DESCRIPTION BECOMES PRESCRIPTION: PSYCHOLOGY AS RELIGION
Psychology as Religion has seeped into our society, imposed its beliefs and values on us, and now rules our lives: just like official religion did in the past.
Vitz, in his book: Psychology as Religion (William B Eerdmanns Publishing Co. 1977. 2nd edition 1994), recognised this as long ago as 1977. He saw that Psychology as Religion already existed in his time in great strength throughout the United States; but now we can see that it has spread throughout the so-
As a result, other countries and cultures which do not conform to the values of Psychology as Religion, find themselves actively infected with those values through commerce, media and political interference. Indeed, they are often imposed through economic and political sanctions, or even by the military intervention of Western Nations in the name of ‘Liberal Democracy’.
But just a moment: aren't liberal values, like tolerance of diversity and freedom, things that we ought to accept and encourage? Many supporters of religion might say something similar. They might say something like: 'Shouldn't we all be in favour of loving our neighbour; like the Jews and Christians say? The short answer is 'yes'; but the longer answer is that religions and their beliefs and values get poisoned.
How Religions get Poisoned
Religions usually begin with someone spreading a set of beliefs and values which aim to benefit their fellow human beings. At that personal level, religions can be a positive influence. They may encourage kindness and honesty in relationships and build social groups that reflect these values.
So how is it that societies based on religion can lead to intolerance, bigotry and persecution?
The answer is that religions start to have nasty effects when a religion becomes a political instrument of the state. If we look at history we find that it is when kings, rulers arnd politicians decide to use religion for their own ends, that religion is perverted into an evil thing that has little to do with its original beliefs.
Can you imagine Jesus burning anyone at the stake; like the medieval so-
Prescriptive Psychology as an Established Religion . . . .
The Guernsey Maryrs:
Mother and child burnt at the stake