Is becoming religious for stability and mental health a good idea? I am so depressed and mentally messed up, I need something to cut the despair and give me something to wake up for.
Becoming religious for stability and mental health
Is becoming religious for stability and mental health a good idea? I am so depressed and mentally messed up, I need something to cut the despair and give me something to wake up for.
In my experience, the only stable and mentally sound religious people are the ones who are born into it and don't take it too seriously
Religion is not a cure all. Like any approach it requires continuous work and commitment to be worth anything, and since zoomers lack the attention span of any action that exceeds 7 minutes it won't work for most modern people.
Religion also does not address all problems and does not have satisfactory answers for all questions. You're best advised to identify your problems and deal with them one at a time. A piece of that can be religion, but your problems aren't going to solve themselves if you go through the motions of praying once.
Life isn't simple and there's no short cuts. Period.
Jesus certainly does help. He changed my life.
When I first started seeking God, it was hard. But later I found out why.
>Galatians 5:17
>For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want
With time, it becomes a joy, but when you get to a certain point, Jesus gives you a sense of peace like nothing else.
God bless you friend.
>Religion is not a cure all.
Jesus is though.
>Mark 11:24
New International Version
>24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Reading back here
I think I should’ve put more for context, plus another verse.
>Mark 11:22-24
New International Version
>22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
and
>Matthew 11:28-30
New International Version
>28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So in short Jesus is the answer. Have a problem? Just ask Jesus. Need rest? Seek Jesus.
Jesus also said
>John 14:6
New International Version
>6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
>Is becoming religious for stability and mental health a good idea?
no, and, in fact, using religion for vain therapeutic purposes is forbidden by every major religion. it's not the same thing as another trend or consumer choice
>using religion for vain therapeutic purposes is forbidden by every major religion
Not by Buddhism
Alan Watts described Buddhism as psychoanalysis masquerading as an Eastern equivalent to Christianity.
So, you may be onto something.
What might be good for your mental health is a community to do activities with, not a belief
What about a community that worships together?
Well, yes, but communities that will take you in regardless of your flaws?
As I understand it jebus worship is one of the highest on that metric.
Maybe volunteering, some kind of charity work, competes?
no, converts tend to be nutjobs.
>Will joining a group of mentally insane people be good for my mental health?
I personally wouldn't advise you to start going to church for stability and mental health. I'd suggest starting off with smaller, more achievable things. Get into a habit of regular exercise - set fitness goals that are realistic so you've got some wins under your belt. Focus on a good diet, eating healthy food - set a goal in terms of timeframe. Go out and meet people that share your interests - try meetup.com. Aim for a couple of meetups a month, aiming to socialize more and build a network of new friends. If you're not studying, try getting some casual or part-time work if you're not working. The social contact you get there will help, and so will the money. Think about how you want to spend your time vocationally.
The reason why I don't recommend religion is that it can be a mixed bag. Some places can be supportive, others not so much. It can be confronting at times, demanding too. It's not as reliable in terms of stability and mental health as taking care of the basics, like building a support network of people who really care about you, or maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle.
How is that supposed to work? Forcing yourself to believe in something that you don't really believe in because believing in it may or may not help you with your mental health? Are you even believing then or are you just deluding yourself into thinking that you believe even tho deep down you actually don't believe?
Does that sound like bullshit to you? Because it definitly sounds like bullshit to me.
Either you are religious or you are not and of you are not religious you can't force yourself to become religious.
But you don't need god to not be miserable. Just do drugs. There is no misery that can't be overcome with enough drugs.
Just ask Jesus to help you believe like the man from
>Mark 11:23-24
>23“ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
>24Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
>Ask they guy you don't believe in to help you believing in him
Flawless logic
As funny as it may sound it's pretty basic Christian doctrine to say that we don't have the ability to believe ourselves, being sinners. Asking God for help to believe is actually step 1.
>I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him;
Luther's Small Catechism
Religion if seriously delved into will often make your life harder rather than easier. Since becoming a Christian I've lost friends and girlfriends, I've come into conflicts I never would have had before, I've wrestled with ideas I never had to wrestle with before. I've had some seriously high highs and absolute bottom lows. In many ways my life was simpler then than it is now.
Would I go back? No, not in a million years.
religion can be beautiful, inspiring and empowering
give it a try, see if it suits you brother
for many years I have tried to find purpose as a convinced nihilist, but it all seemed fruitless, meaningless. Just your average rat race, to get to the top, to feel good with yourself. I've changed to more traditional stuff now like building a family and living a peaceful life, enjoying my hobbies on the side
I will also give religion, given that these days there seems to be a positive focus on it perpetiated by the self-improvement movement
it seems to portray religion in a much more dignified and strong frame than it used to be
The word of God nourishes the soul. When Jesus speaks, it is the sweetest thing ever. When you go before God, be expectant that you may finally join us on the other side where we are clear on what life is and what God is doing in our lives.
No one who became "religious" due to political contrarianism is mentally stable.
>Is becoming religious for stability and mental health a good idea?
That feels like the wrong reason to get decide to become religious, and a good way to burn out or get ‘annoyed’ with the heartfelt devotion that the ‘fanatics’ have in it.
Maybe it’s just the way you worded it, but you become religious for the love of God and desire to become like Him. It’s a sacrifice of lifestyle into a holy one, not something you half assedly attend for a few weeks or months and get out of.
Whatever you do, good luck.