Yes, perhaps it’s a bit late to be writing a blog entry, but I’ve just watched Malcolm Bowden’s 4thought video clip titled “Is faith a remedy for depression?“
Bowden says that mental illnesses are “deliberately decided by that person” and he believes that “depression is a behavioural problem rooted in pride, self centredness and self pity.” He goes on to say that ”a true Christian should not ever be depressed.”
I think it is a very damaging opinion to both religious and non religious people. I am a Christian but I certainly do not share the views of Malcolm Bowden. I believe that Christians experiencing mental illness are not doing so because they have chosen it, or because they are not a “true” Christian, but because mental illness is something that affects 1 in 4 people, regardless of factors like religion.
To suggest that anyone suffering with a mental illness has chosen to be that way is in the same territory as telling someone to pull themselves together or just get on with things. Those opinions hurt more than they help.
I doubt Bowden has truly experienced depression or any other mental illness personally. If he had first hand experience of depression, of the sheer struggle to simply get out of bed and the barrage of negative thoughts, he would not be so quick to say that Christians are choosing to be depressed because they are too proud.
I sincerely hope that any Christians out there are not stopped from asking for and receiving the help they need because of Malcolm Bowden’s closed minded opinion.
A very ignorant point of view on the part of Mr. Bowden, to say the very least! I’ve encountered it many times before, including one instance directly fired at me! I once told a Chriatian friend I was feeling depressed, only to be told not to say it, as it brought attention to me!! I must be a very poor Christian!!