I’ve been lurking over at Nancy Campbell’s Above Rubies ministry womens daily encouragement pages this morning. There are posts about Nancy’s gardening yet again, how gardening is Godly. The gardening tales were mixed with the birth stories of a variety of mothers, including  one that sounds horrific like many of the stories I knew from my old church. But it is the tiny nuggets of Nancy’s wisdom, the sort articles packed with more toxic ideas that you can imagine in a few paragraphs. Like her claims that those who are depresses chose to stay that way.

If there is any theology in Quiverfull that does the most harm, and has a body count this is it! There are dead people in droves because of the Evangelical belief that depression is a selfish choice. Depression can happen for many difference reasons, including physical reasons that are NOT a choice! Framing it as an attitude or choice makes those suffering from depression and unable to just ‘think happy’ feel like even more of failure. It pushes the suicidal closer to the edge by stating it is spiritual.

It is thinking like Nancy’s that just about robbed my husband of his life when we were in a Quiverfull church. He was told by everyone he needed to just adjust his attitude, chose happiness. He had a parathyroid tumor that was the reason he was depressed. It was only found because he became very ill. It was no way, shape or form related to any spirituality or attitudes.

If you are depressed please do not take in any of this burbling nonsense that the religious spout. It’s not your fault and help is possible.

Lifeline – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1.800.273.8255

On a lighter note perhaps it is happiness that is overrated. Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal certainly seems to think so. How to Be Perfectly Unhappy

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