A sketch of what I am doing: At the moment I am leading three ongoing discussions in academia.edu – all are welcome (you can join for free)
- Discussion “Demons of Freud” on academia.edu – 58 participantsFreud demonized the unconscious processes by portraying the unconscious as a “netherworld of dark, twisted urges” (Bargh) + A comparison of psychoanalytic theory to spirituality – a question of “researcher bias”
There are numerous prominent scholars who critique psychoanalytic theory such as Noam Chomsky, Stephen Jay Gould, Psychologists Hans Eysenck, and John F. Kihlstrom, I cite criticisms of its unscientific basis and nebulous concepts which unmeasurable concepts.
In contrast, I highlight numerous studies supporting the real-world connection between spirituality and compassion, referencing researchers like Saslow et al. and Sprecher and Fehr.
The base line for comparison
The psychologists, William R. Miller and Carl E. Thoresen, state that
“A philosophical basis for this perspective is materialism, the belief that there is nothing to study because spirituality is intangible and beyond the senses.”
- Discussion: Researcher Bias – Critique of materialist methods 114 participants
Synopsis of the materialist problem – “Proper knowledge maps or mirrors the actualities of the real world.” K Gergen When it comes to spiritual and religious beliefs, the only actualities are “people” – not artificial abstractions like the “supernatural” which is defined as outside the scope of science and so and empty and meaningless abstraction, that applies to social consciousness as well – People and society is the actualities that need be considered, not abstractions like Allport’s 1927 false premise, “There is no psychology of groups.” – Or the “materialist model” of consciousness as being solely and entirely a “byproduct of the neurology and biochemistry of the brain.” “It is not true if the major premise is not true” – Justice Rehnquist (p.765 Logical Fallacies and the Supreme Court….)
- Discussion of the New Approach – 38 participants
“Proper knowledge maps actualities of the real world!” K Gergen
People are the only actualities – not abstractions like the “supernatural”!
A rudimentary categorization of actualities – types of spirituality
- Spirituality of Compassion
- Musical Spirituality
- Spiritual Healing in Grieving
- Children’s Spirituality
- Artistic Spirituality
- Poetry and Prophecy
- Dream Weaving/Creative Transcendence
- Spiritual beliefs in nature – earth as a living force
- Spirituality and Autism
- pro-social norms