THERE
seems to be a sharp surge of disturbed people around
these days. As a result, we can see more people who are
clearly
mentally ill, with very erratic behavior. And if they are
not
withdrawn from the world, alienating themselves and
rotting away in
their own universe, they get overly aggressive, violently
aggressive,
in fact. Some commit suicide.
This is
a problem we have to learn how to cope and to try
to solve. Of course, it’s a phenomenon that can easily be
attributed
to the complications and pressures of the times, which in
themselves
are admittedly no mean things. But there must also be
other factors
and causes deeper than the toxic complications and
pressures of the
times that give rise to this world predicament.
More
and more people are of the thinking that these
disturbed persons are more than just mental cases, to be
treated only
with psychiatry, some medicine and therapy which are no
mean help.
They now talk of the strong possibility that some demonic
interference
is involved, even demonic oppression and possession. And
they cite
instances where the persons concerned act in ways that
are considered
already beyond human possibility.
We need
to have a good grip on this rapidly emerging
menace. And the first thing to do is to entertain the
possibility that
indeed these disturbed people are both mentally sick and
demonically
bothered.
Yes,
while it’s true that the predicament can be an
either-or proposition, we should not dismiss the
possibility that it
can also be a both-and one. Not just disjunctive, but
also
conjunctive. Let’s remember that the devil is always
around. It’s not
paranoia to be always alerted of the devil’s existence
and constant
efforts to destroy us, usually in very sweet ways.
It
would be good if we level up in our knowledge of
psychology. This field of science is getting to be more
and more
relevant these days. It cannot anymore be the exclusive
interest of
some people. Everyone should know at least the basics of
psychology
and from there start accumulating relevant helpful
information.
But we
should never forget that the psychological and
mental mechanism of a person is steeped in his spiritual
dimension
that can lead him either to the supernatural or
infranatural world. It
cannot be studied from the point of view of empirical
science alone.
It has to input the truths of faith to enable it to cope
with the full
range of its possibilities.
This is a point that should be taken
more seriously these
days. The complicated challenges of our times that have
brought about
many good things and also many bad things cannot but make
this kind of
demand. We have to take our faith more seriously,
assimilating it in
our system and making it the guide and shaper of our
lives.
With
our faith, we have the answer to all the questions,
the solution to all our problems, even if the answers and
solutions it
offers may not be the ones we want. But they are the
answers and
solutions that God himself gives, and not just us.
Faith
is the great healer, the constant pacifier, because
it brings Christ into our lives, Christ who heals and who
constantly
tells us, “Do not be afraid...” We should bring our faith
to bear on
our sciences and on our other sources of knowledge.
With
respect to this phenomenon of rising cases of
disturbed people, our faith can detect whether a
particular case is
just a pure mental or psychological problem, or something
where evil
spiritual forces are involved.
To be
sure, the workings of the demons will always
manifest themselves in some mental, psychological or
emotional
predicaments. But if a person is a man of deep faith, he
most likely
will have a very good mental or psychological health, and
would know
how to deal with evil spirits.
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