It hurt my heart to learn that Matthew Warren, the son of Pastor Rick Warren, ended his life at age 27.
I didn’t even need to read the story to assume that Matthew’s death was caused by lifelong depression. Too often, suicide is the outcome of this kind of unrelenting pain.
Rick Warren is a homophobic cunt whose stance has done harm all around the world. He and his church have had a presence in Uganda, whipping up anti-gay fervor and violence.
But no one deserves the loss of a child. Pastor Warren probably did his best to help his son hang on. Sometimes your best isn’t enough.
Meanwhile, Matthew’s uncle led a prayer at the Saddleback Church, thanking his god for something or other. As if some god had a secret plan for poor Matthew, and could still be relied upon for anything.
I wish someone had at least made sure that Matthew didn’t have a gun! Is that too much to ask?
I have no one to pray to. I can only mourn the loss of another sweet vulnerable soul who couldn’t stick around. The world needs more of them, not less.
Another poor soul with asshole, devout, insane parents. Who was probably thought of as being a weak link in their lineage.
In actuality he was the best thing they had going for them.
Such a shame. So sad that bad parents leave such deep scars in their kids.
“Religion” seems to do more damage than good.
I felt very bad about this as well. My cousin’s son, 29 years old, committed suicide a month ago. Same reasons … he suffered from depression and was diagnosed as having bi-polar issues. I also feel that if Rick Warren’s son hadn’t had a gun, he might still be alive right now. It is tragic and sad.
My cousin killed himself on Dec. 15. He was a super healthy, positive guy, who was struck by depression like a piano falling off a 5-story building onto him. It was swift, severe and unstoppable. Everyone tried to help but he was a cop, so when family and friends tried to have him committed for 72 hours, he talked his way out of being taken away (twice) because the cops were his friends. You would have thought that the fact he looked like a concentration camp survivor and wasn’t showering would have tipped them off…
It’s just awful for everyone. I wish it weren’t so. I do believe in God and a happy afterlife with no regrets and no pain. I just think that the world we live in is our world, not God’s, and it is up to us to turn this into a good, decent place. Some days I have hope and others I don’t.
Hugs.
No you guys, it’s more important to have guns and support the NRA, to have wars and lots of violence on the news and for our entertainment, and spend lots and lots of money on said practices, than have any kind of reasonable mental health care. Trillions for war, and how much for reach out programs? And why do pastors/priests/god fearing people need guns? Thou shalt not kill, well except when . . . fill in the blank.
Is life so miserable on this planet that more and more people are becoming depressed and seeking a permanent way out? Are meds failing, or have they ever worked? Could it be that it’s a life style fail. We are a hard working, gadget driven, but unfulfilled population? Do we feel that we have little control over what happens to us and this planet except to be consumers? Is that the only way we can express ourselves is by buying and buying? Having things? I don’t know, I’m just asking, but it’s a big fail on society when young people seek this devastating and permanent solution to their state of depression/anger/joylessness/unhappiness/altered state of mind. I don’t know what the answer is, but it is not business as usual.
Debby – So sorry to hear about your cousin’s son. I hope she is able to cope. xo
Suebob – I love the way you manage to believe in god. And I’m so sorry about your cousin. You’re right, his weightloss should have been cause for concern. xo
Simmer down Kellie. You are using an illogical argument regarding Matthew taking his own life. Depression and Homosexuality and Religion and Asshole Devout Insane Parents. Please reflect and attempt to restate. You are extremely harsh.
Ann, “extremely harsh”? I think it’s a pretty good summary of the situation?
As someone who was lucky enough to get adequate help and overcome depression, I’m so very sorry that so many of the young, bright people were not.
Kellie said it best.
Sounds like there are a lot of us out there that struggle with depression and suicidal tendencies. I washed down a bunch of xanax with a bottle of vodka (not as fun as it sounds) and ended up falling down the stairs, blacking out for a full 24 hours and wetting my pants. Which is no less humiliating than most of my yearly reviews at work.
My love goes out to those still suffering, we are all in this together! Remember, the world is playing a game and the name of that game is “Who can appear more together?”. I suck at that game, and I’m ok with that!