Re: UBF and mental illness -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 08:27:41 12/06/04 Mon
Author: Chris
Subject: Re: UBF and mental illness
In reply to: Anonymous 's message, "UBF and mental illness" on 18:00:05 12/05/04 Sun

That's a correct observation. UBF addresses people who are particularly susceptible and vulnerable for cults, and people with mental illnesses belong to that group. As I already mentioned, during my 10 years of UBF, 4 people commited suicide and there was another one who attempted it and had to be brought in a psychiatric hospital. At least two others had sever psychic problems. One of them is considered a missionary. He is told to help German students, but he himself needs professional help. I myself suffered from a sever depression for some time after I had entered UBF. Luckily, God completely healed and restored me. But I know that my case is not the norm. In my case, I think, the depression had spiritual reasons. In other cases however, it is simply an illness, especially if it lasts very long, and you have to learn to live with it. Sometimes medication can help.

I would not go so far to say that UBF caused all these suicides and depressions. But I would say that UBF is not equipped to help such people and often aggravates these problems, because UBF shepherds don't have any education in Biblical couseling or psychology and try to "help" people by pressing them into the mold of a UBF shepherd. It may work in 1% of the cases, but for the 99% where the mold does not fit, it is desastrous.

I also want to add that actually, mental illness and depression is nothing completely unusual. Many people are suffering from such problems. However, the percentage of mentally ill people in UBF seems to be higher than average, even though such people often cannot endure long (or are not endured long) in UBF.

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Replies:

Prayer -- Chris, 08:54:01 12/06/04 Mon