Taxpayer-Funded Humanist Propaganda

At a community centre in Christchurch yesterday, I found a display of pamphlets on a stand. Produced by the Ministry of Health, there are four pamphlets in the series, and they are entitled Feeling Good, Good Communications, Grief and Loss and Anger, Conflict, Bullying. The Anger and Communications pamphlets are not that bad. However, tax-payer's dollars should not be used to produce the politically correct drivel which is contained in other two. That's not to say that they have no worth at all, but they will not ultimately help people who need the help that the pamphlets appear to be offering. Flicking through the pages of these snazzy, upbeat tri-fold pamphlets, I was surprised to find that they were published in 1994. If these are fourteen years old, I would hate to see a revised 2008 version. Below are a few excerpts from the pamplets, with my comments in italics - will try to keep them brief!

Feeling Good Pamphlet

Do you want to feel happy? Do you want to have an inner strength that no one can take away from you? Then try some of the following ...If you have negative thoughts, catch yourself and turn the thoughts around."

Negative thoughts are important - simply ignoring them because they are negative is foolish.

Encouraging and Praising yourself: You don’t have to wait for someone else to give you praise and encouragement - you can do it yourself..."

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth - Proverbs 27:2

Accepting yourself: It’s natural to like some things about yourself more than others. Try to accept yourself - both the good things, and the points you don’t feel happy about..."

No, if there are problems in your life, simply accepting them will not help you one iota. You need to work at solving the problems, and accept suggestions and criticisms from friends and family

Expressing yourself: People sometimes think their feelings are either “good” or “bad”. For example, being happy is good, being sad is bad. In fact, no one can be happy all the time. No feelings are either right or wrong. They just are. It is better to accept feelings than to push them away, because there is always a reason for how you feel... ...Express your feelings in words to yourself or others. Say how you’re feeling clearly and directly. Express your feelings by yourself by doing anything creative like music or art, having a cry, writing them down, hitting your pillow or shouting out loud."

No, there are good and bad feelings - and there are feelings that it is imperitive that we push out of our minds as quickly as possible. Writing down your feelings or hitting a pillow or shouting is not going to help.

Treating yourself well involves getting used to being relaxed about yourself and being kind to yourself.
You can do this by giving yourself gifts like: Doing something you enjoy e.g. listening to your favourite music, reading, playing sport. Going out and having a good time."

To truly feel good, you should do good to others. The Bible teaches that our duty is first to Jesus, then to Others, then to ourselves (You), and that is how to find true JOY.

Being Happy by Yourself: Spending time alone gives you a chance to get to know yourself better. This can be scary at first, but over time it becomes less weird and more enjoyable."

Do we really need the Government to tell us to spend time by ourselves to get to know ourselves better?

Grief and Loss Pamphlet

"Escape from your grief for a while by listening to some of your favourite music, going to the movies, playing sport or reading. Anything that gives you a rest from it."

Though there are some good recommendations made in this pamplet, the awful thing is that it offers no hope. Temporary measures for dealing with grief are discussed, but really, what can a godless, humanistic Government department offer grieving people in the way of genuine hope or comfort?

An excerpt from the Anger pamphlet is worthy of mention,

"There are things you can do to let your anger out without hurting yourself or others. You are ANGRY! Go to a place on your own. Talk, swear, bang a pillow, do something physical. Get the anger out of you. Use your anger energy somewhere else. Go for a run, hit a punching bag."

---

I think if you wanted to sum up the message of the four pamphlets in just one sentence, it would be this:

"We don't need God"

The simple fact is, the Government has no business telling people how to think and act. It is the responsibility of friends, families, community groups and Churches to give what support is needed to people who are struggling. Not Nanny State.


I believe that the timeless hymn, What a Friend we Have in Jesus has much more to offer on the questions which the Governement's little pamphlets fail so miserably to address.



1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.

2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.