Dear Santosh,
The connection between Spirituality and Psychotherapy is so well accepted in
scientific literature published by different researchers in different parts of
the world by different religious inclinations, that it does not require
anecdotes in Newspapers to draw sweeping or weeping conclusions. The anecdote
referred to in my post served as a convenient nail to hang the coat about the
concept of Spirituality in modern scientific medicine,yes I repeat Spirituality
in modern scientific medicine. That your hope that"No religion or supernatural
belief system should be ever mixed with science or scientific medicine" stands
as much chance as an ice cube in fire to survive ,since it is not supported by
scientific evidence. Quite to the contrary it is accepted that " the various
schools of psychotherapy subscribe to an underlying theory of working which is
informed by a BELIEF SYSTEM." ( Refer Spirituality in Counselling and
Psychotherapy by Dennis Lines Sage
Publications, New Delhi) Whether the School of therapy be Freudian, Jungian,
Rogerian, or any other system including Logotherapy, they all have underlying
BELIEF PREDICATES/PROPOSITIONS.
Leave alone psychotherapy, the Harvard School of Medicine through its Dept. of
Continuing Medical Education conducts programmes on "SPIRITUALITY AND HEALING
IN MEDICINE" and this programme has been accredited by the Accredition Council
for Continuing Medical Education ( ACCME) . Even a cursory glance at published
medical literature, let alone a deep study, should be able to convince you that
Spirituality and Spiritual Practices have physiological effects that have not
only been measured under SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY CONDITIONS but have also been
shown to be predictable and replicable.
The Psychiatrist is as much at risk in his professional health as an industrial
workman or firefighter or soldier or kite flyer! An article " SPIRITUALITY AND
OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS OF PSYCHIATRY" by DR. J P Pandarakalam (which will be
forwarded to you seperately due to current space constraints) would help you
re-visit your unscientific beliefs grounded in casuistry.
Permit me to assert that " Extensive therapy can foster narcissism for
individuals who are so absorbed with themselves that they fail to see that
healing may require them to seek an engagement with others" ( whom they so
conveniently demonise) As a noted personage once remarked ,the problem with
psychiatry is that it does not lead patients to become penitents.This posture
stymies the realisation of their human potential. What theologians refer to as
"SIN", lawyers refer to as "CRIME" and Psychiatrists as "COMPLEX". Very much
before Psychiatry was born , these symptoms which modern psychiatry refers to
as "neuroses" and "psychoses", were recorded in plays of Shakespeare. It is
understanding the content and context that the healing power of the Sacrament
of Reconciliation (Confession) comes into great use.
With every good wish,
Gerry.
