On Fri, 2 Mar 2001, Rick Froman wrote:
> certainly be no need for counselors. Even if you believe in the authority of
> the Bible, understanding of the scripture will still require thought and
> discernment and often people of good will end up on opposite sides of many
> issues. I wonder if that means that what they each believe is true for them
> or if it indicates that one or both of them must be wrong?
>
Many, many fundamentalists believe that the bible is clear and
self-evident, and does not require interpretation. I used to be one, so I
know.
When there is a disagreement among interpretation (e.g. over whether or
not to have musical instruments in church) among biblical literalists,
yes, they believe that one of them must be wrong, though an incorrect
interpretation, as long as it's made in good faith, will be forgiven by
god.
> 2) What are some examples of where biblical authority conflicts with any
> psychological theory worthy of the name theory (in other words, a
> psychological theory grounded in empirical data)?
It tends to be more a matter of values. For example, the bible says that
women--all women, all the time, through all periods in history--should be
submissive to their husbands. (Yes, some Christians preach "mutual
submission," but since the bible doesn't give the same instruction to
husbands that's a bit of an extension.) Most psychologists would believe
this to be in conflict with adults' needs for autonomy.
All of these words are subjective, of course, and you can jigger more or
less anything in clinical psychology or the bible so that it coheres. (One
undeniable problem is homosexuality.)
Robin
P.S. Regarding your response to my post about relative truth--yes, to the
extent that Christians claim their faith is a universal truth, I believe
them to be deluded. However, I do not wish to convert them to secular
humanism, because I don't think matters of faith are really decided by
reason, and because as long as they don't interfere with my rights then
it's none of my damn business. As a matter of politeness, I don't often
express my views to biblical literalists: both of us believes the other is
deluded, but since to their mind the consequences of my delusion are
heinously severe, it doesn't seem kind to remind them of it.
And I liked your joke about the e-mail.
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Robin Pearce "The wit of a graduate student is like champagne.
Boston University Canadian champagne."
[EMAIL PROTECTED] --Robertson Davies
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