Psychology vs. Religion:
Where the Two Shant Meet
Yesterday, while waiting for Allen to finish his workout (he
ran about 20 minutes longer than I—because he can), I sat in the lobby of the
YMCA and read the local Christian magazine. As I leafed through the pages, I
noticed two articles about psychology that intrigued me. I guess I wondered
more if the articles would diverge from the science of psychology to fit the
belief of the Christian Psychologist.
Over the years of my life, I have watched as proclaimed
therapists and psychologist have eschewed the science of psychology to try to
warp people’s minds by trying to “convert” them from homosexuality,
transsexuality, and different ways of thinking that don’t converge with the
bias of their belief. These articles I’d read were no different. I feel as if
the articles would have gone down a scientific path based on actual studies and
informed research, had the authors not had to pander to the religious bias of
the magazine.
This bothers me as much as a political or religious figure
pretending to be anti-gay, when some of his or her best friends just happen to
be gay. Some even have family members battling it out, as we’ve seen recently
the former Vice President’s daughters feuding bipartisan imbalance where gay
meets religion. Seriously? How many states and federal agencies have to
proclaim we have rights before the religious right stops its defiance over gay
people’s first amendment rights?
Personally, I’m tired of people pretending to be
gay-friendly, when they vote for political leaders who stymie the opportunity
for the entire United States to be fair and equal concerning GLBT rights. Many
gay people pay a lot of taxes, just as much, probably, as some of the very
wealthiest in the U.S. We deserve to be treated like first-class citizens.
Psychology is by definition the “scientific” study of the
mind and its functions. It’s not the religion of the mind and it’s functions.
So, can psychology and religion merge when bias exists? From what I’ve seen in
Christian counseling, I don’t believe it can. Now, I have to say that plenty of
religions have overcome the bias and are working to merge these new beliefs
with the counseling that goes on in their churches. But religions such as
Pentecostal, which is where I have my roots, Catholicism, Baptists, and Church
of Christ, Hinduism, and many other strong rule-based religions still will seek
to find their own form of counsel instead of bending toward the scientific.
In my religion (either Unity or Centers of Spiritual Living)
is where psychology and religion actually meet, which is a quieting relief. No
bias exists about any culture or sexuality, so love and peace is taught instead
of intolerance. How can you NOT buy into a religion that is about spreading
love instead of prejudice and hate?
It’s time for people who have family and friends who walk the
path of intolerance, stand up for yourself and extricate these people from your
lives. You only allow them their because you don’t have the faith in your own
truth. If you believed in yourself and in your power as a son or daughter of
God, no matter what anyone says or does concerning that belief, you wouldn’t
tolerate disharmony in your life. I make laws against it. If someone in my life
even hints at being anti-gay in their voting or belief, I simply let them go
from my intimate life. I’m not saying I’m unfriendly or exchange my tolerance
for their intolerance. I’m merely sharing that I dismiss them from any intimacy
in my life.
If we all did this (gay and gay friendly), we probably would
have a clearer picture of right and left in the country. Perhaps, there would
be a lot less people floundering in the middle, and way more on the left. Who
knows, really, until people quit trying to balance in the middle.
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The masses search outward for things that qualify them as a
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