Psychology And Spiritual Formation In Dialogue

Introduction (Thomas M. Crisp, Steven L. Porter, And Gregg A. Ten Elshof)

Part I: The Relationship Between Psychology And Spiritual Formation
1. Spiritual Theology: When Psychology And Theology In The Spirit Service Faith (John H. Coe)
2. Is “Spiritual Formation” More Cultural Than Theo-Anthropological? An Ongoing Dialogue (James M. Houston)

Part II: Theological Insights For A Psychology Of Spiritual Formation
3. “End Of Faith As Its Beginning”: A Christ-Centered Developmental Spirituality (Bruce Hindmarsh)
4. Living “Before God”: A Kierkegaardian View Of Human Spirituality (C. Stephen Evans)
5. Beyond Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth, And Self-Care: A Biblical Perspective On Suffering And Spiritual Formation (Siang-Yang Tan)
6. Seeking The Tropological Import Of Psalm 35 (Ellen T. Charry)

Part III: Psychological Insights For A Theology Of Spiritual Formation
7. On Specks And Planks: Psychotherapy, Spiritual Formation, And Moral Judgment (Earl D. Bland)
8. Queen Of The Virtues And King Of The Vices: Graced Gratitude And Disgraced Ingratitude (Robert A. Emmons)
9. Relational Spirituality And Transformation: A Differentiation-Based Model (Steven J. Sandage, David R. Paine, And Jonathan Morgan)
10. Cultivating The Fruit Of The Spirit: Contributions Of Positive Psychology To Spiritual Formation (Everett L. Worthington Jr., Brandon J. Griffin, And Caroline R. Lavelock) 11. Born To Relate: In Trauma, In Transformation, In Transcendence (Marie T. Hoffman)
12. Give Up Childish Ways Or Receive The Kingdom Like A Child? Spiritual Formation From A Developmental Perspective (Justin L. Barrett)

List Of Contributors

Additional Info
Can the phenomena of the human mind be separated from the practices of spiritual formation?of growing to have the mind of Christ? Research into the nature of moral and spiritual change has revived in recent years, in the worlds of psychology on the one hand and theology and philosophy on the other. But psychology and spiritual formation draw upon distinct bodies of research and theory grounded in different methodologies, resulting in conversation that has suffered from a lack of interdisciplinary cross-pollination. Rooted in a year-long discussion held by Biola University’s Center for Christian Thought (CCT), this volume bridges the gaps caused by professional specialization among psychology, theology, and philosophy. Each essay was forged out of an integrative discussion among theologians, psychologists, philosophers, New Testament scholars, educators, and pastors around the CCT seminar table. Topics that emerged included relational and developmental spirituality, moral virtue and judgment, and suffering and trauma. Psychology and Spiritual Formation in Dialogue speaks across disciplinary divides, fostering fruitful conversation for fresh insights into the nature and dynamics of personal spiritual change. Contributors include
*Justin L. Barrett, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary
*Earl D. Bland, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University
*Ellen T. Charry, Princeton Seminary
*John H. Coe, Biola University
*Robert A. Emmons, University of California, Davis
*Stephen Evans, Baylor University
*Bruce Hindmarsh, Regent College, Vancouver
*Marie T. Hoffman, New York University
*James M. Houston, Regent College, Vancouver
*Steven J. Sandage, David R. Paine, and Jonathan Morgan, Boston University
*Siang Yang Tan, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary
*Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Brandon J. Griffin, and Caroline R. Lavelock, Virginia Commonwealth University

Edited by
*Thomas M. Crisp, professor of philosophy, Biola University
*Steve L. Porter, professor of theology, spiritual formation, and philosophy, Talbot School of Theology and Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University
*Gregg Ten Elshof, professor of philosophy, Biola University