Neurochemistry and the Conscience

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
A

apples

Guest
#1
#1
I feel like mental illness can destroy faith.
As I take my antipsychotics each night, I start to lose sight of the idea of truth. I like to hope there is a truth, but all my faith is decaying. Am I making sense?
I pray and hope, and then I stop hoping. I start laughing at the pretense of hope.


I still believe, but I'm losing it.
What if the conscience is more the brain than the spirit?
I know God exists, because when I'm in pain, He's the only One I turn to. Physical pain alerts my brain, prompting me to seek help from Him.

Can anyone see the world the way I see it, and have a coexisting belief in existential nihilism and Christianity? Am I making sense? Can anyone sense this?
Senses and pain are the real deal
 
K

Kyouken

Guest
#2
#2
I'm thinking that while mental illness can destroy faith, faith can destroy mental illness.

I don't know exactly how one would actualize that, but there it is.
 
D

Dogma

Banned
#3
Feb 9, 2012
106
2
0
#3
apples said:
I feel like mental illness can destroy faith.
As I take my antipsychotics each night, I start to lose sight of the idea of truth. I like to hope there is a truth, but all my faith is decaying. Am I making sense?
I pray and hope, and then I stop hoping. I start laughing at the pretense of hope.


I still believe, but I'm losing it.
What if the conscience is more the brain than the spirit?
I know God exists, because when I'm in pain, He's the only One I turn to. Physical pain alerts my brain, prompting me to seek help from Him.

Can anyone see the world the way I see it, and have a coexisting belief in existential nihilism and Christianity? Am I making sense? Can anyone sense this?
Senses and pain are the real deal
Click to expand...
Of course consciousness is controlled through the brain - this is why people with brain damage tend to have altered states of consciousness. It is the reason that we can not revive someone who has been dead for a significant amount of time (even if we were to start their heart again, let's say via bypass, a loss of oxygen for an extended period of time causes neural tissues to die - causing permanent brain damage). One may argue that the spirit uses the brain as a vessel of consciousness, but bear in mind there is no evidence to support this.

What kind of mental illness are you suffering from, if you don't mind me asking?
 
U

Ugly

Guest
#4
#4
I've dealt with some mental illness as well, so i can relate to the effect of the illness on your faith. As useless and cliche as it may seem sometimes you just have to hold on tight and push through. It helps to keep people and things around you that encourage your faith as well. And of course, seeking out help for your illness. Both professionally and spiritually.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#5
Aug 2, 2009
24,579
4,268
113
#5
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”
When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.

(Matthew 9:27-30 NIV)


Don't lose faith. Don't give up hope. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed. Of course you may not be healed overnight, but if you keep believing then it will happen.

God bless.
 
Last edited:
Johnxxxx

Johnxxxx

Banned
#6
Nov 28, 2011
69
1
0
30
#6
Eh, I've always wondered if like sociopaths can truly ever find God.
 
A

apples

Guest
#7
#7
@Dogma: I meant the conscience, not consciousness. I've gotten a concussion before, so I know enough about consciousness lol
@Ugly + @zeroturbulance: Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.
@Johnxxxx: I doubt they can.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#8
Aug 2, 2009
24,579
4,268
113
#8
Kyouken said:
I'm thinking that while mental illness can destroy faith, faith can destroy mental illness.

I don't know exactly how one would actualize that, but there it is.
Click to expand...
I believe that too.
 
zeroturbulence

zeroturbulence

Senior Member
#9
Aug 2, 2009
24,579
4,268
113
#9
Matthew 17:14-20

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.