I'll be honest, I tend to sort of tiptoe in with trepidation when encountering atheist writing. I feel askamed of that, but I've been berated quite a bit for my faith. However, I HAD to read this becayuse I agreed just reading the title.

I love my church. I love my pastor. But there is no way I would seek therapy from a pastor. Especially not in my denomination. Because "have more quiet times and repent" isn't therapy.

Okay, I'm over simplifying. But someone who needs therapy needs a TRAINED therapist. I mean, I have some great ideas thanks to my own therapy, blah blah. But I'd be a bad person to come to for real therapy. Because I am not qualified.

Being qualified to preach doesn't make one qualified to counsel. In fact, depending upon one's hangups, it can be damaging. Too many churches still treat mental illness - a PHYSIOLOGICAL isuue (the brain) - as a spiritual issue.

Does it comfort me to read the Bible? Yes. Will it cure my chronic depression? NO

Thank you for pointing out that too many preachers dismiss and minimize real problems by throwing a Sunday School phrase at them.