종교적 신념에 대한 엘리스(Ellis)의 비판과 붓다의 가르침

Abstract

In the early 1960's, atheist psychologist Albert Ellis hypothesizes that religion is irrational and leads to mental illness. Ellis' view of mental health created great interest in studying these questions, and as a consequence, religion and mental health has become one of the most heavily researched topics in the history of psychology. In 1962, Ellis published The Case Against Religion in which he argued: “If religion is defined as man's dependence of a power above and beyond the human, then as a psychotherapist, I find it to be exceptionally pernicious. For the psychotherapist is normally dedicated to helping human beings in general, and his patients in particular, to achieve certain goals of mental health, and virtually all these goals are antithetical to a truly religious viewpoint.”In his later days he significantly toned down and re-evaluated his opposition to religion. While Ellis maintained his atheistic stance, proposing that thoughtful, probabilistic atheism is likely the most emotionally healthy approach to life, he acknowledged and agreed with survey evidence suggesting that belief in a loving God is also psychologically healthy. Based on this later approach to religion, he co-authored a book describing principles for integrating religious material and beliefs with REBT(Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy) during treatment of religious clients. He asserts that the psychotherapist tries to help his patients to be minimally anxious and hostile; and to this end, he tries to help them to acquire the following kind of personality traits: self-interest, self-direction, tolerance, acceptance of uncertainty, flexibility, scientific thinking, commitment, the willingness to take risks, self-acceptance. These nine personality traits are against the religion of God such as Christianity while the nine healthy traits are all found in the teachings of the Buddha.. In my view, Albert Ellis has a good reason to criticize God-oriented religion in terms of mental health, but his criticism is not valid in the teachings of the Buddha who put a great emphasis on reason rather than faith.