Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship

by Paul C. Vitz

Book Overview

A trenchant analysis of modern psychology -- an enterprise that Paul Vitz maintains has become a religion, a secular cult of self, now part of the problem of modern life rather than part of its... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802816967
• ISBN13: 9780802816962
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
• Length: 149 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Religion or science?

Reviewer Helms misses the point, it seems to me. Dr. Vitz correctly identifies psychology as social science as no science at all, but a belief system. (Vitz clearly distinguishes experimental and social psychology and exempts the scientific experimental type from his critique). The Christian model of man as a creature fallen from his relationship with his creator into a pit of self offers a solution: reunion. The humanist's solution to man's unhappiness is a stronger self, or a self submitting itself with other selves to a greater self (the state, etc.). The Christian ideal, if followed, leads to peace. The humanist's leads to conflict ("will to power", one self or state vs another self or state). For all the talk of the damage done in the name of religion, the mishief has come not from religion of man submitting him-self to his creator and its rules, but from the arrogance of self-righteousness. The isms of the 20th Century had nothing to do with religion involving God. 200 million people were killed in the struggle for humanist utopias. The religion of self and the ideologies it spawns (Dostoevsky: socialism is a Tower of Babel without God, e.g.) had its chance and failed miserably. Science is simply a search for truth through observation and when done honestly is self-correcting. Religion is a faith-based search for truth. If psychology continues believing in the value of self- confidence, esteem, assurance, worth, help, realization, actualization, determination, sufficiency, etc., in spite of observable evidence of the anti-human results of their promotion, is it sclence or a belief system? Dr. Vitz's book does an excellent job showing us that distinction.

Very good book for genuine & intellectual persons

"Psychology As Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship" A very good book to read. Would be best read by those with (minimum) high school intelectual background. The book covers more on the misleading 'sef-centred/help' psychology which are very prevalent nowadays, along with it's potential negative/destructive effect to the society as a whole. Since before 1980, in the book, the writer proposed some social & moral [degeneration] model/scheme which would be expected to happening in modern society beyond 2000 due to the 'Selfist Psychology'. Most of the scientific predictions made there are coming into existence today, along with its negative effects. Best Regards: Michael

What religion will we teach in public schools?

Paul Vitz attempts to expose psychology for what it really is, i.e., religion. He begins by giving the reader a brief biography on the fathers of the modern psychology movement along with some of their theories. The opening chapter was dry reading but I suppose necessary as a historical backdrop. My interest peaked when I immediately recognized Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow since I was forced to study them for 26 years while in the military. Vitz also discusses Carl Jung, Erich Fromn, and Rollo May as being significant contributors to the movement. Vitz quickly transitions into explaining the concept of self-esteem which he promotes as the center of the entire selfism movement. This became important to me as it seems no matter where you turn, a lack of or poor self-esteem appears to be the cause of every ill known to mankind. For a movement to be so widespread to the point where psychology has been woven into the gospel message, Vitz says that the self-esteem concept has "no clear intellectual origins." That's a surprising claim considering the impact selfism has had on academia and the practice of counseling. Vitz states that self-esteem should be understood as an emotional response and not a cause. He says it is a reaction to what we have done and what others have done to us. High self-esteem is a desirable feeling to have (like happiness), but the feeling itself isn't the cause of anything. In trying to obtain a feeling of self-esteem, the only successful way is to do good to others or accomplish something. In so doing, you'll get all the self-esteem you want. However, the downside is people begin to pursue happiness as a far greater goal than the goal of obtaining personal holiness. Not only is selfism a self-defeating goal for the Christian, Vitz goes on to make the case that it is also simply bad science and a warped philosophy. The little clinical evidence that does exist is mostly based on empirical observations and doesn't stand the test of solid scientific problem solving. He exposes flaws in each step of the process, from stating the problem, forming and testing the hypothesis, to testing the conclusion. He also identifies several philosophical contradictions and in some cases, actual misrepresentations. The spread of this bad science and faulty philosophy is believed by the author to have contributed to the destruction of families. Additionally, the entire recovery group mentality convinces the person with "low self-esteem" that their ills are due to trauma inflicted on them in the past. Recovery group therapy strokes the patient with self-pity thereby convincing the clients are victims. Once labeled, the "victim" now assumes the attitude of victimhood. Values clarification has become the model taught in schools and begins with the assumption that man is naturally good. Since the developers of values clarification reject moral teachings, Vitz claims that if responsible adults, i.e., teachers, don'

A Light is On. . .

Have you ever looked around at American culture and wondered what went wrong. . .what is wrong? Paul Vitz gives us a goldmine of insight into the origin of modern angst. The 'selfism' described in this book will be recognizable, both in us and those around us. Truth seekers will find Vitz's exposure of the frauds of modern 'psychology' to be a milestone in their long search for answers to modern confusion. Then the real work begins. . . I recommend this book highly. You will not be disappointed.

A brave new direction for both eduction and psychology.

Secularism has evolved to become the "state religion" in North America largely due to the work of the five key figures: Carl Jung, Erich Fromm, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, and Rollo May. Judeo-Christian leaders who accepted this teaching must now concentrate on the result and accept the responsibility to alter the wrong direction society has taken because of these teachings.The separation of state and religion was a concept that was nullified by secularism as it has become interwoven into the fabric of North American society. Millions of tax dollars are used to perpetuate this state religion. For example, schools of education in colleges and universities nation-wide have trained teachers, counselors, school administrators and those who train them in the "cult" of secular humanism. Secular humanism is devotion to self-expression as an end in itself. It " emphasized the human capacity for change to the point of almost totally ignoring the idea that life has limits and that knowledge of those limits is the basis of wisdom. For selfist there seem to be no acceptable duties, denials, inhibitions, or restraints. Instead there are only rights and opportunities for change." (page 33) When a child is taught that he or she is the most important person in the world, in the guise of building self-esteem that child's response to authority is often since-I-am-the-most-important-person-in-the-world-why should-I-listen-to-you?!! With every news broadcast and every paper across both Canada and the U.S. we daily see the result of this wrong thinking/teaching.There is much more to this book. I hope you will chose to read it for yourself. I also hope it will inspire other authors to explore, challenge and dethrone the state religion of secularism.