Synopses & Reviews
Americans tend to turn to psychology when they want to understand themselves. Today, contemporary psychology presents itself as a science, which can and ought to function independently of theology: it emphasizes individual fulfillment and sometimes suggests that we are little more than the sum total of our genes and our environment. Christians, who believe themselves to be called to develop virtues such as love, humility, faith, perseverance, and who are called to find their fulfillment in a community devoted to the love of God and service in his kingdom, may wonder whether this turning to psychology is a good thing. In Limning the Psyche, fifteen respected psychologists, theologians, and philosophers look at the practice of psychology from a Christian perspective and discuss the parameters of a distinctly Christian psychology and explore the psychological implications of the Christian view of human nature. Contributors: Diogenes Allen Paul Griffiths A. Howsepian Eric Johnson Stanton Jones Jean-Marc Laporte James Martin Cynthia Jones Neal Dennis Okholm Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. L. Rebecca Propst Robert C. Roberts Walter Sundberg Mark Talbot Paul Vitz
Synopsis
Today Americans tend to turn to psychology when they want to understand themselves, and in this way we differ from people of previous ages who understood themselves primarily in terms of morality and religion. Christians, however, may legitimately worry that this cultural shift in personality is not entirely healthy.
Limning the Psyche explores this issue in depth. Sixteen original essays by respected psychologists, theologians, and philosophers look at the practice of psychology from a Christian perspective, discuss the possibility and parameters of a distinctly Christian psychology, explore teh psychological implications of the Christian view of human nature, and more.
Contributors:
Diogenes Allen
Paul Griffiths
A. A. Howsepain
Eric L. Johnson
Stanton Jones
Jean-Marc Laporte
James Martin
Cynthia Jones Neal
Dennis Okholm
Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
L. Rebecca Propst
Robert C. Roberts
Walter Sundberg
Mark Talbot
Paul Vitz
Synopsis
Sixteen essays by respected psychologists, theologians, and philosophers look at the practice of psychology from a Christian perspective and explore the implications of the Christian view of human nature.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 339-361) and index.
Table of Contents
Introduction : Christian psychology? / Robert C. Roberts -- A Christian theory of personality / Paul C. Vitz -- Metaphysics and personality theory / Paul J. Griffiths -- Therapeutic conflict resolution and the Holy Trinity / L. Rebecca Propst -- Parameters of a Christian psychology / Robert C. Roberts -- Starting from Scripture / Mark R. Talbot -- Human nature vs. the hermeneutics of love / James E. Martin -- Human agency and its social formation / Eric L. Johnson -- A parental style for nurturing Christian wisdom / Cynthia Jones Neal -- The meaning of agency and responsibility in light of social science research / Stanton L. Jones -- Attachment : Bowlby and the Bible / Robert C. Roberts -- Kenosis as a key to maturity of personality / Jean-Marc Laporte -- Sin and addiction / Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. -- Sin and psychosis / A. A. Howsepian -- The therapy of adversity and penitence / Walter Sundberg -- Ascetic theology and psychology / Diogenes Allen -- Being stuffed and being fulfilled / Dennis L. Okholm.