Point and counter point???? <fwd>

[Guest guest]

Fortunately, there is some sanity among Addiction

Psychologists - this is from APA Div50

--- Begin Forwarded Message ---

I thought this list which I just joined was to serve as a polite exchange

of ideas. You, and to a great extent ***, have demonstrated

what evangelism

masquerading as science sounds like. Diatribe you say? Don't you mean

differing point of view? Or is " carrying the message " more important than

reason or anything else?

Clearly you folks [*** and ******* - let's not go further]

have a message

to carry. That is your announced purpose, your 12th step. I accept that you

have every right to do so, except when you act as a psychologist and are

required to treat each client as an individual with individual needs which

may differ from your own.

But examining the evidence, beyond your personal experiences, is not a

diatribe nor is your message sacred to anyone but those of your

post-Oxford-Group religion [and I'm not calling you nuts, just religious,

so please don't accuse me of that as you did Pete]. If some approach,

religious or otherwise, helped you [or you believe it helped you which is

all anyone can conclude] that's fine and dandy for you. But note that

people often mis-attribute causes and such mis-attributions ought not

become the basis for clinical practice. And to impose your personal

spiritual beliefs on every person you can, even when it hurts them, as has

been demonstrated in some research, is unprofessional and unreasonable. And

if anyone expressing an opposing point of view is offering a " diatribe "

then the ad homonym argument rules. And that would be a pity since

psychology like medicine and social work and other health sciences are

based on science and research, not on religious beliefs and the messages

which they hold should be carried to all who will hear them as [pardon the

simile] gospel.

I hope that there is more to Div 50's list than one more platform for

endless attacks on science by the self appointed masters of the Lord's

truth. I practice my spiritual and religious beliefs as a private citizen,

but as a psychologist I would never dream of imposing my beliefs on my

clients or attempt to convert my fellow psychologists to my faith -- no

matter how wonderful I believe my faith is for me. You,

*******, may

certainly agree with ***'s point of view, but a " lucid

critique " ?? It seems

that Pete was offering the lucid critique and *** was

" carrying the

message. " Let's drop the message and review the research -- please.