Psychotherapy: Science Or Pseudoscience?
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1= r 1 Fall 1985 Vol. 5, No. 4 $3.75 Psychotherapy: Science or Pseudoscience? Freud and Psychoanalysis H. J. Eysenck -- Frank Sulloway Michael Ruse Lee Nisbet Albert Ellis Two Forms of Humanistic Psychotherapy Christian Belief vs. New Testament Scholarship Van A. Harvey John Hick Also: Abortion, Pornography, Homophobia Euthanasia and Religion Free incoutrAr FALL 1985, VOL. 5, NO. 4 ISSN 0272-0701 Contents 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 43 BIBLICAL SCORECARD 12 ON THE BARRICADES 57 IN THE NAME OF GOD EDITORIALS 6 Religion and Secularization in Europe and America, Paul Kurtz. 7 Is Humanism a Religion? Does It Matter? Tom Flynn. 8 America's Founders Rejected Orthodox Christianity, William Edelen. 9 Try Praying at Home, Art Buchwald. 10 Abortion and Free Choice, John George. Another Commission on Pornography, Vern Bullough. 11 Homophobia for All, John Cole. ARTICLES 14 Two Forms of Humanistic Psychology, Albert Ellis Psychoanalysis: Science or Pseudoscience 23 Grünbaum on Freud: Flawed Methodologist or Serendipitous Scientist? Frank J. Sulloway 28 Philosophy of Science and Psychoanalysis, Michael Ruse 31 The Death Knell of Psychoanalysis, H. J. Eysenck 33 Looking Backward, Lee Nisbet Jesus in History and Myth 36 New Testament Scholarship and Christian Belief, Van A. Harvey 40 A Liberal Christian View, John Hick 45 The Winter Solstice and the Origins of Christmas, Lee Carter VIEWPOINTS 49 Euthanasia and Religion, Gerald A. Larue 51 New Problems in Medical Ethics, Vern L. Bullough BOOKS 53 Interpreting the First Amendment: Religion, State and the Burger Court, by Leo Pfeffer, Ron Lindsay 55 A Source of Bewilderment: The Miracle of Theism, J. L. Mackie, Steven L. Mitchell 58 CLASSIFIED Editor: Paul Kurtz Associate Editors: Doris Doyle, Steven L. Mitchell, Lee Nisbet, Gordon Stein Managing Editor: Andrea Szalanski Contributing Editors: Lionel Abel, author, critic, SUNY at Buffalo; Paul Beattie, president, Fellowship of Religious Humanists; Jo-Ann Boydston, director, Dewey Center; Laurence Briskman, lecturer, Edinburgh University, Scotland; Vern Bullough, historian, State University of New York College at Buffalo; Albert Ellis, director, Institute for Rational Living; Roy P. Fairfield, social scientist, Union Graduate School; Joseph Fletcher, theologian, University of Virginia Medical School; Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading University, England; Sidney Hook, professor emeritus of philosophy, NYU; Marvin Kohl, philosopher, State University of New York College at Fredonia; Jean Kotkin, executive director, American Ethical Union; Gerald Larue, professor emeritus of archaeology and biblical history, USC; Ronald A. Lindsay, attorney, Washington, D.C.; Ernest Nagel, professor emeritus of philosophy, Columbia University; Howard Radest, director, Ethical Culture Schools; Ralph Raico, associate professor of history, State University College of New York at Buffalo; Robert Rimmer, author; William Ryan, free-lance reporter, novelist; Svetozar Stojanovic, professor of philosophy, University of Belgrade; Thomas Szasz, psychiatrist, Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse; V. M. Tarkunde, Supreme Court Judge, India; Richard Taylor, professor of philosophy, Union College; Sherwin Wine, founder, Society for Humanistic Judaism Editorial Associates: H. James Birx, James Martin-Diaz, Thomas Flynn, Thomas Franczyk, Marvin Zimmerman Executive Director of CODESH, Inc.: Jean Millholland Book Review Editor: Victor Gulotta Promotion: Barry L. Karr Systems Manager: Richard Seymour Typesetting: Paul E. Loynes Layout: Guy Burgstahler Staffa Jacqueline Livingston, Alfreda Pidgeon FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published quarterly by the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism (CODESH, Inc.), a nonprofit corporation, 3151 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215. Phone (716) 834-2921. Copyright ©1985 by CODESH, Inc. Second-class postage paid at Buffalo, New York, and at additional mailing offices. National distribution by International Periodicals Distributors, San Diego, California. Subscription rates: $16.50 for one year, $29.00 for two years, $38.00 for three years, $3.75 for single copies. Address subscription orders, changes of address. and advertising to: FREE INQUIRY, Central Park Station, Box 5, Buffalo, NY 14215-0005. Manuscripts, letters and editorial inquiries should be addressed to: The Editor, FRee INQUIRY, Central Park Station, Box 5, Buffalo, N.Y. 14215-0005. All manuscripts should be accompanied by two additional copies and a stamped, addressed envelope. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or publisher. points as possible. The responsible editor did try subsequently to find a way to report on the substance of events that took place at the conference, but concluded that time- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR liness was lacking. Fifth, again had you bothered to con- tact me, you would have found that the general topic of the conference was not startling news to those of us at the Free Press. We have in the past, as recently as Bible Criticism Blackout in Detroit? last December, published a comprehensive piece examining various points of view deal- Editors note: Following the "Jesus in History come and go, just does not base its decisions ing with the history involving Jesus Christ. and Myth" conference at the University of about news coverage on whether something I'm confident other occasions will arise for Michigan in Ann Arbor in April, sponsored "might offend the little old ladies in Detroit," us to write still more about some of the by FREE INQUIRY, we published an editorial, or anywhere else. I can attest to that since viewpoints that came up in the Ann Arbor "Press Blackout on Criticism of the Bible," my daily communications from readers give symposium. commenting on the failure of two Detroit- ample evidence of offense having been given. Finally, I feel it's worthwhile to stress area newspapers (the Detroit Free Press and At the same time, the Free Press—and I— one more thing. One of the most difficult— the Ann Arbor News) to report the con- do care very much about presenting a news and important—tasks facing dozens of ference, even though Free Press staff reporter report that is as fair, balanced, and accurate editors here is to decide, each and every Jane Seymour had submitted two separate as is humanly possible—a process which at day, what topics can be covered with limited stories to her editor. Ms. Seymour told FREE some times does indeed anger readers. In staff and space. This means having to exer- INQUIRY that these stories on the highly con- the long run, we find our readers appreciate cise judgment that involves a number of troversial and innovative conference were a great deal our attempts at honesty and, factors, including interest to readers, relative rejected by her editors and that she was told sometimes, courage. importance of various topics, balance, fair- that they might "offend the little old ladies Second, the reporter with whom you ness, and accuracy. It also means being able in Detroit." talked says she doesn't recall having used to make decisions based on an editor's best Copies of the editorial were sent to the "little old ladies" phrase; she feels she judgment, not various pressures from indi- David Lawrence, publisher of the Detroit would never do so. It is impossible for me viduals or groups with some kind of special Free Press, and Kent Bernhard, the executive to arbitrate any dispute about what was or interest—whether they be readers who have editor. We received the following responses. what wasn't said, and it's impossible to been with us for decades, or someone seeking understand all the motivations involved. It news coverage. I'm glad you took the time to share your does indeed seem that the reporter did not Thanks for letting us hear from you. editorial with us... have as clear an understanding of—or did 1 simply don't believe that any stories not adequately communicate to you—the Kent Bernhard on any topic are rejected at this newspaper reason that her story was not published. Executive Editor because it might "offend" readers. Yes, we Third, the story did not appear in this Detroit Free Press do worry about tastefulness, but that should newspaper because the editor involved in have nothing to do with a report on this the assignment decided that it did not meet Paul Kurtz replies: conference. This newspaper has been a part this newspaper's high standards, a decision of Detroit for more than a century and a with which the reporter says she is in agree- Free Press editor Kent Bernhard denies that half and has been and will continue to be a ment. The article was incomplete. It lacked the reason his paper failed to publish a story newspaper with a great deal of courage; balance. It did not meet our standards of on the "Jesus in History and Myth" con- sometimes it has paid a short-term price for fairness. Sometimes being fair entails asking ference was the fear of offending "the little that courage. a reporter to do more reporting. Sometimes old ladies of Detroit." We stand by our This newspaper's most precious asset is it means not publishing a story that cannot statement of what Ms. Seymour told FREE its credibility, its willingness to tell the truth be made to be fair. (For the record, we do INQUIRY—though it is difficult at this point even when it might hurt us in the short run. not pride ourselves on being a liberal news- to verify what was said. Thus, I'd be amazed if any journalist for paper. We pride ourselves on keeping our But Mr. Bernhard gives other reasons this newspaper would not do a story on the news columns free of bias or perceived bias.) for the lack of coverage—namely, that the basis you suggest... Fourth, had you bothered before pub- reporter's story "lacked balance," did not lishing your piece to contact me, I would meet his newspaper's "standards of fairness, " David Lawrence have told you what I told another reader and "needed a better focus" and "more con- Publisher who was curious about our decision.