Subj : PSYCHOANALYSIS
To   : BOB EYER
From : DAVE OLDRIDGE
Date : Tue Oct 31 2000 03:07 pm

BE> >>The Church probably had this better covered with confession and
BE> >>absolution....

BE> -I would take issue with this, mainly on the ground that the
BE> -parishioner already knows what kinds of sins his confessor wants
BE> -to hear about.  The Church preaches a certain doctrine of sin
BE> -and thus telegraphs to the parishioner what kinds of stories to
BE> -tell about himself.

BE> >Yes, like any social relationship between therapist and patient,
BE> >that one can be abused.  But it also works well when it is used
BE> >properly.

BE> But that's just it.  I don't see how confession could be used
BE> properly.  The social situation of confession already presupposes
BE> that the parishioner knows what his father confessor considers
BE> good and evil.  This situation is not that of a Baptist or Quaker
BE> securing confession with the assistance of a Catholic priest.  The
BE> situation here is of a Catholic going to a Catholic priest for
BE> confession.

BE> Such a person already knows the values of his listener before he
BE> goes into the booth for the first time.

BE> That knowledge is precisely what constitutes the main obstacle to
BE> his achieving any relief from neurosis.  He's only going to
BE> confess things which he knows his priest considers sinful.  He
BE> will not be motivated to dig into his dreams, his unconscious.

Well, anyone can use a liturgical ceremony in a superficial manner like 
that, but that is not what he is supposed to do.  He is supposed to 
examine his conscience for any deviations from the will of God, praying for 
guidance where necessary.  And the priest is there to give counsel as 
well as absolution.

BE> Confession, in short, is bound to be only a surface exercise
BE> which operates more to secure the social unity of the church,
BE> rather than the psychiatric benefit of the patient.

I disagree.  It CAN be.  Any religious devotion CAN be.  But it's not 
necessary that it be.

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