Is this a sign?

Question

Today I was walking down the street, and a homeless man gives me a Bible. I tell him that I don't have any money, and please give it to somebody who can pay him (I had absolutely no money) He said no, I looked like I needed it. I don't know. Things are bad lately with me--and I don't know if this is a sign...

My friend, who is a Mormon is telling me I will be much happier if I go to church.

My therapist is telling me I will be much happier if I take antidepressants.

Should I try going to church?

Answer 1

If you kept the bible, then read the book of John, and then decide.

Answer 2

You should try whatever you want. Try both if you want. I'm agnostic, but I think that if church and religion help you, then why not go to church? There is nothing wrong with religion as long as it helps you, and DOESN'T cause you to judge others. However I'm not so sure that describes the Mormon religions............I'd do my research on all the churches in your area and find the best one.

On the other hand, a lot of times depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression often occurs when there isn't enough serotonin in the synapses of the brain. Drugs can help correct that.

As for drugs covering up the problem, or whatever somebody said, that isn't completely true. Antidepressants aren't like anti-anxiety pills where you pop them and get an instant high. You have to take them for weeks for them to start working. Because they don't work that way, they are not addicting. Some people are depressed because something in their life is terribly wrong. If the only thing that person did to correct their depression was take antidepressants, then yes, that would be covering up the problem. However, taking antidepressants can help some people deal with that problem, and change their lives.

Other people are just depressed for no real reason. Let's face it - all of us could find things in our lives to be depressed about, but most of us are not chronically depressed. If your life is pretty normal, but you are just depressed a lot, it could just be a chemical thing in your brain. Do you have a lot of depression or other disorders in your family?

I would also suggest exercise - it has been shown to be about as effective as drugs for reducing depression. Good luck.

Answer 3

Hi. Okay, this is gonna work out real nice for the both of us. Because you're gonna get an awesome answer from me and I'm gonna get ten points from you, right? So, c'mon! Let's do this thing!!!!

I totally would see it as a sign and have a little quiet time with God in prayer about it. Do that FIRST!! Then, you open the Bible and read some in it, maybe some here and there. Jump around in it if you want being sure to read a little from the Psalms, Proverbs, then the New Testament. Don't rush this! Take your time. More than likely, something will speak to your heart from what you've read. That's God talking. Then pray again, thanking Him for the word He has given you. Do this again for a few days, and I think you'll find your way from there. But keep praying as you go. I hope this helps. I will remember you in my prayers!

Answer 4

A lot of people find happiness in faith. But I suggest you do a little research before you go to church, just because it is your friends family religion doesn't mean it is for everyone. As for the homeless man, I say never overlook something if you think it is a sign. A lot of the time, when something feels like a sign, it is a message from someone who has passed away trying to reach you. Someone might be telling you to start looking after yourself or just to let you know that they are there looking our for you. As for antidepressants.....I say definitely not. Do you know who pays for the education of doctors and therapists?????? The pharmaceutical companies. Why do you think so may people are on them now!!!!!

Answer 5

Going to church, regardless of the religion the particular church belongs to, isn't a guaranteed way to become a happier person, though it's possible it could make you feel a little bit better for some time. And taking legal drugs, or as your therapist calls them, antidepressants, would only make you dependent and numb while helping your therapist's and the pharmaceutical industry's wallets get fatter.

Everything in life is a sign. If you pay attention to, understand and follow these signs, you will find the direction towards happiness and fulfillment. You are not the only person in the world that has been handed a bible randomly in the street. There many many others who like you have been given books of wisdom. But by the same token, there are many people out there trying to convert everyone they can to their religion. In most cases these people don't really understand life, much less the teachings of their religion. In their church, whatever religion it may be, they have found a place in the world where they feel kind of comfy and accepted. So by converting others they are only trying to keep their little piece of heaven alive. Keeping their Church away from extinction. Nobody likes the feeling of loneliness and aimlessness. So they seek allies. In most cases they repeat the verses of their religious texts like parrots learning to talk. One can only feel compassion for these people.

Be aware that the bible isn't the only book of wisdom in the world. You have the Baghavad Gita and the Tao Te Ching for example, to name some texts that two world religions believe in. Christianity isn't the only movement that tries to bring people together in Love. All religions in fact share the same goal.

So, yes. The man giving a bible is definitely a sign. It is a sign because it makes you realize or remember that you are seeking something higher, or at least something better. By going to your therapist you have already shown that you feel that you are in need of guidance. Your asking this question on Yahoo is a sign that you are reaching out for answers about existence.

You will feel better only when you understand that the way in which society is functioning is self-destructive and self-tormenting. To understand this you have to look at every detail of your life and see how it relates to and affects the world. At the same time you have to look at every detail of the world and see how it affects it relates to you. Eventually and gradually the causes for your unhappiness and hardship will become clear and you will feel empowered to act in the best interest of humanity, which is also your best interest, since you are obviously and inevitably part of humanity.

You will feel better only when you start Loving yourself, all of yourself, including your body, your heart your mind, your soul, your planet, (which is your only home at present) and all the other beings that you share it with.

Someone wrote in the bible that Jesus said that those who seek find, and that to those who knock, the door will be opened. If you seek true peace and happiness, don't be satisfied with the information of the bible. There is more knowledge and wisdom out in the world than what the media and the masses tell you about. I'm not saying the bible is useless. I'm saying that it is but one step in the ladder to paradise, bliss, nirvana, or whatever term you want to use for absolute and never ending happiness.

You ask if you should try going to church. Yes. Try going to church. But let me suggest the best church of all. Nature. Nature is "The" Church to attend. It's the church that takes care of you and keeps you alive. Keep clean and pure and it will keep you happy, healthy and beautiful.

Sounds to easy to be true? Try it and see. It is guaranteed.

Answer 6

Do you honestly want advice? I'll give you mine. Though I'm not sure what you meant by "things are bad lately with me" (and it's not like you ought to tell me: I'm a perfect stranger), I think the following good advice for anybody. Don't just think about how religion makes you "feel." Religion isn't about feeling. It's about believing and doing, even when you don't feel like it. I myself am a practicing Roman Catholic (I say that just so you know where I'm coming from and I'm not trying to like brainwash you or anything; that's not what we do, contrary to popular myth with certain people...). Do you believe in a god? If not, then I would consider talking to priests/ministers/practicioners of different faiths or talking to your friends or doing a little research (don't just search the internet, as you'll probably find something that claims to be what it's not--look at the authentic documents and such of different religions. If you do believe in a god, then think about what He's calling you to believe. As I understand it--even though I believe that the Catholic Church is the one Church established by God--it's better for, say, a Lutheran to believe in Lutheranism because he honestly believes that is God's Truth, than to just believe Catholicism because I said so. If you look for God with genuine sincerity, He will show Himself to you, whatever His means may be. But it won't be easy. Ask your friends for help if you're confused or overwhelmed, and try praying. I know it's difficult to find truth when there are so many countless branches of religion, and new churches split off practically every week. But I have confidence that if you turn to God (even when you don't really know who He is), He won't ignore you.

Anyways, I don't know how God will call you, only He does, but in any case, I'll pray for you (and everyone who's confused about religion).

Oh, P.S. As for if it's a sign, well, that's kind of hard to say. The homeless man may have been divinely inspired to hand God's Truth to you, but then again the homeless man may just be crazy. Either way, though, now you've got your very own Bible, and you might as well put it to good use (just hope that it's authentic ;-) ).

Sheesh, that was kind of longer than I meant it to be.

Answer 7

I am LDS and have lived on "both sides of the fence" and let me tell you, if you are sincere about being a member and truly want to know what real, lasting happiness is, then YES you will be much happier if you go to an LDS church. You can feel the spirit, of our Heavenly Father and Christ's love for us, you will have a sense of peace, comfort, a knowlegde of why we are here and where we can go in the eternities!
Good luck.

Answer 8

I believe anatidepressants serve a purpose. God gave therapist the knowledge they needed to be able to recognize when meds are needed. I think you should listen to your therapist but also try church. I have taken antidepressants for years but I also go to church and they have both helped me equally along with therapy. Maybe that homeless man was an "angel in disguise"..

Answer 9

Angels are everywhere. They could appear as homeless man or rich guy. What did your heart say when this happened? That's what you should listen.
Therapist is doing their job based on their knowledge in medical practice. Your mormon friend is advising you what he knows as the True Healing place.
Angels do not belong to any religion, only your heart can tell you the answer. If you open the door, you will know who has knocked.

Answer 10

NO...religion is a pacifier for the masses, nothing more. All antidepressants will do is make you dependent on something really expensive that will make you believe you'll kill yourself if you don't take them. Why don't you try listening to the one person that matters most in this scenario....yourself! No drugs, no preacher, nothing...just you and a journal. Start writing in it, things will start making themselves apparent to you as far as certain aspects of your life go if they're tangible and written in front of you. Be your OWN church, be your OWN antidepressant. You'd be suprised what a little notebook from a dollar store will accomplish if you use it correctly.

Answer 11

God has a way of tugging at your heart so that you will know what you should do, as I suspect you do already. You wouldn't even consider it a sign at all, had you not already been getting a call from Him. Whatever you choose to do, good luck!!!! But, if it were me, I would call it a sign and follow up with it. It doesn't have to mean go to church, you could visit with a pastor or someone who is a Christian to get more details.