20세기 후반 가장 위대한 심리지료가들 중의 한 명으로 꼽히는 알버트 엘리스(Albert Ellis)는 종교는 비합리적이어서 정신건강에 해로움을 가져온다고 역설하였다. 엘리스는 REBT(Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, 인지 정서 행동치료)를 개발하면서 인간의 비합리적인 사고가 정신장애 및 질병을 가져온다고 주장하였다. REBT상담의 목표는 비합리적 생각을 합리적 생각으로 변화시켜서 합리적 생각이 행동양식에 영향을 미치도록 하는 것이다. 종교적 신념은 비합리적인 사고로 정신건강에 장애를 야기한다고 엘리스는 보고 있다. 엘리스가 문제로 삼고 있는 종교는 유일신을 믿는 종교들, 그 중에서도 기독교이다. 엘리스는 기독교의 신념이 비합리적이며. 이러한 신앙 행위가 정서 장애를 야기한다고 비판하고 있다. 이러한 비판이 붓다의 가르침에도 적용되는 지 살피고자 하였다. 결론적으로 오히려 그가 제시하는 건강한 사람의 9가지 자질은 불교에서 충분히 확인할 수 있었다.
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.
目次
I 시작하는 말. 51 II 종교적 신념에 대한 엘리스의 비판. 54 III 종교적 신념에 대한 엘리스의 비판과 붓다의 가르침. 65 IV 맺는 말. 78
