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Church Pastors Dismiss Mental Illness

livescience.com — In a study of Christian church members who approached their church for help with a personal or family member's diagnosed mental illness, researchers found that more than 32 percent were told by their pastor that they or their loved one did not really have a mental illness. The problem was solely spiritual in nature, they were told.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 15, 2008

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  • papashawn, on 10/15/2008, -11/+80No illness a little Jesus won't fix, right?
  • IllBeBack, on 10/15/2008, -10/+63And they also say that you can pray the gay away.

    They're real geniuses down at the church.
  • BigSabowski, on 10/15/2008, -17/+63And there is a reason you go to a doctor. Their judgements are based on empirical evidence, not a human conduit to "god".

    Survival of the fittest FTW.
  • ErickStevenson, on 10/15/2008, -4/+49They say he can also cure gayness! But it seems he has a hard time with Pedophilia...
  • str1fe, on 10/15/2008, -9/+35I don't really have many issues with religion, but inside science, especially health-related sciences, is one area where religion has no place being.
  • seriatim, on 10/15/2008, -3/+281. 68% of pastors didn't dismiss mental illness as a spiritual problem.

    2.The sample size was 293 individuals. Is that sample size even remotely large enough to make such a blanket statement?
  • ZenMojo, on 10/15/2008, -1/+2668% of pastors replied, "What the ***** do you want me to do about it? Do I look like a psychiatrist?"
  • ErickStevenson, on 10/15/2008, -1/+24Or the fact that they were confused/scared of going to hell... many factors could contribute to that not because they were "cured".
  • shylove, on 10/15/2008, -10/+32In some cases the illness is the religious dogma. The doctors may also be dogmatic of course and the idea something is a mental illness may also be a problem if they are upholding some social behaviors that are based on fixed ideas of what is or isn't moral, One thing is clear though, if the human race can't learn to live with some of the ancient instinctive behavior as well conceptualize without fixating on ideology we could just become a failed evolutionary experiment.
  • cloudberries, on 10/15/2008, -3/+24It's nothing to do with arguing against religion just for the sake of "bashing it". It's to do with noticing where religion actually harms the wellbeing of an individual. If religion is what stands between an ill person, and the treatment they so urgently require then, yes, I'm going to consider it a negative influence.
  • naner, on 10/15/2008, -0/+21@ScienceMatters

    No, dumbass - it was a jab at the hypocrisy in "the church" where they say they can cure gayness, but some in the church leadership still struggle with their own pedophilia/homosexuality.
  • idlebyte, on 10/15/2008, -1/+21Heh, the ignorance of your statement makes me want to comment, but the fact that you honestly believe what you said makes me too angry to comment without ranting and offending many people who have done nothing to harm me. Please disappear quietly.
  • inactive, on 10/15/2008, -22/+41Faith is a mental illness.
  • sardiskan, on 10/15/2008, -12/+30In defense of the church, doctors don't know what causes or how to cure mental illnesses either. They only know how to help with the symptoms. And sometimes they get that wrong and make it worse.
  • IllBeBack, on 10/15/2008, -10/+28Religion was founded by the rich and powerful in order to control the poor and stupid.

    It's still working fine to this day.
  • cloudberries, on 10/15/2008, -8/+25Hmm, strangely reminiscent of Scientology...
  • apickle, on 10/15/2008, -1/+18The point is, they shouldn't have to stop living a homosexual lifestyle if they don't want to. I might add...

    "Support from fellow believers" != Scornful insistence that you will go to hell unless you stop.
  • str1fe, on 10/15/2008, -2/+19Enough of "you're going to hell if you don't stop" will get to lots of people's heads.
  • ErickStevenson, on 10/15/2008, -5/+20The difference with science is they are trying to find the answers to the cause of such things...
  • Calcularius, on 10/15/2008, -4/+19Religion is a mental illness.
  • inactive, on 10/15/2008, -3/+17Church officials denying the existence of VERY REAL illnesses is downright dangerous and only a lunatic would see this as "church bashing." Sheesh you're a moron.
  • cloudberries, on 10/15/2008, -2/+16Yeah, but doctors know a hell of a lot more than your local pastor would about mental illness and the best course of action to take. This is thanks to things such as logic and observational methods. Things sorely lacking in most modern religions.

    Sometimes they get it wrong, yes. A lot of the time they don't.
  • inactive, on 10/15/2008, -1/+15Nothing says mental health like a blanket of denial smothering you for the rest of your life.
  • Lula87, on 10/15/2008, -7/+20Well, most churches still see homosexuality as a curable disease, so I don't think anyone should take their opinions too seriously.
  • matthias00, on 10/15/2008, -4/+16Yeah, lol church and all, but on the other side, I'm reminded of the South Park episode about Ritalin.

    Neither "side" is 100% correct about what they view as a mental illness. Some church pastors says they don't exist, some psychiatrists prescribe drugs to any kid with an active imagination to get rid of that "damned ADD".

    You can find negative examples in either case.
  • IllBeBack, on 10/15/2008, -1/+12"Every christian in the world doesn't not act like your stereotypes"

    Despite your unintended double-negative, stereotypes exist because they are rooted in truth.

    Just because not EVERY christian is a hypocritical, self-righteous, anti-intellectual, logic-denying, fear-mongering, scornful and contemptuous person does not mean that enough of them ARE to create a lasting stereotype.
  • Reynardine, on 10/15/2008, -2/+13When I was depressed, my own mother continually told me my problems were "spiritual in nature* and tried to convince me I wasn't depressed. In her case, the culprit was more wishful thinking and poor understanding of cause-and-effect than religious blind spots.
    She quite simply is irrationally afraid of "mind-altering" substances and didn't want me to be medicated. She wanted my problem to be easily fixable.

    I think wishful thinking's the culprit for many church-goers who want to believe they have "spiritual problems" rather than medical problems. Which would you rather believe, that you had to battle with mental illness for years, or that you could say a few prayers and immediately get better?
  • christoast, on 10/15/2008, -4/+15heh, when i was in the hospital for a severe episode of depression, my grandparents came and told me everything would be ok if i just ask jesus "into my heart" (whatever that even means) they prayed for me and i was really embarrassed (note its hard to be embarrassed in a psych clinic) i played along because its all they have but i was thinking, if that is your world view... well thats severely ***** up.
  • otakugeek, on 10/15/2008, -1/+12"Every christian in the world doesn't not act like your stereotypes."

    So wait... you're saying that every Christian in the world DOES act like his stereotypes.
  • str1fe, on 10/15/2008, -1/+11The main reason that I stopped being a Christian is that Christianity in and of itself is hypocritical. There is so much that's backwards and so many non-sequiters in the Bible, not just what some people say about the religion.

    1 Samuel 15 talks about God eradicating the infants of a race because they'd grow up to wipe out the Jews - so he's justifying total genocide with Mafia-like justifications, and I'm supposed to believe he's an all-loving deity? Sorry, but no. It only takes a little critical thinking to realize that it's a religion built on hypocrisy.
  • JFitzpatrick, on 10/15/2008, -4/+14I know I'd much rather hear:

    "Mr. Smith, we're not entirely sure this point what is causing your mental health issue but we've treated cases like yours very successfully by addressing a key hormone imbalance."

    As opposed to:

    "If you make things right with the Lord, the Lord will make things right with you."

    You simply cannot pray away a chemical imbalance, the meditative qualities of prayer might soothe low grade anxiety but it won't beat the bipolar out of you.
  • Lula87, on 10/15/2008, -1/+11Don't accuse me of not knowing what I'm talking about when you know nothing about me.
    Also:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex-gay
  • cardyology, on 10/15/2008, -2/+12wrong.
  • JFitzpatrick, on 10/15/2008, -2/+12In defense of science, at least they are conducting active tests to bring you better results.
  • tacojohn48, on 10/15/2008, -1/+11Shhhh! You are focusing on the wrong part. We want to scream about the others!!!
  • paulexander, on 10/15/2008, -2/+12When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem you come across looks like a nail...
  • sardiskan, on 10/15/2008, -3/+12Religion was founded by the poor beggars. The rich and powerful took advantage of it...and that is why it is in the shape it is in today.

    It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  • jimfeet, on 10/15/2008, -0/+9Sometimes my mechanic gets my car problem wrong - but I don't take it to a church in hopes they'll do better.
  • cloudberries, on 10/15/2008, -1/+10@Monkeywithacold

    You're probably thinking of existentialism, or something similar - Atheism, or an absensce of God, doesn't immediately imply a loss of meaning. Myself, as an atheist, I find the universe a marvellous and fascinating place - even without a belief in an omniprescent deity, I find great comfort in the complexities and wonders of the world. Maybe the universe itself is my "God". Who can say?
  • ewc80, on 10/15/2008, -3/+12I used to have severe problems with OCD growing up (very well under control now as an adult). My pastor told me at the tender age of eight that I was selfish and fixated on myself and that was the cause of the "so called" mental illness. Only my good buddy Jesus could cure me he said. I abandoned my faith right then and there. My parents have since apologized to me for inviting him over to speak to me that day.
  • tacojohn48, on 10/15/2008, -2/+11not quite
  • idlebyte, on 10/15/2008, -2/+11I'm all for respecting religion as long as it respects the people who follow it. The moment it turns into a negative thing for you or a loved one, it no longer serves a valid purpose. And I dare someone to PROVE otherwise. Plus a preacher should not be allowed to give medical opinions of this nature.
  • Dumbledorito, on 10/15/2008, -1/+10Regardless of one's opinion on the value of faith, if a person of the cloth won't admit they're out of their depth, then they're more dishonest that the guy saying "touch the screen and send me money" on TV.

    As an interesting control, I would have also presented these guys with someone apparently bleeding profusely from a flesh wound. How many of them would try to lay on hands versus offering to drive them to a hospital?
  • inactive, on 10/15/2008, -2/+10Yep. Amputees don't seem to get much help from Jesus either. God works in mysterious ways.

    *snicker*
  • ninetimes, on 10/15/2008, -7/+15Yes, if you bring a problem to a Pastor, he'll be more likely to find a spiritual problem. But in fairness, if you bring a problem to a psychiatrist, he'll be more likely to find a mental illness. Bring a problem to an oncologist, and he'll be more likely to find cancer.

    I don't know about you, but I'm fairly annoyed by the way *everything* has become a "mental illness". Load a kid up with sugar and try to get him to sit still. When he doesn't, he has ADD. Someone likes things to be neat, and they have OCD. If someone isn't completely happy with their life, they're suffering from depression and have to be medicated. If someone is shy, then they must have Social Anxiety Disorder.

    Yes there are extremes, and sometimes people need serious psychiatric treatment. But some of these things, in there more benign forms, are just people being people.
  • cloudberries, on 10/15/2008, -0/+8If by "failed tests" you're referring to the empirical method, then I'd probably go for that over the religious method any day.

    Ignorance is bliss. Until it comes up and eats your face off.
  • Monkeywithacold, on 10/15/2008, -1/+9Yeah, this isn't really a Christian church though, just another cult.

    There was a 'church' in my town that recently had two kids die for very simple problems that $25 in medication would have taken care of.

    You can't assume all Christians are the same.
  • socalftw, on 10/15/2008, -6/+14Don't worry. That overzealous preacher will shake and hit the "devil" out of you. You will be saved. Hallelujah...Lulz.
  • inactive, on 10/15/2008, -4/+12Most of the people in your bible are modified to the point of being entirely fictional.
    Look at all the popular movies with poor nobodies: The Big Lebowski, Fight Club, Wanted, Pursuit of Happyness. The studios creating these stories aren't telling their life stories - they're presenting characters that YOU can relate to so you give THEM all your ***** money.
    And it works.
  • thcobbs, on 10/15/2008, -0/+8PRAY OUT THE GAY!!!
    PRAY OUT THE GAY!!!
    PRAY OUT THE GAY!!!

    (before I get slammed, it was a Malcolm in the Middle episode)
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