I meant to post more often after my last post, but things haven’t been too good here. The UK has been going through a heatwave, so I haven’t been able to sleep very much, although it has cooled down a bit now. I’ve started volunteering for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in my town, which should […]
Suicide and Religious Faith
May 14, 2013 by 1 Comment
This another question posed by Adrian Warnock in his post: Suicide and Religious Faith following on from his question about mental illness which I posted about in mental illness and my faith. This week, his question is: Research suggests that religious faith protects against suicide. Why do you think that is in light of how your […]
Mental Illness and my Faith
May 11, 2013 by 6 Comments
Apologies for the essay-like title, but I am writing this post in response to Adrian Warnock’s posts on Patheos (“A conversation about faith and mental illness” and “How has faith shaped our view of mental illness?”) He asks a question, in the light of the publishing of Amy Simpson’s book Troubled Minds and the suicide of […]
Hope in Hopelessness
December 18, 2012 by 2 Comments
Writing a speculative piece for elsewhere earlier today, I described how I felt that God gave me hope during my worst illness, that when I came to believe in him, I felt a change. God is indeed our hope and our deliverer, and trusting in him makes things better. But not always. There are times […]
On the Road to Emmaus
October 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
(Luke 24:13-35) The story of what happened to the disciples Cleopas and an unnamed other on the road to Emmaus in Luke’s Gospel is quite a famous one. The scene is just after the crucifixion – Jesus has, apparently, died. His followers are bereft, and they don’t know what to do. Verse 17 says they […]
Joy Comes in the Morning
September 1, 2012 by 1 Comment
I have always loved the line in Psalm 30: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (v5b KJV) This particular verse has brought me much comfort, and also caused me some conflict. I have experienced plenty of weeping when depression has brought me low, and for me it is generally […]
Holy Suffering?
July 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
There is a long-running theme in Christianity that suffering – whether mental or physical – is in some way good for us. In a way, we identify more closely with Jesus (the Suffering Servant) when we too suffer, and some people suggest there is a transformative power to our suffering. Martin Luther wrote on the […]
When Our Heads are Bow’d with Woe
July 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
WHEN our heads are bow’d with woe, When our bitter tears o’erflow, When we mourn the lost, the dear, Gracious Son of Mary, hear! Thou, our throbbing flesh hast worn; Thou, our mortal griefs hast borne; Thou hast shed the human tear; Gracious Son of Mary, hear! When the sullen death-bell tolls For our own […]
Nox et Tenebrae et Nubila
July 3, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Ye clouds and darkness, hosts of night, That bred confusion and affright, Begone! O’erhead the dawn shines clear, The light breaks in and Christ is here. Earth’s gloom flees broken and dispersed, By the sun’s piercing shafts coerced: The day-star’s eyes rain influence bright, And colours glimmer back to sight. Thee, Christ, alone we know; […]
4Thought: Malcolm Bowden on Depression and Faith
April 25, 2012 by 2 Comments
Well, something of a storm developing over today’s 4thought! For those not in the know, 4thought is a short slot at the end of the Channel 4 news given over to discussions of faith, ethics, and similar and where a person is given that time to present one point of view. This week, 4thought has […]
Believer's Brain 