Moral Absolutes?

• Past Life Regression by Maryann K. Schumm, 5/16/98
  • Past Lives Reincarnated by Philip H. Farber, 5/16/98
    • About so-called Laws by Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D., 5/17/98
      
      

Jeffrey Zeig writes:
If taken literally, the "law" could justify much disrespectful, if not unethical behavior. There are some moral and ethical absolutes. Deluding a patient into a belief or confirmation of a "past life" has no place in an ethical therapy. Other explanatory/therapeutic devices can be used.

There are some moral and ethical absolutes... according to whom? From what sources do you derive these absolutes?

First assumption... that a "past life" is any more a delusion than a dream, daydream, wish, fantasy, childhood memory, or any other self-derived metaphor that a patient may present. Second assumption... that "other explanatory/therapeutic devices" are somehow more ethical or moral than a "past life" explanation.

As far as I'm concerned ANY explanation of memory or metaphor is equally vaporous, as much as it may be useful in therapy.

I suspect that you allowing ethics and morals from your own religious milieu to creep into your professional attitude.

Again, I believe any number of "explanatory/therapeutic devices" may be useful to describe a particular phenomenon... and that the clinician may be equally delusional in deciding that a phenomenon is one thing or another, rather than making use of the patient's beliefs. You say you haven't encountered a "past life" in your work? Take your practice to a Buddhist community and see what you get there.

Phil
Phil's Page of Total Madness

• Objective morals by Jeffrey K. Zeig, Ph.D., 6/16/98