Mindful Depression

As George Barna pointed out, the church is being shaped by culture. While a great deal of evangelical churches and educational institutions are adding Eastern mysticism with practices like Mindfulness/Contemplative prayers scientists are raising concerns that Meditation can backfire, worsening mental health problems. This problem isn't new it is mostly ignored.  Miguel Farias writes: 

The first recorded evidence for this, found in India, is over 1,500 years old. The Dharmatrāta Meditation Scripture, written by a community of Buddhists, describes various practices and includes reports of symptoms of depression and anxiety that can occur after meditation. It also details cognitive anomalies associated with episodes of psychosis, dissociation and depersonalisation (when people feel the world is “unreal”).

Scientists have recently started researching this:  

In the past eight years there has been a surge of scientific research in this area. These studies show that adverse effects are not rare. A 2022 study, using a sample of 953 people in the US who meditated regularly, showed that over 10% of participants experienced adverse effects which had a significant negative impact on their everyday life and lasted for at least one month.

Our associate wrote an excellent article for us a few years ago titled Mindfulness: Taming the Monkey. It will be helpful to those who know little about this Eastern spiritual practice that is mesmerizing so much of the church, nursing, and secular organizations today.  

https://mailchi.mp/070cf55bcb45/dear-alan-letter-to-a-deconstructor-part-1?e=169825fd77