Posted by Carol on November 7, 1999, at 12:40:56
In reply to Re: Philosophy 101 or God & depression etc..., posted by Noa on November 7, 1999, at 9:42:05
Bob, I think I have to agree with Noa that there seems to be no evolutionary reason for depression. I think it is just something we are born into, depending on our circumstances of birth. In a way, we are handi-capped. Certainly, I have had moments of anguished, "why me" fits. Just the way that, I would imagine, someone who was born with no legs or other disability might feel about the way they came into this world. So, if there is a *reason*, I think it would probably have to be some form of spiritual-I don't know, not a test exactly. But maybe, something that our "soul" is supposed to learn from. And all the "why me's" in the world will not change the way things *are*. My thinking(on 'good' days), is that there is no point wasteing time questioning God's purpose(or whether there is a purpose), all we can do is deal with how we *are*. And, *faith* is not about believing that God is going to step in with a miracle and fix everything.
Faith, is about:
1. Accepting(okay, I said this before)the fact that our only real gift from God, is the *power* to *choose* how we will behave whatever the circumstance.
2. Believing that God will love us no matter what *choices* we make. And...
3. Remembering that just because life is NOT fair,
God can still exist, maybe that's the point.
I read somewhere--it's easy for people who have "everything" to believe in God, how much more must she/he cherish those who have "nothing" and *believe* in him/her *anyway*.
Feel free to tell me to "shut up! and go to ....", I've told myself the same thing numerous times. Because, of course the above(Pollyanna-ism) is absolutely no comfort when you are so far down in the well of depression, that you don't even believe there's a sun up there.
But, at times when I am striving once again to climb up those slippery walls, these thoughts give me a boost of the courage needed to keep going. Sorry, this is so long! Carol
poster:Carol
thread:14368
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991108/msgs/14740.html