God and Depression

[AntEmpire]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

Maybe to see how others take care for them?

 

[AntEmpire]

Maybe to see how others take care for them?

Awesome. If i was created it was as a test to see whether or not other people would help out someone with my personality.

 

[Father Heathen]

Maybe to see how others take care for them?

Wouldn't he already know?

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Wouldn't he already know?

Maybe. But until one manifests their free will, will they and God know? i wish I could explain that better...lol. right?

Edit "?"

 

[AntEmpire]

Maybe. But until one manifests their free will, will they and God know. i wish I could explain that better...lol. right?

Wouldn't an all knowing God know? is what i think he was asking. I'm like 99% sure, but I may have been created slightly retarded so i dunno.

Ah i think i understand what you were saying more.

No if god was all knowing, he would know the will even if it were a free will. If god isn't all knowing, it makes him a little less godly so i usually use the first in hypotheticals.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Awesome. If i was created it was as a test to see whether or not other people would help out someone with my personality.

I hope so.

 

[AntEmpire]

I hope so.

Why? That seems to be fairly bleak. I'd rather be just an accidental slight fecked up person then a created fecked up on purpose to see how other people would react, person.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Why? That seems to be fairly bleak. I'd rather be just an accidental slight fecked up person then a created fecked up on purpose to see how other people would react, person.

Your right, but we get to call the shots.

 

[AntEmpire]

Your right, but we get to call the shots.

Errr, i get to decided whether i was created or not? >_<

 

[outhouse]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

if i didnt want to play

your asking an imaginative question on illness about imaginary god.

imagination reigns

if i play

that right there is a god that hates people

dont forget about the 1 in 5 births resulting in the death of the mother.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Errr, i get to decided whether i was created or not? >_<

Well, you create yourself everyday...that existentialism creeps up.

 

[Onkara]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

I have considered this. My understanding is that people are not created with depression, it is acquired later in life. Babies or small children don't seem to have it. It comes with maturity, with life.

I do not see God as seperate from us. In fact I see God's qualities as being a part of us. One of God's qualities is bliss or "happiness without a cause". A kind of inner contentment and peace, similar to how the Buddha is pictured.

We too, can have that bliss, but it is concealed, overlayed by our doubts and problems. These doubts and problems cause us to behave in ways we might not of course. Depression presents a challenge.

God wants some of us to face challenges, as challenges make a more interesting life. Because God is not septate from us, He experiences life through us. God wants to experience everything, even depression, after all God created us so why not. It is just a part of the play of life.

In order to overcome depression we have to understand this and understand how to overcome the doubts which lead to depression. This I had to do too. There are no real favourites or victims, all are equal for God, it is just a play.

 

[JMorris]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

you assume this hypothetical god cares for its creation. the general assumption that a hypothetical creator god would care for its creation, but thats only an assumption. theres plenty of evidence to support the contrary.

i am bi-polar myself, so i sympathize.

Maybe to see how others take care for them?

this would be a case in point. a god that cynically creates other human beings with mental or physical handicaps just to test the morality of others.

I have considered this. My understanding is that people are not created with depression, it is acquired later in life. Babies or small children don't seem to have it. It comes with maturity, with life.

then your understanding would be incorrect. bi-polar and many other forms of mental health issues are not something you acquire through life experience. a person with bi-polar has chemical imbalances that is beyond their control without the aid of medication.

 

[Onkara]

then your understanding would be incorrect. bi-polar and many other forms of mental health issues are not something you acquire through life experience. a person with bi-polar has chemical imbalances that is beyond their control without the aid of medication.

I was addressing depression, not bi-polar mental health, as I have no personal experience in bi-polar health. If you wish we can address bi-polar by finding a definition on-line and taking it step by step in a new thread.

I do not reject the fact that the mind and body are related. I even go as far as to say there is never a way to separate them. What I am saying is that the mind can be used to address depression too. I do not promote the use of drugs/chemicals to address mental health issues, it can be a quick fix, a scientists answer and a pharmaceuticals profit. It can be combined with alternative approaches for those who choose. Keeping in mind I am trying to address the OP: Why would god make people with mental disorders?

 

[blackout]

Some depression is circumstantial.
Some depression is attitude/outlook.
Some depression is chemical.

Depression really should be spoken of
in specific terms.
There is no way you can just lump
these things together.
(though they do sometimes work in tandem)
But still, one must specify.

 

[Pegg]

Why would god make people with mental disorders? (my sister is bi-polar, I have mild depression, my mother had constant anxiety)

Now for this thread assume a supreme being that created humanity exists. Why would he/she/it if it cared for the people it was creating make them with mental disorders? This can slippery slop slide into discussions about retardation, or even physical or even babies that are born and destined to die a painful death weeks later, etc.

i'd like to use the analogy of a spinning top. When you first spin it, it spins perfectly straight and strong...but gradually it gets slower and as it becomes more and more wobbly until it falls over.

When God first created us, it was as if the spinning top was set spinning and it was kept in a perfect spin because God was controlling it. But after Adam and Eve left Gods governance, there was noone to keep the spinning top going... so it started to slow and gradually became more and more wobbly.

What we are experiencing with regard to sickness is the effects of independence from God. Slowly, mankind have been winding down, our bodies are not as capable of fighting diseases and the chemical processes that keep our brains functioning are getting out of wack. We need a tune up that only God can give.

 

[AntEmpire]

i'd like to use the analogy of a spinning top. When you first spin it, it spins perfectly straight and strong...but gradually it gets slower and as it becomes more and more wobbly until it falls over.

When God first created us, it was as if the spinning top was set spinning and it was kept in a perfect spin because God was controlling it. But after Adam and Eve left Gods governance, there was noone to keep the spinning top going... so it started to slow and gradually became more and more wobbly.

What we are experiencing with regard to sickness is the effects of independence from God. Slowly, mankind have been winding down, our bodies are not as capable of fighting diseases and the chemical processes that keep our brains functioning are getting out of wack. We need a tune up that only God can give.

Not if you're an all powerful god, you could spin that top perfectly for-literally-ever.

I find that to be a crappy analogy... god could've made everyone without chemical unbalances. (equal)

 

[AntEmpire]

I have considered this. My understanding is that people are not created with depression, it is acquired later in life. Babies or small children don't seem to have it. It comes with maturity, with life.

I do not see God as seperate from us. In fact I see God's qualities as being a part of us. One of God's qualities is bliss or "happiness without a cause". A kind of inner contentment and peace, similar to how the Buddha is pictured.

We too, can have that bliss, but it is concealed, overlayed by our doubts and problems. These doubts and problems cause us to behave in ways we might not of course. Depression presents a challenge.

God wants some of us to face challenges, as challenges make a more interesting life. Because God is not septate from us, He experiences life through us. God wants to experience everything, even depression, after all God created us so why not. It is just a part of the play of life.

In order to overcome depression we have to understand this and understand how to overcome the doubts which lead to depression. This I had to do too. There are no real favourites or victims, all are equal for God, it is just a play.

Read the whole OP, this is also a place to discuss god's creations who have bi-polar, anxiety, OCD, mental retardation, physical handicaps, anything that could be prevented by having infinite power and knowledge.

 

[AntEmpire]

Some depression is circumstantial.
Some depression is attitude/outlook.
Some depression is chemical.

Depression really should be spoken of
in specific terms.
There is no way you can just lump
these things together.
(though they do sometimes work in tandem)
But still, one must specify.

You can assume mine is chemical. I beat it down by changing my outlook/attitude, and my circumstances but it keeps coming back. Same thing with my best friend.