You have raised some sticky topics, Dazed+. Might it possible to discuss the <font color="red">forces</font> that impact you without specifically mentioning religion? For example, people may be taught to deny themselves pleasure, or to feel unworthy, because of a specific religious environment in which they grew up, or because of non-religious factors, such as being raised by hard-working immigrants who suffered from discrimination in their new country, and had to devote every waking minute to earning a living for themselves and family. Thus, one might say, "I grew up in a family that . . ." without indicting any religion or group.

I can see how politics might enter into depression if one is a member of a group that is systematically stigmatized and discriminated against, such as -- but certainly not limited to -- gay culture. Or HIV positive. Or even women who find themselves confined to certain types of jobs or earning less money for same work, which persists at rate of about 75-cents to the dollar.

So it seems to me that it might be okay to discuss the situations and forces that are keeping us stuck in depression, without getting into heavily political discussuions about what's wrong with society/politics and the political actions that need to be taken. In short, focus on personal experiences not the issues.

Dexter and magnates and poohbahs, can you elaborate a bit more about when and how such factors might be discussed appropriately in this forum, if the social/politcal factors are forces that impact the depression?