Morbidly Minded
I have been researching the origins of the Word-Of-Faith movement, which has its origins in the ‘New Thought’ movements (eg. Christian Science) of the 1800’s and is thought to have blended with Pentecostalism in the early 1900’s.
There is some credit given to the movement, in that it is believed to have helped the Church ‘rediscover’ some important Biblical Truths (eg. Renewing of the Mind).
The key criticism of the movement (Prosperity Theology/Lack of accountability aside) is that its emphasis on ’positive thinking’ is out-of-balance.
This research reminded me of an earlier post from my own blog, reflecting on Yancey’s book “I was just wondering” where he deals with the reality of suffering and the issue of “positive thinking” in the modern church.
He claims that the once “morbidly minded” (melancholy) evangelicals who were led by the likes of Wesley etc. competed with the “healthily minded” (overly optimistic) sects like Christian science - which (early last century) thrived in times of unprecedented prosperity.
These sects ‘met their waterloo’ when the reality of the depression and the World Wars hit - “a monstrous fact that exposed the flaws in their vision of the world and humanity”.
But what Yancey claims is that this “healthy mindedness” is now characteristic in the Christian church and he concludes his mini-thesis with the statement ”I hope and pray an even more ominous fact does not arise to smother the ‘healthy-mindedness’ that has swept evangelicalism in the last few decades”.
My personal view is that we do need to allow times for melancholy reflection and teaching “in the correct season” and with correct perspective - otherwise Yancey’s concern may be well placed.
(Ps. Emblazoned - Doubt and Melancholy are all part of the journey! ).
January 19th, 2007 at 9:12 am
This is interesting. so are we saying that Christian Science was the precursor for modern pentecostal movement? That pentecostalism is the funkier, hipper outworking of Christian Science moulded to contemporary relevance?
I have a copy of Ernest Holmes’ “Science of the Mind” orginally written in 1926 & i was amazed at how similar it is todays prosperity theology…
From http://www.amazon.com/Science-Mind-Ernest-Holmes/dp/0874779219
“The Science of the Mind was originally published in 1926 by the founder of the worldwide Religious Science movement. It was completely revised in 1938 by Ernest Holmes and Maude Allison Latham; this 1997 edition is the 1938 version with an added introduction by Jean Houston and a one-year study program that breaks the weighty tome into digestible bits. Using creative techniques, Holmes guides the student in easy-to-follow steps toward mastering the powers of the mind to find purpose in life. His explanations of how to pray and meditate, heal oneself spiritually, find self confidence, and express love have helped millions change their lives for the better. The Science of Mind is one of those spiritual classics that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who wishes a life for themselves free of compulsion and negativity”
I agree though, that “Doubt and Melancholy are all part of the journey”. In fact, & this is a dangerous thing to say to the wrong person who would take it too literally, …..but many wholistic psycholgists are now saying that taking antidepressants when you are going through a “dark night (or weeks or months) of the soul” may short-circuit the process of a necessary psychic jourmey & psychic evolution, only postponing it until later when the hand of fate will rise up out of the darkness to pull you back down to roll in the ashes, anyway.
It is the process of death & rebirth, chaos followed by order, almost all genuine creative & spiritual revelations must follow this process. It is the promethean act of travelling to another world, enduring the fire, & coming back with the boon for the village. It is also the shamanistic journey & the “Heroes journey” according to Jung. It is never meaningless, no matter how it might feel like that.
The modern pentecostal preacher (Houston, Pringle) would rob you of your right to depression leading to revelation, they would lock you in a state of unquestioning victory & positivity with their bread & circus shows, because the illusion of consistent victorious life backed up with fear of social dismemberment keeps you a manageable & controllable unit.
I have had a depressive episode, it was terrifying, i had to take six months off work & spent all that time reading, meditating, praying & self-analysing & seeking external therapy. In retrospect, looking back it was quite possibly one of the most signifant growth periods of my life & i would not erase it from my history.
Remember, your pain is what reminds you that you’re alive & your depression is your psychic internal regulator that tells you something isn’t right. It is the gift of the hypersensitives, we fel the heat boilng in the pot & jump out before anyone else knows there’s anything wrong.
My advice is, unless your suicidal (as in making plans, in which case tell someone instantly), go through the melancholia, learn from it. One thing Houston got right, it IS a spiritual issue, what he got wrong is that it should be denied or overcome through shallow faith without willingness to undertake the greater journey.