Reviewing the Review: Depression edition
27 October 2009
Reviewing the Review: Depression edition
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October 8, 2009 - Vol. 186, No. 28
REVIEWS
This issue features two timely articles on depression, its causes and cures. A discussion of this disease is important for Seventh-day Adventists because, according to Raquel Arrais, the General Conference’s Associate Director of Women’s Ministries, “Admitting to depression is difficult. . .because [church members] fear having their spirituality judged.”
Ric Trion, in his letter to the editor, gives “The Shack” a positive review. I have only a comment and a question after offering paragraph teases from Katia Garcia Reinert’s and Jennifer Jill Schwirzer’s MUST READ articles on depression.
BEYOND THE TEARS
According to Katia Garcia Reinert, a family nurse practitioner and health ministry/coordinator for Adventist Healthcare and specializes in working with people struggling with depression:
“It is estimated that 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and more than 20 million of them live in the United States. It costs the U.S. more than $70 billion in treatment, disability, and lost productivity each year. In addition, studies show that women are two to three times more likely than men to have depression, and one in four women will suffer from clinical depression sometime during their life, versus one in eight men.
Some Adventists may mistakenly think these disturbing statistics represent only those “in the world”—not in the Adventist Church. After all, Adventists are known to be among the healthiest people around and outlive many others. . .Ironic as it may seem to some, depression does not discriminate against race, color, or religious affiliation, and many faithful children of God today are suffering from this disabling disease.
General Conference Women’s Ministries director Heather-Dawn Small and associate director Raquel Arrais travel throughout the world meeting and talking with faithful Adventist women of all races. They have noted that most women are afraid of talking about their depression and emotional pain.
“I’ve met with many of my sisters who suffer from depression, and yet no one wanted to talk about it,” Small says. “It seems there is a misconception that those suffering from depression and other mental problems are suffering due to spiritual problems, as if a lack of a good spiritual life leads to mental problems.”
OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, a practicing mental health counselor, author, and musician based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides the following information:
“There’s a difference between depression and grief. Grief is normal sadness felt in response to loss, and an important part of a well-rounded life experience. A time of sorrow is healthy—it’s sobering, deepening, and refining in its effect. For people who are concerned with developing a beautiful character, grief is a friend and not a foe. Depression is a related but different animal. It is characterized by prolonged rumination over an event or loss, leading to compromise in relationships, work, and hobbies. Grief is healthy and normal, but depression is neither. Whether sadness develops into this chronic and debilitating form of illness can depend upon how we process loss.”
COMMENT
Clifford Goldstein is editor of the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide. He’s also featured on the Hope Channel’s program CLIFF! In spite of these impressive credentials, he occasionally needs reminding that the biblical creation stories are not literally true.
In his editorial, GRACE AND JUDGMENT IN GENESIS 3, Cliff seems to go along with the notion that God is responsible for the deaths of women in childbirth, their second-class citizenship, and the specter of worldwide famine, all because Eve got tricked into eating an apple and Adam took a bite, too.
“Notice, too, that only after this promise, only after hope of grace and salvation is given in verse 15 (known also as the ‘first gospel promise’) does the Lord pronounce judgment on Adam and Eve: “To the woman he said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing. . . .’ To Adam he said, ‘Because you listened to your wife. . . .’” (Gen. 3:16, 17).”
Goldstein doesn’t include the entire curse, so here it is.
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband; he will rule over you.”
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, you must not eat of it, Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.
“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
QUESTION
The STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP that appears on page 28 announces that there are currently only 25,500 paid subscribers to the Adventist Review, the self-proclaimed “flagship” publication of the Adventist Church. Editors, why so few?
Search
- Tom Zwemer on Why Can’t I Own Canadians?: Grace, the Holy Spirit, and the Threat of Fundamentalism
- Just an Engineer on Satire: The Miracle of Chance
- Jeannie Brown on Strangers in the House
- Alexander Carpenter on Why Can’t I Own Canadians?: Grace, the Holy Spirit, and the Threat of Fundamentalism
- David Read on Why Can’t I Own Canadians?: Grace, the Holy Spirit, and the Threat of Fundamentalism
- Eric Webster on Wilson's War
- Kenneth James on Why Can’t I Own Canadians?: Grace, the Holy Spirit, and the Threat of Fundamentalism
- jay rasco on Summer Reading Group: Deep Gospel
- Eric Webster on Wilson's War
- Michael on Why Can’t I Own Canadians?: Grace, the Holy Spirit, and the Threat of Fundamentalism
Comments
Thanks Andrew for the excellent review. On Genesis 3, it strikes me that whether or not the story told literally occurred, the story was part of the faith tradition of a patriarchal society. This would definitely have influenced the way the story was told, and later written.
To say God determined that women should suffer pain and male domination flies in the face of nearly everything else the Bible says about God. And yet fundamentalist Christians (some SDAs included) still use this passage to justify unfair treatment of women.
I think it makes more sense to interpret the Genesis 3 passage as God foretelling what he knew would occur because of sin. And the ultimate outworking of Christian principles in the world will eventually restore the balance - it's just a shame the church isn't leading the way.
It frustrates me no end that fundamentalists in the church continue to use Genesis 3 and related passages to justify withholding ordination from women pastors, gender imbalances in church administration, and power imbalances in marriage relationships.
Wow!!
And my input is negative?
Look at the article..depression, creation is not literal, Goldstein is wrong, hardly anyone wants the Review.
I wonder how many SS quarterlies would be printed if SS members had to personally pay for them.
What will I read next, that Jesus was a hypocrite because he didn't follow his own speaking rule?
"But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil"
Matt 5:37
The cure for depression is simple. If you watch 30 minutes of Fox News and read the Review you need 3 hours of Bill Cosby.
If you read Cliff Goldstein and watch Doug Batchelor you need a high colonic and a dose of salts.
If you read Steps to Christ you need to read Francis Thompson's The Hound of Heaven.
If you just feel lonely you must read Ephesians 1,2
Yes there are pharacological controls of depression but no cure outside of assurance and acceptance. They are both found in John and Paul who introduce the reader to Jesus Christ, who tread the wine press alone. Tom
Is it any wonder that after reading Cliff's interpretation that SDAs should suffer from depression, and especially the women? Like Paul, Tertullian and Augustine, women have been the source of all evil in the world because of their being deceived and enticing men!
To continue this teaching, which has permeated the biblical patriarchal system from the beginning of Judaism and extending into Christianity even today, it's a wonder there isn't much more depression. Bring on the Zanax or forego such Christianity!
I wonder about a diet high in gluten, low in animal protein and the links to depression.
I haven't read this edition yet but the topic of depression is a timely one. I suffered from a major depressive disorder for ten years before it was properly diagnosed. When it was, I was finally prescribed medication which changed my life. All the spiritual strategies I tried did not work although the gospel of God's grace helped me survive. It is important for Christians to know that some forms of depression only respond to medication. Obviously, medication is rarely the first choice. Meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have also been demonstrated to be effective in many cases. But faith is not always the answer and depression is not always a symptom of spiritual ill health. The one thing that Christians suffering from depression don't need is the burden of guilt added to a condition they are often not responsible for.
Tom and Elaine's comments trivialize the real causes and terrible experience of depression, which it is encouraging to see the Review tackling. All the good doctrine and NT reading in the world is not a cure. It is precisely that sort of notion that makes SDAs reluctant to admit to being depressed, because hey, if I'm a good Christian, then I'll be happy, so if I'm not, what does it say about the state of my soul?
The NT, much less the OT, never tells us that the believer's life will be free of sorrows. Let's please get away from the notion that being a good Christian will save someone from a neurological illness, any more than that being a bad Christian causes it. As well as plain wrong, such notions are unhelpful and a disservice to those who suffer from an often disabling disease.
Is the bible totally innocuous as far as helping with depression?
Can anyone think of any bible verses that address depression or its causes?
David
Depression and sorrow are two entirely different entities.
Guilt and depression are much closer--but lack of self worth is a major external cause. Most frequently it is a major metabolic or internal malady controlable with medications.
The New Testament is replete with solutions for guilt and for improving self worth.
Seldom are sermons or the pastors prepared to deal effectively with guilt or feelings of low self worth. Nor are physicians without the help of medications. Bi polar disorders are more common and require continuing monitoring by highly skilled professionals.
Working with the Veterans Administration Hospitals I have observed what a grave and frequent problem bi-polar disorders presents the patient, the extended family, and the medical profession.
In my first blog I was addressing the depressing way the media and the pundits, and the columnists such as Cliff present issues. It seemed that the introductory thread was headed in that direction.
I recently told the depressing story of the associate pastor of the local SDA Church who gave a 20 minute children's story followed by a 45 minute sermon. Fortunately we had friends for the weekend and the conversation was lively and therapeutic that afternoon--and no damage was done in our household. I bet in some home someone beat the kids or the spouse or went out back and chopped enough wood to last a Green Bay Winter and some just crawled into a dark corner and cried. That's the kind of depression I addressed in my initial blog. I believe that depression along with morbid obesity are leading diseases of Americans. Tom
Steve Parker,
Ask yourself these questions: Does ALL that I do glorify God?
Does what I drink and eat glorify God?
Does what I watch and listen to glorify God?
Does what I say glorify God?
My point is, have you taken comprehensive research on what is in your house and mind and on your computer? Is there anything that gives the enemy a foothold?
I truly believe that we need no medications.Through proper diet and exercise, daily devotionals and service to others, we can be made whole. This is easier said than done. But it is worth it. Have faith in God's Healing Powers. How does it glorify God if the meds "work"?
Larry D.
True long-term depression is a debilitating disease for which professional medical help is necessary.
There is short-term grief over loss, but this is entirely different from long-term depression. It is a serious condition with suicide being the ultimate "cure." It should always be taken seriously and not dismissed by non-medical personnel who believe, even sincerely, that a better diet or some other personal changes will "turn things around."
Would anyone say that cancer should be treated only by prayer and diet, and forego medical advice? I have heard such from good SDAs who should have kept their non-professional advice for themselves.
Tom Zwemer made me chuckle with his comment about following Fox News up with 3 hours of Bill Cosby. So true, in this worldly day and age so much of our media is saturated with sadness.
Philipians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Depression can have a chemical, genetic and even nutritional origin that exists outside of the spiritual. For example, both Vitamin D Deficiency AND Omega-3 Deficiency
have shown some indication of causing depression. They're both needed by the body, and if you're not getting them they can hurt you. Omega-3, particularly EPA and DHA, is low in "Western" diets. Vitamin D deficiency is very common as well, but you must be more careful when supplementing for this deficiency, because it can be toxic at very high doses -- thankfully there are blood tests that can be provided by a doctor to assess this.
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