Religion and Limiting Beliefs

Religion: As a supportive therapist, I would never presume to pass judgment on someone’s long-cherished Faith in a so-called fundamentalist religion. After all, I’m working with each individual’s “limiting beliefs”, so what a person’s limiting belief may be regarding that Faith is not necessarily the Truth, even though they believe it to be true. For someone else, that limiting belief is not true. So, in my Practice, it’s not my job to judge a limiting belief as a basic tenant of that Faith. It’s true for the client, and it’s my job to walk her through letting go of that limiting belief and forgiving herself for allowing it to affect her life in some way. Compare this with a traditional Faith, not a so-called “fundamentalist” Faith. For example, even though there is documentation that clergy have molested little boys, ruining their lives, and seemingly getting just a slap on the hand, there are still new members joining that Faith, and old members clinging to it. So, while, for some, that Faith has associated with it a limiting belief that’s far from good, for others, that Faith is a wonderful haven. Each view is true for each respective individual.

 
Very few of my clients come from fundamentalist religion. Most of my clients come from a background of traditional religion and they have their limiting beliefs, as well. I don’t believe that the Faith, itself, is necessarily the guilty party. In my experience, limiting beliefs are influenced by parents and other authoritative figures. A particular religion may seem like the worst thing to some people, while, to others, it is cherished. A cult is only a cult to those who don’t believe in it. Any religion can be labeled a cult. But that’s another topic.

What’s the comparison? What percentage of clients have I had with a background from traditional religion and what percentage of clients have I had with a background from a fundamentalist religion? It can be a challenge to hold back in our personal opinion with a client when it comes to religion, especially if it’s an area we’ve had to work out in our own lives.