Religion can be good for your mental health

Margaret - I would probably have a relapse if anybody except my family and close friends tried to hug or touch me in hospital! I assumed everybody knew we were talking about our nearest and dearest!

Well said Gramps

Not everyone wants hugs and 'being there' When DH was in hospital he said that I was to see that the religious visiting lady didn't come near his bed. He felt that being ill he didn't want to have to cope with her.

One needs to feel understood and and holding hands is as good as anything. You have to be careful with hugging. Not everyone wants it or needs it.
MIL hated being stroked on her cheek etc when she was in care during the last months. She hated it.

Post away, Gramps - we enjoy stimulating debate.

I would like to read it too, Gramps.

Go for it old man!

Gramps - I don't think you need anyone's permission to post.

Gramps An insightful and thoughtful post.

Thanks friends for your kind comments. Much appreciated!

I have an article on "Who is God?", written for a different Forum two years ago .
They are my own personal thoughts on the subject, and although this can be a very contraversial , it got a lot of interest, without people falling out over it.

Tolerance was shown to all taking part in the following discussion!

If it is considered suitable I'll post it on here - with your permission?

Gramps

gramps lovely post especially as there was only one 'I' in there. You are thinking of us all and not yourself.

gramps that is a really special post xxxxxlove nellie

Lovely post Gramps. In other words 'love is all you need'! You could apply for a research grant to expand and prove this!

Thank you , Gramps, what a nice, sensible, post. It seems we are all in agreement that being part of any supportive network is beneficial for our physical as well as our emotional wellbeing.

gramps

The comfort of a hug given to a person who is unwell or upset is well recognised. We all need to know that we are "loved", whether by a Group or ln a one to one situation.

Pain is something which needs plenty of loving support, plus physical contact, such as hand holding, or a gentle hug! Just by being close is often enough. Knowing that somebody cares!

If somebody has a positive attitude this will reinforce the healing process, whether given by medical or any other form of treatment.

Everybody comes to the end of their journey of life. Positivity will not cure, but does help the process of "passing" from this existence!

I have not mentioned Religion, as we all have our own ideas on that, and we all have freewill on that subject!

Religion is a comfort to a lot of people but really I wonder how can it be a comfort to know your soul whatever or wherever that is, will go on for ever. It fills me with unease.
Athiest or humanist? Most of them contribute a lot to society.

I once helped at a second hand cum jumble sale and the vicar first thanked God that no one had fallen off a ladder. I wondered that in this time of world crisis, starvation, wars and persicutions, how God had time to watch that Joe Bloggs didn't fall off a ladder. I was the only one of course that thought his prayers were over simple but then that is what these religious people want.
If it makes then happy......

I am entirely at peace with the "not knowing" and with my absence of faith in the supernatural. I am free to concentrate on trying to lead as honest and helpful life as I am able without having to listen to the dictates of hierarchical archaic pronouncements.

I am entirely happy with the fact that many of my friends have a religious faith - no problem there - we get on fine and respect each others' views.

Religions deal in fundamentals and have a natural tendency towards fundamentalism and control - no religion is exempt from this, either now or historically. Better in my view to concentrate on trying to lead a good life.

And after life? - I guess our atoms just return to the cosmic soup whence they came. Who knows?

You haven't.

That's OK then - I wouldn't like to upset you.

Only joking Greatnan

love you x

Jingle, what on earth do you mean? I am only stating my beliefs and you are quite free to state yours. You are usually more than capable of doing just that.

(Sorry God)

I was going to say the same thing lilygran, but I aint sticking my neck out anymore!

Er....yes, I did realise that, Lily! And I have none. However, I was reading The Catholic Herald this morning and one catholic was insisting that atheists were stupid because there is so much evidence for the existence of his particular god, so not everybody realises it.