California professor, writer of confidential Brett Kavanaugh letter, speaks out

[donquixote99]

Classic Christian doctrine holds despair as a sin. While I personally believe in neither Christianity nor sin, I still see the moral wisdom in this.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Classic Christian doctrine holds despair as a sin. While I personally believe in neither Christianity nor sin, I still see the moral wisdom in this.

Only if one believes "sin" to be inherent and involuntary.
Despair is involuntary, ones' reaction to it may or may not be. The difficulty resisting a self-destructive response is the issue.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by Pio1980

Only if one believes "sin" to be inherent and involuntary.
Despair is involuntary, ones' reaction to it may or may not be. The difficulty resisting a self-destructive response is the issue.

I sort of challenge 'involuntary.' When an emotional reaction like that comes along, you sort of have options sometimes. You can jump on and ride it, or you can argue with it, or you can just wait for it to go away.

[Pio1980]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

I sort of challenge 'involuntary.' When an emotional reaction like that comes along, you sort of have options sometimes. You can jump on and ride it, or you can argue with it, or you can just wait for it to go away.

Waiting or distraction works most of the time, a pile-on of overwhelming challenges can overcome such measures. "Riding" despair is something I wouldn't do, the path goes down in a death spiral.