Asperger vs. Christian science

[Cassiterides]

hello, i was diagonsed with aspergers. I just turned 20. I have a brother who is a christian scientist who tells me aspergers doesn't really exist.

Here is the interesting thing, when i researched what he said i discovered some truth to it. I was diagnsed with aspergers, but that was them (docter) telling me i had it. If they didn't say this, i wouldn't believe i had. It's the same as a docter saying you have cancer, if you didn't go to the docter you wouldn't know you had cancer.

The christian scientists argument is that disease etc doesn't exist and that its an illusion, now i wouldn't go this far but what i would say is that if you mentally block all these labels/mental problems or disease such as aspergers etc you get better and can be cured.

If you adopt positive thinking and don't think you have something wrong with you, i have noticed to some extent the so called 'aspergers' goes away. any thought on this? if i didn't make sense sorry.

 

[Cassiterides]

To clarify 'christian science' has nothing to do with christianity, they are a sort of cult of people who think all disease is an illusion and that it can be cured.

To some extent i have noticed what they say regarding autism/aspergers is true. aspergers is just a man made label and concept. if you adopt positive thinking and reject you have it you can be cured. from experience this is working for me.

 

[MissionEqual]

"Let that mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

 

[Sabertooth]

Your "new" position isn't entirely correct. You CAN talk yourself into being perfectly normal, but... NTs will still be weird...!

 

[joris]

Before I was diagnosed as having Aspergers, I didn't know exactly what was going on, but I did feel/realise I was "different" in some ways. That wasn't told to me, I felt like that myself. Now later on I became Christian, and God worked on my self image (and along the way He lead such learned of me having Asperger - which answered some "why am I like that" questions)

In general I don't believe insisting you are healthy makes you healthy - claiming cancers are only imaginations, and just ignoring them has the problem that, if you don't treat them, they are going to cause great suffering and death.


I love the idea that God is changing us, whether NT or not -- to be more like Christ - with renewal of the mind (maybe not quite the same as changing/adapting the brain, but to such effect... and who knows, maybe the brain itself gets renewed really during the process??)

 

[MoeSzyslak]

Thats quite the theory. A couple of problems.

I was autistic even before I was diagnosed. The diagnosis only sticks a name on it. Physically,mentally, intellectually, and spiritually I was the same before and after the diagnosis. The diagnosis has absolutely no effect on who I am. Its just a word.

They have also done CAT scans on autistic peoples brains and they can see something is wired different.

So the theory contradicts common sense and science.

But hey, it's good science fiction.

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, I have a problem with Christian Science and their view that the physical world is an illusion. I beleive God created the world. He created it good.

AS is a name. Knowing or not knowing the label wouldn't change how we realte to the world in my opinion. My knowing has helped me expalin why I am the way I am. I don't want to be NT. I see them as having many problems that I don't want. Particularly with their emotions. So I plan to be who God created me to be and not try to become NT.

dayhiker

 

[MoeSzyslak]

"If you adopt positive thinking and don't think you have something wrong with you, I have noticed to some extent the so called 'aspergers' goes away."

In my experience, its the exact opposite. Once you learn what you have and understand why you act and think like you do. Then you learn to work with it. You then understand what your strong points are and what you need to put extra effort into.

Knowledge of it brings understanding and then you develop coping techniques to work with it. Then the effects of AS might diminsh.

I can't ignore mine away. It takes knowledge, understanding, vigilance and work.

Now that I think of it. Before I was diagnosed AS, the symptoms of it were far worse then they are now

 

[Cassiterides]

Concerning your thought that Christian Science has no connection with Christianity, I would encourage you to check out the chapter "Atonement and Eucharist" in the CS textbook (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures). It describes the deep reverence and gratitude Christian Scientists have for Jesus and for his sacrifices for humanity's salvation. It's available to read free online.

Many blessings to you!

I may have made a mistake with the label (sorry), my brother is with the ''new thought'' movement. I presumed this was ''christian science''. I'm not familiar with any of these groups etc. However the positive thinking thing just seems to sometimes work for me. I was under the belief christian science taught all illness are mental in origin and can be cured with a healthy mental state. This might be true, but i discovered my brother is with the ''new thought'' people, not as much christian science. I apologize for making this mistake.

 

[grandvizier1006]

Don't know if this is active, but...Asperger's is not just in your head. Well, technically, it has to do with how your brain is wired, but still, my point is that one cannot simply think one is "cured" of it.