Review: Catholic Guide to Depression

Catholic Guide to Depression by Aaron Kheriaty

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



If you or a loved one suffer from depression, anxiety or related disorders, then you need to read this book.

Although the title sounds like it could be something from The Onion, it really is apropos. This is a truly Catholic guide to depression. Aaron Kheriaty has done a masterful job of bringing together rigorous science and lively orthodoxy to explain how the *whole* person needs to be treated. John Paul II talked of how faith and reason, when both are rightly understood, never stand in conflict. This book is a wonderful example of truth that flies on "both wings" of faith and reason.

Since humans are both material and spiritual, it is important for doctors and therapists to consider the entire person in treatment. Depression is a complex and often elusive condition that can have physical, emotional, and spiritual causes. These causes can be interrelated and can contribute to each other. Treatment of depression, therefore, must deal with all of these facets of the human person. I wish I could find the exact quote, but he summarized this thought roughly like this: The Sacrament of Confession doesn't cure brain chemistry imbalance, and the analyst's couch cannot forgive sin.

The book consists of two main parts. The first is a thorough overview of depression itself. It is insightful and deeply sympathetic, written by someone who has obviously worked with many people over many years. The second part is "Overcoming Depression", dealing with medication, psychotherapy, and spiritual help for depression.

I found his discussion (starting on pg. 192) of the role of work (ordinary, daily work) in the recovery from depression as particularly insightful. It is a great meditation on the meaning and purpose of work, and it has inspired me to take a new look at how I view my job and family life.

This book is both accessible and inspiring. It will give you insight into depression, and tools to help yourself or others who struggle with depression.



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C# keyword: dynamic

Here's the latest C# feature I've come across: The dynamic keyword. I needed to call a generic function but wanted to pass it an object of anonymous type, and dynamic came to the rescue. This is really cool.

Another cool C# language feature: yield return

I just came across yield return in some C# code.  I didn't know about this feature.  If you don't, you should.

Review: One Man, One Woman: A Catholics Guide to Defending Marriage

One Man, One Woman: A Catholics Guide to Defending Marriage by Dale O'Leary

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book is an excellent resource. Dale O'Leary provides a thoughtful survey of recent research on the development of same-sex attraction (SSA), how it manifests differently in men and women, and views on how people experiencing SSA cope with it, and how therapists and counselors approach treating people who come to them for help in dealing with it. It is absolutely fascinating.

Following that, O'Leary discusses marriage and its role in society, and how redefining marriage to include homosexual relationships is likely to affect society. She devotes significant space to looking at how children and vulnerable women will be affected by widespread acceptance of this new definition of marriage.

In one sense, it is unfortunate that the books is subtitled, "A *Catholic's* Guide to Defending Marriage". It is true she writes from a Catholic point of view, but she is neither strident, nor partisan, nor does she spend a great deal of time on Catholic theology per se. Any Christian, indeed, any person of good will, who would like a better understanding of the dynamics of the development of SSA would benefit from reading this book.

One of the main points of this book is the need to draw a sharp distinction between same-sex attraction and the acting-out of that attraction by engaging in sexual acts. SSA is a psycho-sexual developmental disorder that has a large number of factors involved in its development. There is no sin involved with having SSA. The vast majority of people who are sexually attracted to people of the same sex have no choice in how they feel, and would gladly not feel that way if they could. In this way, SSA is very analogous to alcoholism or clinical depression. People who suffer from any of these disorders need our compassion, support and care.

But that compassion and care can not include affirming people with SSA in the acting-out of those desires through sexual encounters. Those *actions* are harmful and degrading. They lead to a whole host of negative outcomes that are well-documented through research and which resonate with common sense. People suffering from SSA need to know love, acceptance, hope, and freedom. They should know our friendship and genuine care. And that care needs to be in accord with the truth, not with the politically-correct fads that would consign them to a life of self-destructive behavior.

It's getting very late and I need to get up for work early tomorrow morning. Let me just finish by recommending this book to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the current political and social trends and conflicts involving homosexuality. It will be especially helpful to those with friends, family members, co-workers, or loved ones who have same-sex attraction.



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Review: The Strong-Willed Child: Birth Through Adolescence

The Strong-Willed Child: Birth Through Adolescence by James C. Dobson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I pulled our old copy of this book off the shelves because I was looking for some guidance for dealing with our youngest, who is about a year and a half old. Although I think the general approach to discipline he advocates is quite sound, I was hoping to find more specifics for dealing with children at that young age. Sadly, kids that young are really not the focus of the book.

It is interesting to see the range of reviews in this book. Many of the very negative ones seem to come from two sources:

- People who are vehemently opposed to any form for corporal punishment; These will, of course, not approve of Dobson's belief that it is appropriate in some circumstances. Dobson repeatedly emphasizes the need for fairness, clear expectations, moderation, appropriateness, and parental self-control when giving such punishment. He also continually drives home the fact that all such punishment must be within the framework of total love where a child always feels worthwhile, cared for, and safe. But there are many who equate physical punishment and child abuse, and all rational thought stops once they hear about spanking.

- People who disagree with Dr. Dobson because he is a Christian, or a conservative, or because he doesn't think homosexual behavior is healthy and must be promoted and affirmed; These people want to disagree with whatever else he says.

It is interesting, really, because he spends some time discussing Dr. Spock in this book. Dr. Spock wrote a very influential book on child-rearing back in the '50's. At the time of Dobson's book (the '70's), Spock was criticized by many for being too permissive, and encouraging parents to not be stern enough with their children. Dobson notes that many of Spock's critics were really made at him (Dr. Spock) because he opposed the U.S.'s involvement in the Vietnam war and therefore they misrepresented what Dr. Spock wrote. Things have come full circle. Now Dr. Dobson is being accused of being too harsh, but you can often see their complaints are really not because of what he wrote in this book. It is obvious that some of his detractors are actually angry with him for opposing abortion, or divorce, or homosexual behavior, or some other pet cause they may have.



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