Dr
Peter Saunders of Christian Medical Comment had a very interesting post
recently. In it he noted that when ideology drives medical science an
intellectual dishonesty results. I think he has an excellent point.
It
certainly seems that the link between abortion and breast cancer (as demonstrated
by a number of studies) is not being acknowledged in modern gynaecological medicine,
and that there is psychological opposition to ‘Change Therapy’; a treatment for
unwanted same-sex attraction (here), probably based on the
idea that homosexuals are ‘born that way’ (n fact, no biological evidence for
this has been scientifically established. I fact, studies of identical twins
strongly suggest there is no biological cause). Quite obviously, when links
between abortion and cancer are ignored or treatments for disordered
inclinations opposed by ‘professionals’, the average secular person simply goes
along with the professional voices while militant atheists use them as leverage
for bringing about legislation which is contrary to science and to common
sense.
Is
it not the case that practicing medicine and formulating legislation in accord
with ideologies rather than natural law has allowed millions of babies to be discarded
in the IVF process? Is it not the case that this has given rise to women not
being properly informed about the link between breast cancer and abortion as
demonstrated by several studies? Is it not the case that society has been hoodwinked
into accepting homosexuality on the false premise that it is something with
which they are born? As a result of ideology-driven medicine and legislation, the
prosecution of good Christian people for their faith has begun. Note the
prosecution of the hoteliers who refused to accept bookings by same-sex
pairings (here); the sacking of a Registrar because she could not
register same-sex associations as marriage (here); the
disciplining of airline stewards and nurses etc. for wearing a crucifix (here).
All this points to the tolerant society being intolerant of Christianity, and
intolerance is in fact bigotry; a small-mindedness that refuses to allow others
the right of conscience. When it is backed up by legislation we have oppressive
legislative practice; persecution of Christians by prosecution in the courts.
It
all comes back to the ideology known as person-centred theory, which has spread
through society like a poison. In this theory the focus is on the self and the
desires of the ego, which is intrinsically anti-other and therefore anti-society.
It cannot be otherwise when the basic thrust of person-centred theory is the unholy
trinity of “I, Me and Myself”; the “what I think; I feel, I
need is my right, otherwise I am being oppressed”. Legislation
and medical practice which acquiesce to the ‘unholy trinity’ only promotes and
protects the chaos and disorder we see in modern society. Socio-political philosophy
must critically re-consider the “I me myself” ideologies, taking full note of
the societal chaos resulting from the implementation of the person-centred
ideology from which it springs.
Meanwhile,
those claiming to seek and promote “the tolerant society” must give up what many see as their
hypocrisy and practice tolerance toward Christians and others of faith.
You appear to substantially misunderstand the theoretical under-pinning of person centred therapy Father. It's certainly not an ideology and it's stance is non-directive and neutral. It seeks to assist and guide people into discerning their own way, nothing more or less. If you don't mind me saying so, you appear to be heading the same way as reactionary fundamental Christians. If you can't understand something then you shouldn't show your ignorance by condemning it. By the way, the ego is a psychoanalytic concept which wouldn't be recognised in person centred therapy cf karl rogers.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dr Alan.
DeleteI am aware that the ‘ego’ is a concept in psychoanalytic theory as postulated by Freud, and that Rogerian theory does not have such a concept, but eclectic therapists borrow from all kinds of schools without misunderstanding one or the other or both.
Rogerian therapy is, in my view, inherently self-contradictory (t directs its practitioners to be non-directive) and requires them to leave behind their own value system (this surely excludes the practitioner being totally genuine with the client).
In that the Church has a Doctrine which is eternal and objective she is bound to have problems with a system that espouse the relativism of “find your own values free from external influences”.
Blessings of the season to you.