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Christianity Today, November (Web-only), 2008 |

A Christian Cure for OCD?

Psychiatrist Ian Osborn claims that trust in God can overcome mental illness.

Review by Eric L. Johnson | posted 11/12/2008 10:04AM

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Perhaps in coming decades, Christians in psychiatry, psychology, and the human sciences in general can break free of secularism's hold on these fields, and understand human beings Christianly, developing theories, research, and counseling practices that conform to Christian standards of good science and good soul care. To do something so radical requires us to go back to our roots — and rediscover how people like Luther, Bunyan, and Thérèse of Lisieux found their soul healing in Christ.

Eric Johnson is professor of pastoral theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the director of the Society for Christian Psychology.

Related Elsewhere:

Can Christianity Cure Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? can be purchased at Christianbook.com and other book retailers.

Christianity Today has a special section on science and health. We also have other book reviews on a section of our website.

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November (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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catherine++

Posted: November 17, 2008 8:13 AM

After you are saved through the Blood of Jesus Christ, He will help you. However, He does not promise to quote, quote, cure you of every thing that is wrong with you. God is much more interested in you staying in prayer over such illnesses. Really, most of what the world calls mental illness is nothing more than Satan. God will give you victories over him, if you stay close to the Lord thy God. Have a pleasant week.

noble

Posted: November 14, 2008 7:16 AM


To the aghast of mental health professions research from the 1960's that has been duplicated recently shows that conversations with a trusted friend results in about the same or better recovery as seeing a mental health professional. Just another example of the Word of God being an authority on any matter it speaks to.

Dakotahgeo

Posted: November 13, 2008 7:48 PM

It amazes me when I hear people articulate to others their advice when they have no experience in either the medical or mental illness fields. I would never advise a person with serious mental problems to see a medical Doctor, nor would I advse a person with medical problems to see a psychologist or Psychiatrist. A psychologist is basically a therapist. A psychiatrist has an M.D. degree AND a professional therapist license conbined in order to tackle the problem from both sides. Please leave the referral system alone unless you have deep knowledge of how it works. Everyone seems to be an armchair professional when subjects like this come up. Do your friends a favor and refer them immediately to a professional person who can then refer them to the appropriate source. Kindest regards, Dakotahgeo

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