Description
218: Madness and the Bible: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Professional Counseling and Soul Care
Matthew Stanford, Ph.D.
Hope and Healing Center & Institute
717 Sage Rd.
Houston, TX 77056
Summary
What we now call serious mental illness—a set of abnormal, extreme, and debilitating moods, thoughts, and behaviors—was referred to as madness in biblical times. Men and women struggling with madness are described throughout the Old and New Testaments and the deuterocanonical books. Much like modern-day believers, the people of biblical times struggled with understanding the spiritual aspects of mental illness. In this workshop, Dr. Stanford will discuss what the biblical examples of madness can teach the Church about ministering to those living with serious mental illness today.
Learning Objectives
Participants will:
• Identify how the mentally ill were viewed in biblical times
• Describe the spiritual aspects of serious mental illness
• Outline a biblical approach to mental health ministry
