It is of first importance that this is not myth,

Yesterday the term myth was used about the Christian faith. I commented that I have problems with the word myth, and two commentators suggested that it was a true myth: Christianity has the emotional power of myth but it is also historically true.

I am still not sure. The readings today sound historical, not myth.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-11

3For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, 4and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

MATTHEW 11:2-6

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

For Paul, it was of first importance that the death and resurrection of Jesus was true. For John, it was of first importance that Jesus was the messiah and he doubted.

The doubting was not important. Jesus tolerated the doubting. He gave a gracious answer. Paul did not see the death and resurrection of Jesus as a convenient explanation (such as psychoanalytic theory). He saw it as a fact.

The passion around this came from his experience of the risen Christ. That was Paul’s experience. I pray that it may be ours.

CPAC Vancouver Day 1.

I am in Vancouver at the Canadian Psychiatric Meeting, which is taking over two hotels…

By the time I got registered I had missed some of the first session, but did hear two talks — one on education on Mental Health and direct referral to community follow-up decreased liaison use and increased intern confidence in Ottawa, and a second on how a preclinical programme in Calgary decreases stigma and increases medical students choosing psychiatry.

I then went to a meeting designed to set up a nationwide group of tertiary psychiatrists dealing with the most seriously mentally ill. This was done years ago in Australia, NZ and the UK. It needs to be done in Canada, but they should look at what is happening elsewhere and build on that not just reinvent the wheel

After spending most of last night revising the talk, I had 15 minutes for 22 slides. With a very small audience — we started with six people in the room, of whom four were presenters.

However, that session included an analysis of community treatment orders which showed an improvement in death rate among those on orders (HR 0.6 95% CI 0.5 — 0.7). The author, Kisely, had done previous reviews which showed very little evidence for orders working.

The other two presenters talked about anxiety disorders and suicidal ideation (generalised worry and social phobia had higher associations)and Daneloo’s brief intervention being efficacious over 10 years.

I enjoyed that last session, even though the audience was small.