While I am a believer, this is why I don't attend church. I attend church if I am invited. It really doesn't matter the religious doctrine either. I have been to a LDS (Mormon) Church and I am not LDS. I have attended Baptist, Pentecostal, Catholic, Spiritual, etc.. I don't consider any one "religion" to have all the answers, since religion is only the politics of your faith. I would attend such a church if the man is using his background in psychology to help you. If the man running the church was using his gift to manipulate you, I wouldn't attend or suggest anyone else attend. Once they start using psychology to manipulate then don't drink the cool-aid at the next church picnic. Don't follow the man, follow God.

no and no,something seems fishy over there.

nope and nope and i would switch as soon as possible

You'd be surprised how many people would turn to their Pastor before they would even consider seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist. To some people, mental health professionals are the devil's minions. I should know ... my ex-wife was one of those who thinks mental health professionals are "of the devil!" Heh!

No. I have been there and done that and lost a big chunk of confidence and the pressure I was willing for them to put on me resulted in a large breakdown of family relationships including my family and that of my S/O. It is dangerous, they spend time figuring out your weaknessess bringing them to the surface and during the "therapy" process they use your weaknesses and your willingness to become a "better person" as a hold on you to start controlling you and start you on the process of giving up your independance and encourage you to start becoming dependent the "church" in God or Christ's name. It is a method of manipulation and control and a very subtle form of brain washing, they start to say things like "the devil has a hold on you", start becoming dependent on Christ so he can work through you and this encourages you to stick with the process through fear and rejection. It is most evil because they are doing it on the pretence of love and Christ and getting closer to God. If any of this sounds familiar, find yourself another church which does not use these methods, talk to friends and family (particularly those from outside of the "church") and/or seek some counselling from a fully qualified health care professional.

No, too many pastors today have already stopped preaching about a place called hell. I would love to go to an old fashioned Bible believing, hell, fire, and damnation preaching church. Preachers this day and time are afraid they will step on someone's toe. Well, step on it. I don't feel our country would be like it was if we hadn't gotten away from this type of preaching.

Here's the thing my friend. If this guy actually is trained to analyze, why would he let anyone know? How do you know he is trained? He told you and the others? It doesn't seem right to me. He can use his gift to help others quietly..I think it would be far more effective personally! Happy Saturday! :) ((hugs))

no, and no children of mine neither....neices,nephews,grandchildren..i already have one sect that "is the evils' own" in my BOOK,brainwashing is esily taught, thats how we sin, bad thoughts just keep entering our minds til we act on them....:)justme

I was kinda under the impressions that was the whole purpose of the "pastor"! Your pastor can help you navigate the choppy water of our lives and provide valuable assistance in our self exploration of our spiritual lives though reflection on who we are and how feel about our connection with our God.

No way. I would be out of there so fast. One does not go to any religious gathering to be analysed.

Been there, done that. Tired of the ritual brainwashing. No more church for Alyson.

A pastor of a church should teach, from the Word of God, preach from the Word of God and counsel from the Word of God. Secular psychology should never be part of a churches workings. Adonai Elohim is quite capable of taking care of His children. Trying to analyze the parishioners is tantamount to prying into their personal life which is no business of his. This sort of power if wielded wrongly, could have disastrous effects.

No, certainly not. Actually, if I wanted to go to a psychologist, I will go to one who isn't going to shove his or her perspectives of religion onto me. And I am a Christian. I will take what they say, think about it in harmony with my beliefs, which include the Bible, and make a decision. This is the reason why the Bible calls false religion "a great harlot" wanting to commit fornication with the kings of the earth. This means people pleasing. If they want to go and perform miracles, there are lots of children's hospitals waiting for them, and I hear in America, the medical system isn't so good, so there you go. That is what they should do.

It is my understanding that a lot of pastors do get some training in psychology in order to better work with people who come to them with questions. While the idea of a pastor attempting to brainwash a congregation is disturbing, a pastor might be able to better help someone who, for instance, has gone out on their spouse with active listening, an understanding of what kind of factors contribute to infidelity and an idea of what professional help might do for this person, than to point out that or she must change their ways or go to hell. Note that I said 'might'. For all I know, the damnation might be more effective. Still, having more tools to get the desired result - fidelity - could be considered a blessing.

Hey, free psychological analysis! Sounds like a good deal to me.

Ah! Psychology and religion, perfect together. Now, they can both screw you and make you feel better about it at the same time

That is why I do not attend church as it is always the telling you how you are or money, money, money. They have taken God out of churches it seems.