Religion v. Therapy: Which Would You Recommend? (religious leader)

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Suppose a friend came to you saying she felt worthless and that life was meaningless to her. Would you recommend she try religion or therapy first? Why?

I would say first therapy, then religion if she expresses the desire to go in that direction. The therapy would be a good way to start analyzing her life and getting it in order, before taking on something new like religion. And depending on the situation and the religion, the beliefs could make her worse.

[Charity]

A combination of both would be my suggestion.....But get to a good Doctor quickly

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by Starfish

Everyone needs religion...

I almost just choked on my salad.

I have never felt so free and happy since I left religion in the dust.
Doctrines (and any kind of "group think")
have a way of crushing and strangulating the unique and wondrous person right out of me.

If I needed to be/feel/live unhappy, repressed and depressed again,
I'd go straight on back to religion and doctrine.

Probably best if you just speak for yourself sweetie...

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Starfish

Everyone needs religion, some need therapy; so it depends on the situation.

Christ's atonement can heal all pain, emotional and spiritual. Christ took all of this upon him, and we can tap into this power through repentence (if needed) and faith. I've seen this happen. Two siblings emerged from childhood with similar issues. One was healed through the atonement. The other is involved in years of therapy.

Not that therapy isn't necessary sometimes. But the atonement of Christ always is necessary. It's there for everyone who chooses to use it.

Christianity did absolutely nothing for me at all. Wicca, on the other hand, did me wonders. So I really don't buy the whole "atonement of Christ" thing being necssary.

Originally Posted by Sunstone
Suppose a friend came to you saying she felt worthless and that life was meaningless to her. Would you recommend she try religion or therapy first? Why?

As for recommending therapy or religion, well, that would all depend on how well I knew the person. Do I know them well? Is she close to me? Does she already have a religion? Do I know what her problems are? Could I help her? Could meditation help her? Or are her problems so deeply mentally rooted that seeing a professional would be best? I simply can't give a blanket answer to the OP. Circumstances...I need circumstances.

[UltraViolet]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Suppose a friend came to you saying she felt worthless and that life was meaningless to her. Would you recommend she try religion or therapy first? Why?

I would try being a friend and listening/talking to him/her first.
The world quite naturally makes people feel worthless.
I would begin by affirming my friends worth.
Life IS by and large meaningless to oh so many, as our world presents it.
Go to work (ie. meaningless job). Pay bills. Go to meaningless job. Pay bills.ad nauseum.
Sleep, eat and say hello to family members here and there in between.

The least I could to for my friend FIRST,
is share how I find/make/create meaning in my own life.
Beyond that it would depend on other factors.
Perhaps if my friend were alread IN a religion,
I would suggest he/she get OUT.

[UnityNow101]

Life is meaningless. What is there to tell a person that has stumbled upon the truth? Go head over to that church/synagogue/mosque and listen to them sugar-coat things for you? Instead of running away from the feeling, try to understand it and how it came to be. If you don't try to understand the feelings of loneliness/depression and run to church or therapy, you will only be placing a barrier between you and that feeling. It may be good for awhile, but ultimately the feelings will return.

[ChristineES]

Therapy. Depression is a physical illness, caused by a chemical imbalanced and should be treated as such.
If a person is open to religion, then I could talk to them about it. I think it isn't productive to talk religion to someone who doesn't want to hear it.

[Scott C.]

Originally Posted by Jaiket

So therapy then?

If I thought a friend was suicidal, I would want to rush them to a medical professional before I would rush them into church. If this person is not suicidal but still has signs of mental illness, I would also strongly suggest that they seek medical treatment/therapy.

Suppose I had a good friend who was dying of cancer and was not religious. I would hope that person sought the necessary medical treatment to fight the illness. I would also hope this person sought God for blessings to fight the illness and for the spiritual strength to deal with it, whatever the outcome.

People living without the Gospel can feel that something is missing in ther lives. They may feel a longing to know who they are and where they come from. They are struggling for meaning in life. Learning of Jesus Christ, baptism, and repentance can solve this problem.

But, depression can be a medically/psychologically based problem for which sin is not the cause and repentance is not the cure. These people often need professional help.

[crystalonyx]

Originally Posted by Scott C.

Everyone needs God if they are depressed or not. Some people need therapy, if they know God or not.

This simply is BS, and actually quite irresponsible and dangerous to the person involved.