Name: William Alexander Garcia Leonarto

NRP: 5018201053
Department: Naval Architecture

Summary of Psychology as Religion

This book is a contemporary psychology that enters the realm of science in the everyday
life, from economic to now, religion. This book will talk about the theories from major
theorist, Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, Rollo May, and
existential philosophy. These theories explained how us related to the effect of religion
and the narcissism. The critical point is mostly Christian and based on Christian theology.
These will explain the psychology takes out the religion exist.
1. Major Theorists
These theorists are contributor of the self-theory and a committed to the concept
of the self. Some still hold unto Freudian Theory instead a self-theory.
a. Carl Jung
Jung theory give the positive, synthetic concepts that serve as conscious goal
not only for therapy, but also for life. His method, Heilsweg, which means the
twofold sense: a way of healing and salvation. These processes both ethically
and intellectually hard. The last stage is process called self-realization.
Understanding their collective and personal unconscious and interpretation.
b. Erich Fromm
Fromm denied Freud emphasis that the dead instinct is similar in importance
as life instinct. In contrast, fromm emphasized society as major determinant in
personality. Fromm neglect the unconscious psychoanalytics. The last is the
indifference of one’s own self and self-mutilation, but the affirmation of his truly
human self, the supreme value of humanistic ethics. From concept of
Christianity arose from proletariat class frustrated in its hope for political and
social change that turned to salvation in fantasy world of supernatural, rise into
humankind is God.
c. Carl Rogers
His technique of non-directive or client-centered concentrated on his theory of
personality and therapy. These for “becoming a person”. The relationship
created genuinely and transparent. He interpreted therapy as a process of
changing and growing self. The significant continuum is from fixity to
changingness, from rigid to flow. At first, their therapeutic process is fixed,
static. Feeling expressed freely as in the present, close to being fully
experience. Self is subjectivity present in the experience.
d. Abraham Maslow
Maslow are famous for postulating the hierarchy of human need. The basic
hierarchy starting from basic physiological and safety need, proceeding to
 belonging and love, self-esteem, and status, and last the need for self-
realization. Maslow also described the characteristic of a person with ideal type
of self-realization, including efficient perception of reality and comfortableness.
e. Rollo May and Existential Psychology
Existential psychology concept is probably that of “being there” which means
the awareness of one’s existence that is fundamental. Taking from the
Descartes which left with “I AM; therefore, I think, I feel, I do. Awareness and
condition of nothingness given rise to emotion of anxiety, so the context of
existentialist is the experience of the treat of imminent non-being. Rollo may
describe universe characteristic which is Umwelt (the world around), Mitwelt
(the world with), and Eigenwelt (The own world). Rollo May may not be related
to Carl Rogers therapy, but he also develops therapy with existential aspect.
The final significant point is the claim of existential psychology that a natural
science of human bein is impossible. It starts with isolated self, aware, basic
existence, but confronted by nonexistence and emotion of dread.
2. Self-Theory for Everybody
Since the theorist’s concept are intellectually written, therefore it must be written
by using popular idea and word. The border between populariser and theorist is
quite vague. New forms of popularized self-theory are actually arising.
a. Self-Esteem
The usual focus has been the self-actualization. Therefore, it is hard to focus
on self-esteem. The basic idea of self-esteem is the student should be told how
wonderful and important they are by the teacher. A task force in California
developed self-esteem in their curriculum. They think that self-esteem is the
one that cause everything bad, but self-esteem is not even linked to
performance, even have the failure possibility. The concept of self-esteem is
complex, and no causation leads to performance, or anything. From 1989
study, it showed that math competence is inversely related to self-esteem. Self-
esteem just a feel-good psychology that keeping from accurate perception nof
reality. Be genuine and not relying on self-esteem is a basic trust. Do not track
them into illusion of good, because soon reality will puncture their illusions.
Treat self-esteem as response, not cause. God made us in his image, but on
the other hand, we have nothing on our own to be proud of.
b. Self-Serving Bias
People have reliable tendency to interpret event that aligned to their belief or
system even if it is unjustified. The focus is the extreme and unrealistic self-
love which psychologist called “narcissism”.
c. Encounter Group
Self-theory that spread has been the small group, which are T-groups, gestalt
therapy, and creativity workshop. Small thoughtful changes has encountered
to boost the effectiveness and consequences.
d. Recovery Groups
 Group enthusiasm is group movement. These group have been the fist form of
American psychotherapy to introduce religions and moral/ First, these group
fosters narcisim, further criticism is the peculiar notion of God.
e. Self-Helpers
Personality is made up of ego state which resemble parental figure,
autonomously directed toward objective appraisal of reality and those
reprecent archaic relics
f. Est and Forum
Forum, was primarily a business to make profit. Seminar were trained to
resemble closely as possible both the teaching and the personality of Werner
Erhad. The goal is to transform ability to experience living, not believe, but
experience
g. Self-Help Sex
Major ways to being receptive is expressing love through sex. Self-theory and
the connection of money and comfort. The high degree is imposible in any
serious long-term relationship.
3. Selfism is bad science
Self-theory is widely popular, secular, and humanistic cult or “religion”, not a
branch of science. Fromm’s set clearly the aggressive ideological character of kind
of secular humanism. We called as “self” and the term “selfism” to refer to religion
of self which are self-expression, creativity, and the like.
a. Psychiatry, Biology, and Experimental Psychology
Selfism criticism comes from word psychoanalysis and psychiatry, animal
behavioural study by biologist or enthologist, psychologist. Psychiaris reject
selfism as a reverse of optimistic, superficial, and conscious interpretation of
mind.Ethologist fully accept aggression as one of the basic characteristic of
animal.
b. Are we intrinsically all that good?
The extreme the selfism about intrinsic goodness of human nature is quite.
Most book unanimously assume the goodness of self and rarely discuss the
self-expression that led to narcissism, exploitation, or sadism. Roger’s
statement suggest the limits to which he goes and postulate the fundamental
processes central to therapy where client feel the unconditional positive self-
regard. There are Fromm argument that aware about evil and theoretical
importance of his position. These passages also explain about the weaknesses
of Fromm argument
4. From a Philosophical Point of View
Selfism difficulty is the proponent fail adequately to define the central concept
which is self. The problem comes from existentialist. From them, the concept of
“self” is self-evident. The “I” or “me” is accepted at face value of valid. Another
important problem is the conflicting part and layer of self. If there are layers of self,
which are the “real” self?
a. The empty self
 The self by Cushman defines as a social construct and defined by group or
historical context within which an individual life. Cushman’s basic thesis is the
traditional self, stripped of its long-standing social identity, was essentially
“emptied”. Cusmans also argues that psychotherapy has been called upon give
meaning to people suffering from personal emptiness
b. A basic contradiction
The concept of self is distinct from general psychological self. The notion of
exsistential self present major philosophical difficulties which is self is a choice.
Closely ofn major existential assumptions are accepting the existence of self
(eigenwelt). Because you did not choose them, all are not authentic.
c. Browning’s Critique
Roger and maslow both transform self-actualization. Assertion that self
provides recipe for solving all our higher moral problems. Self-actualism is a
suitable instrument for discovering the most satisfying behavior in immediate
situation.
d. Ethical and scientific misinterpretation.
The combination of science and ethic. A weakness of selfists is the psychology
as a science somehow vertified the valus of secular humanism found in self-
theory.
5. Selfism and the family
a. The isolated individual
Selfism are not conducive and social destructiveness can be attributed to
characteristic of psychotherapy itself.
b. Self-theory and divorce
Many self-theorist state that a relationship between a man and woman is
significant as a “nonbinding commitment”.
c. Parents as the souce of our troubles
The intense father son requires this explanation which emerge a old prejudice
known as scapegoating.
d. Christianity and the family
In contrast, the traditional Christianity supports the family and family is the basic
model for society. Family is small-scale, living embodiment of its theology.
6. Self-Theory and The schools
a. Values Clarification
The model in the context of confusing contemporary scene. Focuses on valuing
process such as choosing from alternatives, choosing one’s beliefs and
behaviours, prizing one’s belief and behaviour, acting on one’s beliefs.
b. Self-theory Critique
The additional from evidence to value clarification
c. Philosophical critique
Moral position is personal relativism: something is good or bad. These
contradictions completely undermine the coherence of the system.
d. Critique of procedure and strategies
 Strategies are easily used vehicle for discussing and clarifying values that
involve questions, and other consequences.
e. Research evaluating values clarification.
Only a proportion of writings represents focused, relatively rigorous research.
f. A violation of privacy critique
The technique of values clarification often very seriously violates the privacy.
Privacy also helps to maintain our psychological well-being.
g. Why has values clarification been so popular?
A popularity of value clarification guided by the reasons that led to definition of
value clarification.
h. Conclusion: why value clarification must be rejected
The issue of social anarchy and common sense that tells us certain value are
obviously valid.
7. Selfism and Today’s Society
a. A creed for the youth and yuppie culture
Difficulty with selfism locates psychologically important event in society. Is the
pose of rebellion, the cliches of hostility and enthusiasm of sex.
b. A nation of victims
People characterize by motivation are vulnerable. Recovery groups are in
many respects about learning that one is a victim. Economy take downturn for
any period, political would become overwhelming.
c. Selfism and language
I feel that conclusions were not justified and contrast to possessive words, also
in Christian worship with primacy of God’s action and Word.
d. Psychology for consumer society
Selfism is the perfect consumer philosophy, marketing, competitive, will
diminishes in selfist personality because the creation of material and social
condition. Experimentation is central to all technological advances.
8. Selfism and Christianity: Historical Antecedents
a. Feuerbach
Selfism is never refer to historical origins of their ideas, but give impression that
genuinely new – a system of ideas. The book consist of divinity of Christ and
existence of God with theology be resolved into anthropology
b. American Sources
American psychological emphasis on traditional individualism, that always
mitigated into conservative and the other are civic virtue.
c. Fosdick and Peale
His book set tones about relativity, movement of immobility assuming the idea
of progress had not only dominant but also the correct view of history.
d. Pietism
Pietism was a reaction against the arid, intellectualistic, authoritarian form.
e. The special case of Carl Rogers
 Carl ideas and Dogma has rendered Christianity permanently out of date. His
influence of Kilpatrick and Dewey and derive a selfist psychology and the
progressive philosophy which dominates much of America’s educational
system.

9. Psychology and the new age movement

Rarely for new age movement analysed in psychological roots.
a. Social and economic support for new age
Several clear social and economic factors just as the act of rejecting a person
because of his or her beliefs. Another support is the Protestantism that
contrasted very strongly with dryness in much liberal Protestantism.
b. Psychological origins of new age
Psychology has major intellectual and social into cultural. However, primary
psychological origins is humanistic psychology that crafted by Maslow, and Carl
Roger. In addition, Eric Fromm contribution mostly from cultural and social.
c. New age as new Gnosticism
Gnosticism which implied proposed knowledge as a key to the meaning of life.
Some Gnostics borrow concept from Greek philosophy.
d. New age spirituality: from psychological to spiritual self-worship
Tendency of accepting responsibility of success and tag failure to external
causes that outside of their control.
10. Christian Critique
f. Selfism as Idolatry
The Christian problems is on self not the potential paradise, awareness of sin
and correcting unself-actualized into trust in God.
g. The problem of depression
Depression is not simple, many from biological origins and psychological
origins which disguised as form of self-worship.
h. The problem of the human doorman
Many self-psychologies in response to people, in this case the abusive
relationship that led to destructive pattern.
i. Christian love and selfist love
Not only self and self-love, but also nature love. Reflection that Christ
summarize whole law into two commands.
j. Creativity and creator
Creativity conceived as personal growth through self-expression, Chrisitan
emphasis on developing one abilities in the service of God and other.
k. Nature of suffering
The meaning of suffering is consequent pain in Christian. Religion accept the
existence of sin, illustion and death then provided a way to transform them.
11. A political response
l. The problem for psychology
 Profession of psychology is compromised position because of humanist-selfist
religion. In this paragraph, the book talks about American Pychological
Association.
m. The problem for Christianity
Entire generation is deeply influence by Christianity, The writer fears the
underestimation of power and value, controlling system. Complains about the
exclusion of religious merely expected position of bunch repressed.
12. Beyond the secular self
n. Bias in being “objective”
Assumption that science is objective, method is profoundly ideological.
o. The object’s revenge
Power ain objectifies moore objects come under control feeds self-growth or
individuation. Becoming autonomous, independent of the object
p. The dilemma of existential narcissism
Distance create intense for closeness, when controlled by object, the problem
emerge.
q. Escape from self
First, the self and object fused. Second, selfist or self as subject, developed
person expand into new types of experience. Third, Transcendent self or self
as God’s object, which is the way out is to lose self and becoming object in love
and service of God.
13. A new Christian Future?
r. The end of modern heroism
Secular heroics convince us for intrinsic worth, traditional politic become
manipulated process of image control, Hedonism.
s. The failure of careerism
Ideal career is sputter, narcissistic focus on maintaining career that led to social
isolation. In high expectations for success of so many young people and
economic growth slowed considerably.
t. The tribalist temptation
Post modern as anti-modern, which in many respect begun to deceivably away
from secularism
u. The Emerging opportunity
Major social changes restrict our choices which to continue an identification
with modern secular value, and tribal ideal as alternative. Christianity has
opportunity to provide important answer to this dilemma. Christianity has
opportunity to resolve emerging problem.