Psychology, Spirituality, and Healing

Paper Summary:

The paper states that Christianity and psychology have previously been regarded as inharmonious ideological systems. The paper then comments that M.R. McMinn's book, "Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling", however, attempts to establish a connection between the roles of believing a Christian and trained counselor. The paper relates M.R. McMinn's belief that serving as a psychological counselor does not mean that a therapist must give up spiritual guidance, and he also acknowledges that a minister today must often come to grips with the psychological needs of a client who is coping with a crisis. The paper further relates that for McMinn, mental and spiritual health are intertwined, thus psychology and Christian belief are not incompatible.

From the Paper:

"But there was also a clear, deep spiritual craving to relate his longings to a cause larger than himself, and to engage in some form of self-improvement. Eric had a good will and a curiosity about the questions that grip the minds of so many adolescents, like 'why am I here,' and 'what is the purpose of all of this?' But his energies needed to be directed into more productive channels than drugs. Also, Eric lacked a true sense of interdependence. He had been brought up in an insecure value system, so he experimented with his personal morality, much in the same way he experimented with drugs. He saw himself as different and removed from other people, and justified his use of drugs because he was not using drugs (he said) for the same reason as people who just wanted to get high to enjoy a part or feel buzzed. By becoming a part of a substance-free community that fulfilled his spiritual needs, Eric might have gained a positive sense of connection, rather than merely defining himself against other people. This desire for isolation, obviously, may have been rooted in a failure to trust other people that were the result of his difficult family upbringing, as he was the child of divorced parents, and a biological father who was an alcoholic."

Sample of Sources Used:

• McMinn, M. R. (1996). Psychology, theology, and spirituality in Christian counseling. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

More papers on Psychology, Spirituality, and Healing:

• Research Paper # 61813 : "Theology and Psychology"
• Book Review # 122129 : "Psychotherapy and Spirituality- A Book Review"
• Research Paper # 93681 : "Forgiveness Therapy"

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