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Very cool, Zinco, thanks for the thoughtful response! The question of suffering is something many of us throughout the ages have sought to understand, I suppose. And I appreciate your sharing the Christian Science philosophies you agree with. Those sound like things I agree with also!
I'm glad you've found at least a partial solution and things that work for you and that your spirituality brings you so much peace and contentment. Right now I'm thinking that for me spirituality and medication don't have to be mutually exclusive. A priest recently reminded me that, as Thomas Aquinas put it, God often works His miracles through secondary means. A decent mood stabilizer I could tolerate might actually enhance my spirituality (or it might not, I don't know....I still grapple with it.)
I did AA for a while, but had some weird experiences in some meetings. Was sober for many years without it, then relapsed for a couple of years and finally regained sobriety a couple of years through SMART recovery, which for me is an awesome program. But going to an AA meeting has crossed my mind recently as I'm in a new town and would like to meet people and get some support.
I like Pope Francis a lot too, I worry about his safety sometimes, though. That maybe he's shaking things up too much.
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I am glad SMART recovery is helping. I believe we need a good support network for addiction and depression wherever it comes from.
The Catholics have had some very good philosophers throughout the years. St. Francis being one along with Aquinas.
Even the literature in AA says we often need outside help. To seek the wisdom of others whether it be priests, psychiatrists, medical doctors, therapists, whoever. I do not see meds and spirituality conflicting at all. Taking psyche meds is a highly individualized decision and should be an informed one.
I have not been very active in AA since I moved back to my hometown. I want to be though for the social aspect, the support, and I feel I owe it to the new guy or gal who walks into the room. This is how I stayed sober for twenty years. Someone has to be there for the new people. I have to be selective and cautious when getting support for my depression in AA. Sometimes I am very open about it in an open meeting and don't care. Like when in my home group that I went to everyday and everyone knew me. Today I would have to feel it out and take it slow for that aspect of it. Lots of crap and sick behavior goes on. We have to watch out for new people and be selective in who we get close with. It is an awesome support group though in my opinion with a good philosophy.
You know me and my Mom were just thinking that someone in the Vatican is going to poison Pope Francis. Or some nut will shoot him. I hope that doesn't happen. Even though he is pretty conservative as far as the church goes I think he is great.