Is Christianity a Psychologically Healthy Religion?

     The title expresses the underlying theme of this entire blog.  Let me state my bias up front.   I choose to be a faithful Christian.  Part of this faithfulness is to engage in critical thinking.  We live in a world that understands psychology and mental illness better than any period before us.  (This is my opinion.)  I believe that God is Love.  I believe that Jesus Christ redeems us and makes us whole.  I also believe that Christianity can be unhealthy for many people.  This is not a reason to abandon Christianity.  It is simply an honest assessment of our faith tradition(s).  (Truthfully, Christianity is a variety of traditions.)  What follows are some thoughts on this theme. 

     Imagine that you are an anthropologist.  You discover a land that is new to you.   This land is full of people with a rich and vibrant culture.  You decide to study their religion.  In your research you find the following.

• The protagonist of the religion was tortured to death, apparently willingly.  
• The faithful celebrate those who willingly let others kill them, without putting up a fight. (martyrdom)
• The protagonist taught, "Woe to you who are rich.  Woe to you who laugh.  Woe to you who are well-fed.  Woe to you who are respected by your peers".  (Luke 6:24-26) 

This is enough for one post.  Take your feelings out of this.  Are the above statements indicative of a healthy religion?  Would a loving parent, let alone God, want this for her children?  

     A religion that celebrates people choosing to be tortured to death, rather than fighting for life, opens the door to encouraging victimhood.  Feminist theologians have been the first to point this out (to my knowledge).    

     Religion is important.  Those of us who choose to follow a religion deeply implant its values into our core being.  How many victims of domestic violence have been "comforted" by these values?  Instead of being "comforted", they should have been getting themselves, and their children, out of there!  Further, their clergy should have been leading the way.  Perhaps Christianity's celebration of pacifism and martyrdom is unhealthy, at least for many people.  

     Let us think about the words from Luke's gospel.  

• Jesus said, "Woe to you who are rich".  Is not this creating dependent victims rather than fulfilled lives?  After all, it was largely rich women who supported Jesus and the early church.  Talk about putting limits on one's-self.  Of course, this is nothing compared to what comes next.
• Jesus said, "Woe to you who laugh".  You've got to be kidding me.  How is this healthy?  How is this helping somebody suffering from clinical depression.  It sounds like an abusive father who beats his children if they show any signs of joy.  This is unhealthy.  That is all there is to it.
• Jesus said, "Woe to you who are well fed".  Once again, this is celebrating victimhood.  Are we to intentionally choose ill-health through malnourishment?  This is not love.
• Jesus said, "Woe to you who are respected by your peers".  Oh goodness, don't let people think highly of you.  You may get too big for your britches!  After all, we want a religion that encourages people to become social outcasts, psychologically unhealthy, and hopefully, victims of violence.  

     Let me state right here and now that I recognize there is much more to these statements than I have lifted up.  For one thing, there is nuance.  Mostly, however, there is context.  As with all of scripture, these verses need to be studied in the context of where they fall within the narrative.  Further, they need to be studied in the context of the socio-political environment in which the original audience experienced these texts.  Yet, how many times do Christians hear these words used recklessly?  

A note to teachers, preachers, and other Christian creatures:  Please use your head when teaching the Gospel.  You can count on the fact that there are people listening to you who suffer from domestic violence and mental illness.  Handle with care.

Peace be with you.

Brian