Anonymous asked this question on 4/7/2000:

Christianity is a severe mental disorder that is cripilling the USA and preventing it from reaching its full potentional. What can be done about this serious disorder? What do you do when presented with a patient who exhibits the Christianity disorder?

karunap gave this response on 4/8/2000:

I certainly hear your anger. I used to be so angry at Christianity and Christians that I couldn't tolerate hearing religious terminology of any kind. For the last 12 years I have been involved in an eastern religious process and interesting things have happened.

I was once confronted by a monk who said that I was treating these people as if they were self realized saints.... and they are not.... so of course there would be beliefs that would be really off. That is part of being human. His response made me open to see the good as well.

I have been able to work with a number of fundamentalist Christian clients (I assume that is who you are talking about). I have been able to teach them what I have to teach and have learned from them as well. Sometimes there comes a point where our paths need to separate because the differences are too uncomfortable or cannot find the commonality needed. But much has happened prior to that.

I frequently attend a Pentecostal church. My beief system is very different than theirs but at that same time it is so obvious that the Spirit is there. Condemnation on either side will get noone anywhere. I find that the only way I can "change" them is by silent witness of my own faith... through my behavior. I learn a lot from them in that process.

The separation is a problem that can only be worked at one step at a time.... it will take lifetimes... we can only do our part. It will only happen if we can drop the you are bad and I am good way of addressing it.

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