have certainly made enough income...from the idea of 'sin' and evil and demonic possession over the centuries.
I also don't like the idea that has been promoted by the 'church'...that women are more susceptible to 'evil' influences..are 'evil'..and lesser human beings./
(Message edited by snakechic On 01/06/2009 18:18:42)
--------------------------------------------------------------
In exchange for obedience, Christianity promises salvation in an afterlife; but in order to elicit obedience through this promise, Christianity must convince people that they need salvation, that there is something to be saved from. Christianity has nothing to offer a happy person living in a natural, intelligible universe. If Christianity is to gain a motivational foothold, it must declare war on earthly pleasure and happiness, and this, historically, has been its precise course of action. In the eyes of Christianity, woman(man) is sinful and helpless in the face of God, and is potential fuel for the flames of hell. Just as Christianity must destroy reason before it can introduce faith, so it must destroy happiness before it can introduce salvation.
-- George H Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God
|
|
|
