READERS' FORUM "Four-Letter W o r d s " is a case in point in this same issue. I think it was Havelock Ellis who said that if the clergyman used the dignified polysyllabic term for sexual union he would not be criticized by anyone, but if he used its four-letter equivalent, he would be hauled off to jail, defrocked, or put in a mental institution. In this regard, Henry Miller is more honest than most clergymen, who have to face the reality of the cultural taboos of the Christian faith. I hold no brief for Tropic o[ Cancer as great literature, but I do admire the courage of its author who dares to thumb his nose at the diseased and immoral persons who would censor the use of the English language. It is this symptom of which I speak when I say that before pastoral counseling or the institutions representing the Christian faith can regain their power, they must adopt the morality of Jesus. --PAUL S. KURTZ Certified Psychologist Los Altos, California
TO MINISTERS, FULL.TIME RELIGIOUS LEADERS, A N D THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS O N L Y Emanue! Swedenborg, 1 6 8 8 - 1 7 7 2 (see your encyclopedia) a noted scientist, philosopher and theologian, was permitted unusual and amazing insights into heaven and the inner meanings of the Bible. Successful ministers in many denominations study Swedenborg's books for a new understanding of the Bible. To acquaint ministers and full time religious leaders with the writings of Emanuei Swedenborg, The Swedenborg Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, will send his books free. For each book desired send amount indicated to cover the transportation costs. SWEDENBORG FOUNDATION 150 Fifth Avenue, New York 11, N.Y., PP4 Check books desired: [ ] Arcana Coelestia, Vol. 1 . . . . . . . . 1Sc [ ] Divine Providence . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15c [ ] Heaven and Hell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15c [ ] Swedenborg, Life & Teaching . . . . 10c [ ] True Christian Religion, 2 Vols . . . . 25c [ ] The Gist of Swedenhorg . . . . . . . . . 10c Name
A
MINISTER
writes
.
.
.
The Rev. Mr. Cronkite's explanation of why he has not renewed his subscription to your magazine leads me to these comments: 1. My impression had been that your magazine used mostly reprinted material---leading me to conclude that you (we) might not be making any contribution. I checked this with the October issue and discovered that I was wrong : three reprints to four original articles. 2. Is Mr. Cronkite asking that we call something "Christian" before we accept it? This reminds me of the many requests I receive from disturbed people and their families that I refer them to a "Christian" psychiatrist.
53
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Address .................................................................... [] Minister or D Student Theological School Theological School .......................... . ....................... Denomination
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Some misunderstanding of "Christianity" a n d / o r "psychiatry" seems evident here. 3. Mr. Cronkite has an S.T.M. in psychology and pastoral counseling. Dr. Hiltner notes this and seems to feel that with such training Mr. Cronkite ought to feel differently about the contribution of PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY. I wonder if the attitudes (as I perceive them) of both Mr. Cronkite and Dr. Hiltner shouldn't lead us to ask what it is that w e assume that a master's
54 ~
PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY
~
YowStandardot ~ ~
1
To~e sere of your 9 ~ Jl~sera,se ou6 ~ ~ IQnl-lntlnc pious~ ~
~
l~t
g~tao~r.
~lllore4 robes. Write
9 f
J
~
ROBES FOR YOUR CHOIR, TOO for
catalog
D-38
good balance between "theory" and "pr act ice"; (one points the way, the other helps you get there). It complements the books on my shelf. Please keep PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY on the pastoral level. To heck with "the movements,"--we have to help people. --CARL F. KEMPER
Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ Council Bluffs, Iowa A S T U D E N T OF P A S T O R A L C O U N S E L I N G writes . . .
degree or a doctor's degree does for a man. Perhaps. the real question is "What does the man do for the degree ?" Theological educators, academic and clinical, need to recognize that many of us may be "going to hell by degrees."
In reading Mr. Cronkite's letter in criticism of PASTORALPSYCHOLOGY,one wonders what his criterion is for a "correlation between Christian faith and psychology." Presumably it would be along the lines suggested by Hobart Mowrer. My own idea of such a correlation would include these points: --ALLAN W. REED Chaplain 1. Personal relationship is basic to Massachusetts General Hospital both faith and psychotherapy. TheoloBoston, Massachusetts gians and therapists are coming together here. A PASTOR writes . . . 2. This relationship must be inalienI will continue to renew my sub- able, based on forgiveness, not merit. scription to PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY. Here some therapists are more Christian than the moralists. There are several reasons: 3. This relationship is seen in the 1. My money for reading material is light of the Holy, as sacramental, not limited. Your magazine provides a way merely secular. Here the Christian has to keep up with the latest developments to resist the tendency to let psychoin the field of counseling and pastoral therapy become secularized entirely. care. 4. Personal development is seen in 2. I feel you take a distinctively Christian approach to pastoral psy- terms of man's freedom and God's purchology, ethically linking the pastor poses, not as wholly causal. Here there is continuing tension between scienand psychiatrist. tific and biblical modes of thought. 3. Most of all, I appreciate the way It seems to me that PASTORALPSYPASTORAL PSYCItOLOGY helps me in CHOLOGY has done justice to both sides dealing directly with the problems arising in the parish ministry, e.g., each of the correlation. issue specializing in an area, making --CAROL MURPHY Swarthmore, Pennsylvania it easy to "dig back" for help and. a