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Boron10
Religion Moderator
USA
1266 Posts |
 Posted - 06/06/2001 : 00:56:25 [Permalink]
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quote:
the persons illness isn't cured. They still have the same problem.
That brings up an interesting (and completely unrelated to the "Religion" topic of this forum) point: is it possible to cure a compulsion? It has been far too long since I took any Psychology classes.
quote:
Actually, with substance abuse, the recovery rate for people who are left on their own with no outside help and those who subscribe to theistic plans (the figures that I've seen are for AA) are the same.
Unfortunately, I have a close friend in the same situation as Lisa's friend. She was reported to her chain of command (she's in the Navy) for being alcoholic. She decided there might be some help for her, so she honestly answered the Navy councillor's questions. He then (correctly) diagnosed her as alcoholic, and sent her to mandatory AA meetings.
She is quite atheistic, and realized these meetings were crap. She asked if there was anything she could do that had nothing to do with religion, and was told No. She then asked what would happen to her when she stopped going to the meetings.
She now has an entry in her Service Record (Page 13) that states she will be Dishonorably Discharged if she has another alcohol related incident. If she gets in any trouble, and if the command decides there might have been alcohol involved, she will get kicked out of the Navy.
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Boron10
Religion Moderator
USA
1266 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 00:57:53 [Permalink]
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By the way, as far as I know she is still an alcoholic.
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 01:47:37 [Permalink]
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Well, I have a happy ending to my friend's story. She was finaly diagnosed with a mild case of clinical depression. The side of the "house" that takes care of that sort of thing treated her immediatlely. Once her depression lifted, all the other problems mysteriously disappeared.
I'm going to guess your Navy friend's case happened during the big drawdown. Whole career fields were being gutted. If the powers that "be" didn't consider your job to be that productive, your choices were limited. I think a lot of people were shoehorned into programs they didn't want or need, so other people could look busy.
This is just a theory on my part, based on observation and a cynical attitude.
Lisa
Chaos...Confusion...Destruction...My Work Here Is Done |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 01:58:57 [Permalink]
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quote:
That brings up an interesting (and completely unrelated to the "Religion" topic of this forum) point: is it possible to cure a compulsion? It has been far too long since I took any Psychology classes.
By the way, as far as I know she is still an alcoholic.
I'm not a doctor, nor a psychologist. In fact I don't like them at all but I do live with an alcoholic. I'm sorry about your friend.
Depends what you mean by cure. IMO, they always have the 'problem', it's how they handle it. Like a diabetic, can be controled by diet or medication. If one is only on a diet to control the disease then it's up to the individual to watch what he eats in order to stay healthy. No one can do it for him.
With my alcoholic, Dennis, years ago, I used to call in sick for him when he'd been drinking the night before and couldn't get up to go to work. One day I decided, I'd had enough and he could just call for himself. He didn't want to, so he started not getting so drunk.
Dennis still drinks and I can't talk to him when he's been drinking but that's something he doesn't care about. Fine! One of these days if I leave, he might care.
Don't know what the limits of your friend are. Only she can know.
I've heard of AA groups that are started by Atheists, maybe you can go on the web and see if there's one in her area.
Sorry, can't help more. |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 11:38:06 [Permalink]
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quote:
That brings up an interesting (and completely unrelated to the "Religion" topic of this forum) point: is it possible to cure a compulsion?
Perhaps not so unrelated.
If religion is a compulsion, that is an illness, it might explain why most people are only "social drinkers" when it comes to theology. They do it at home and maybe once a week with friends. Other wise they don't touch it.
But there are a few who can't put the stuff down! The first thing in the morning they have to have a quick prayer. Then it starts affecting their work-they have to have the name Jesus ban sawed out of a piece of pine sitting on their desks. The next thing you know they are reeling around the streets ringing peoples door bells. They loose all touch with reality (Evolution is a false belief--gimme another Ahmen--oh, please just one more) They might even get to the state of being completely incoherent and start babbling in tongues.
Doesn't sound all that different from alcoholism to me. They are both social problems that cures need to be found for.
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When the dead talk -- they talk to him
Edited by - slater on 06/06/2001 11:40:15 |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 13:03:25 [Permalink]
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Slater, do you think you can find a cure for the two Jehovahs Witnesses who insist on saving my immortal soul by pounding on my door 0800 every Saturday?
I mean I only told them the world would end in approx 4 1/2 Billion when the sun becomes a red giant. Or on a universal scale we'll know more when we figure the total mass of the universe. Now they think I need saving, LOL!
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell! |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 15:07:38 [Permalink]
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quote:
Slater, do you think you can find a cure for the two Jehovahs Witnesses who insist on saving my immortal soul by pounding on my door 0800 every Saturday?
Well if religion is the antidote to drinking then maybe it will work the other way around.
When you are called to the door at an un- godly hour next weekend be sure to take your cocktail shaker with you. It's worth a try.
When the dead talk -- they talk to him |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 15:23:34 [Permalink]
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Trish, I think I've already posted this elsewhere, but my good friend George found a way of "curing" people who lean on his doorbell to "save" him.
When he sees them coming up the driveway, he grabs a beer, lights a cigarette, and takes off all his clothes before answering the door. They refuse his invitation to come in and chat, and they don't come back.
Don't know if I have the guts to do this, but you've gotta admit, it's effective.
Lisa
Chaos...Confusion...Destruction...My Work Here Is Done |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 06/06/2001 : 15:26:36 [Permalink]
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Yeah, beer and cigs I can do, but no clothes? I actually like my neighbors! and they're rather close enough to see me open the door.
He's YOUR god, they're YOUR rules, YOU burn in hell! |
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Bradley
Skeptic Friend
USA
147 Posts |
Posted - 06/07/2001 : 17:19:34 [Permalink]
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The essential difference between a religionist and a substance abuser is that the former actually gets something for his money while the latter does not.
My method of dealing with proselytizers is to tell them that I'm into Charley and invite them in to drop acid and listen to the white album.
"Too much doubt is better than too much credulity."
-Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 - 1899) |
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Orpheus
Skeptic Friend
92 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2001 : 09:00:42 [Permalink]
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quote:
My method of dealing with proselytizers is to tell them that I'm into Charley and invite them in to drop acid and listen to the white album
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Good one. Try this some time: Look them seriously in the eye, and tell them that you are Satan, and you've been keeping an eye on them for a long, long time now.. Usually produces very amusing results!
Find your own damned answers! |
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Blair Nekkid
New Member
Canada
20 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 14:00:10 [Permalink]
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 Speaking off topic here, but...
If you are looking for Jehovah's Witness repellent you cant go wrong with the ‘I gave blood today!' stickers that you can pick up at the Red Cross when you donate. With one of these on your front door the JW's don't even bother knocking. (I know this works since I live about 1 block from the local Kingdom Hall. 
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ZaphodBeeblebrox
Skeptic Friend
USA
117 Posts |
Posted - 10/26/2001 : 14:35:12 [Permalink]
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Well of course, they're Superstitiously Afraid, of Blood!
That, and they're Reportedly working on a Whole Blood Substitute.
Truth be Told, though, I do hope that they Succeed, it'll probably be the First Step towards ending this whole, "I Hope Someone Dies," Mantra, that Patients on Transplant Lists, develop. I mean, sure you can Clone Organs, but you've gotta Bathe them, in Something!
If you Ignore Your Rights, they WILL, go away. |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2001 : 00:02:04 [Permalink]
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Hmm, any spare stickers around? They won't take my blood - or they aren't sure they can use it. You'd think they'd have someone that could tell them whether my blood type is usable. I'm an A- du+. I keep getting blank stares at the du+.
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
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Tokyodreamer
SFN Regular
USA
1447 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2001 : 19:40:53 [Permalink]
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quote:
Speaking off topic here, but...
If you are looking for Jehovah's Witness repellent you cant go wrong with the ‘I gave blood today!' stickers that you can pick up at the Red Cross when you donate. With one of these on your front door the JW's don't even bother knocking. (I know this works since I live about 1 block from the local Kingdom Hall.
Rats! It's so disappointing to find out that someone calling themselve's "Blair Nekkid" is a male... 
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Victory Not Vengeance |
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