Friday, October 28, 2005

THERAPISM

When I wrote and circulated a short essay on October 27, 2005 on Counseling and Concupiscence I was not aware of a recent book which some of my readers may find helpful – not with understanding the denial of concupiscence as such, but with the absorption with counseling in the USA and in churches in particular who tend to follow the dominant culture.

It is ONE NATION UNDER THERAPY: How the helping culture is eroding self-reliance (St Martin Press, 2005, 310 pages $23.95), Christian Hoff Sommers and Sally Satel define and explain THERAPISM and its influence on America.

If you want to know about the pursuit of self-esteem, of getting in touch with your feelings, of relying on counselors for all problems in life, then here is a place to start – and if you want more there are references to hundreds of books and articles.

Therapism valorizes openness, emotional absorption and the sharing of feelings and it presupposes an anguished and apprehensive public that requires a vast array of therapists, self-esteem educators, grief councelors, workshoppers, healers, traughmatologists and CLERGY to lead it through the trials and challenges of everyday life.

When clergy get involved they tend to forget the biblical doctrines of sin and of concupiscence in the soul!

October 28, 2005 petertoon@msn.com

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