Jun 25, 2009
MIDWEEK-Demons and Mental Illness
Darin, Brian and Seth Erickson have a conversation about demons and mental illness. This is a topic that many people have to work through after coming out of the institution. This is a great discussion that simplifies the subject and takes away the fear and superstistion we’ve been inundated with. Seth Erickson is the guy who designed the cover and layout of “The God’s Honest Truth,” and he’s also the one who created the intro song, “The Journey” that is used for the “Into the Wild” show.
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Once again FBN address a subject that isn't talked about nearly enough these days. Thanks Brian, Darin and Seth for putting this topic on the table.
thanks guys for doing this one. Interestingly enough I have been rolling around in my mind a portion of AA's "How It Works"... "those who do not recover... men and women who are constitutionally incapable... there are such unfortunates... They are not at fault. They seem to have been born that way. They are naturally incapable of grasping a manner of living .... There are those too who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders..." I've been wrestling with grasping that some people are "constitutionally incapable"... Where is God in that? I have always struggled with "life's not fair" type stuff. I work with disabled people and I can clearly see that life is NOT fair.... but this mental illness and retardation? Hard for me to grasp in light of God's "all powerfullness" I was taught
Ran out of room... So... this "ALL POWERFUL OZ" that has been preached.... Who is God REALLY in view of mental illness and psychos that violently murder and pedophiles that destroy lives and war and famine, etc. HELP ! I'm wrestling with this one big time... I'm not sure what wrong concept of God I'm struggling with... but I know I'm wrestling with some wrong concept of Him... any comments? Thanks again guys. This one was GREAT !!!
We are planning on diving into the "mental illness" aspect a bit more in the next several weeks. Not sure we'll have any answers though. Probably just a lot of the same feelings you have:) Questions and such.........we'll see.
thanks Darrin... don't know if "answers" are as valuable as knowing someone understands my feelings and questions... I once heard of a missionary who lost her entire family. People tried to have answers... but what comforted her was people who sat and just cried with her. Interesting that Jesus said weep with them (not give answers to them)... I love you guys ! OH ! By the way... I have sleep paralysis and this was the first I ever heard of anyone else having it ! (I don't get out much LOL). Oh ! Darrin... I have been sending your writings into a prison I visit. They are loving you big time :)
I don't appreciate the chatter, and the comment on Holland!I am over 50, and have never been offered or used any drugs.
Hi family I am just enticed by this show. I was diagnosed with mental illness at a young age and know it is a reality. I stand in agreement totally with you my brethren. Demonology and mental illness are so over-rated. Take care Love and prayers!
So, Seth is the genius who created The Journey. As you know, Darin, I absolutely love it so it's good to attach a name and a face to the intro. I still enjoy listening to it.
A psychiatrist asked a priest in Africa how to determine between mental illness and demon possession. The priest replied "If he won't come down from the ceiling, I would rule out mental illness!"
Coming out of extreme pentecostalism as in the old school, hellfire and brimstone pentecostal church I really wonder if all of the spiritually suggestive themes, emotionally manipulative music and demon talk actually CAUSES a certain degree of mental illness. I was in a behavioral health system when I was a teenager for wild mood swings and rages. I remember since I left church altogether, in the past couple of years, my moods have stabilized and I never have a real problem with them. I am a lot more level headed and my mind is clearer. I wonder how many people come out of the pentecostal church suffering from deep emotional distress or mild mental illnesses. I wonder if such people have actually been conditioned and programmed for the highs and lows, afraid of demons, having complexes.
From the old church i went to the pastors decided i had a spirit of insanity (whatever that is) after seeing my Grandfathers old house...I was even told that it caused the ms i developed, that i was a demon & god had told the pastor not to cast it out, after much thought we left that church. I saw many people with various supposed demon problems but none reach wholeness...I am yet to make it all the way through the podcast, I pushed my buttons, but I appreciate the honesty, thank you. Finally a walk that permits questions & dialogue, what a breath of fresh air.
I meant to write "i HAD a demon, not I was a demon"
I once had a pastor in Florida tell me that I wasn't allowed to preach at his church anymore because I told someone they were fine, when the pastor thought they had a demon. The pastor explained his method of casting out demons and dealing with spiritual warfare and he said I was wrong to just preach on love. When I asked the pastor why his "method" hadn't worked on this particular guy, he informed me that I had a demon. Can't say I was surprised:)
Four words: you don't know squat. You have clearly NEVER dealt with the real thing. You have clearly ONLY only dealt with confused, superstitious idiots running amok in their imaginations, desperately seeking abdication from personal responsibility. So naturally, as a result, you automatically assume this to be the case universal. Not true. Not even remotely close. The things you say may very well be true for those manipulated through fear and dogma into believing themselves so afflicted, but they would never be true of anyone genuinely so afflicted. In fact, with regard to the latter? You may as well claim that if someone gets raped, it happens because she asks for it, and moreover, specifically, she asks for it BECAUSE she seeks to "avoid taking responsibility" for having sex.
Hummmm. It's interesting how you seem to despise people who are not genuinely demon possessed. It's like you see them as "wanna-bees". Are you really angry because Satan didn't get a bunch of glory here? Seriously, what's troubling you? Your rape illustration is silly and has nothing to do with this subject. And PLEASE don't claim you have special knowledge of this that others don't have just because you may have experienced something. The Devil is the father of "LIES" so anything you THINK you've experienced is most likely a lie you bought into.
Martin Luther was lying in bed one night. He awoke to Satan standing at the foot of his bed. He looked at Satan and said "Oh, its just you." and turns around and goes back to sleep. I think often times we take demonology and such too seriously. It makes us more akin to witches than Christians.