See comments below...
> The most painful case I had in this regard was a=20 > man who had strong Catholic religious beliefs-who > believed deeply that homosexual urges and behavior=20 > were sinful and yet who experienced uncontrollable=20 homosexual > desires. His choices were to drink=20 himself into sever alcoholism > or kill himself if > he didn't alter his worldview. Do you try to=20 > alter the world view or watch him die slowly or=20 > more quickly-perhaps taking someone else with him?=20 > > > > The thing to challenge hear is the limited choices. > > > > Why was there no choice to dialog about the problem? > > > > Why was there no choice to challenge (dessent) on the > > > > "sinfulness" of the urges? Most priest I talk to say > > > > the urges themselves are not sinful but the acts that > > > > they produce. So then various courses of action could > > > > have been explored. Also levels of sin should have been > > > > discussed. Obviously, according to Catholic tradition, > > > > killing himself would have been a far worse sin than say > > > > masturbation or even homosexual contact. Drunkness is > > > > also a sin. Certainly the cognitive dissonace is there > > > > and that should have been explored. Are there ways to > > > > lessen or simply live with the dissonance (I know that > > > > many Catholics do this in the area of birth control). I agree with you Herb. The above quote that you responded to was posted by someone other than me. There are more options than just alter his worldview or watch him die. There are also more options than either abandon Catholicism or abandon homosexuality. The questions you raise are precisely the kinds of questions that I hope would be raised in therapy with this fellow. > > I have my own personal beliefs about the truthfulness of a Christian > > worldview, but it is not my role to force that on clients who decide > > not to embrace a similar worldview. > > > > This is the biggest problem. To even try to assume that there > > > > is an objective "truth" about a religious belief is as ludicrous > > > > as determining the "truth" of a political belief. Religion is often > > > > based upon revelation and tradition. It's not a matter of "truth". > > > > What you do have is your own beliefs either counter or supportive > > > > but no more closer to "the truth". Although, to respectfully disagree with you, by asserting that there is no objective truth, aren't you in fact stating an objective truth? If you believe passionately that everything is relative, isn't that an absolute statement? In the final analysis, doesn't it boil down to one of two options: (1) there is a God, or (2) there is not a God. What are the options other than these two choices? Also, if there is a problem with me believing in the truthfulness of a Christian worldview, wouldn't there also be a problem in an atheist believing in the truthfulness of his/her position that there is no God. Following this, isn't there a problem in someone believing in the truthfulness of his/her statement that there is no objective truth? On a related note, what is wrong with someone believing that their religious beliefs are the truth if they don't insist that others conform to their beliefs? Granted this is a tricky issue, as all of us our influenced by our worldviews and belief systems and we likely subtly influence others even when we don't intend to do so. There is some interesting writing in the psychotherapy literature these days about the role of values in psychotherapy. Some have argued that psychotherapy should be a value-free process. Others have more accurately (I believe) argued that psychotherapy can not be a process that is devoid of values. > > > > Instead, what we should be doing with those whose > > > > religious beliefs are different form our own is > > > > explore what that means to them and how they integrate > > > > their beliefs into their own lives. It doesn't matter > > > > if we think those beilefs are valid or not. What is of > > > > most importance is what the client/patient believes and > > > > how it affects his/her behavior and coping with life. I thought that was the point that I was trying to make, too! On this point I agree with you wholeheartedly! Do you know what the funny thing is? I don't remember how this thread even started! Thanks for your comments, Herb. Rod ______________________________________________ Roderick D. Hetzel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Psychology LeTourneau University President-Elect, Division 51 American Psychological Association Department of Psychology LeTourneau University Post Office Box 7001 2100 South Mobberly Avenue Longview, Texas 75607-7001 Office: Heath-Hardwick Hall 115 Phone: 903-233-3312 Fax: 903-233-3246 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage: http://www.letu.edu/people/rodhetzel --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.325 / Virus Database: 182 - Release Date: 2/19/2002 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
