bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safe behind the Screen of “Mass Hysteria”: A Closing Rejoinder to Benjamin Rossen
Authors: Jonker Fred , Jonker-Bakker Ietje
Published: February 2018

The authors are concerned with continuing myths about the Oude Pekela incident which they believe are derived from and perpetuated by the misconceived and factually inaccurate allegations of Benjamin Rossen. In this rejoinder, Jonker and Jonker-Bakker attempt to sort out a few of the alleged errors of fact and misconceptions in Rossen's response. Rossen is charged with obscuring the important issues concerning the validity, manner of investigating, and evaluation and reporting of ritualistic abuse. In addition, the authors believe that Rossen came to his investigation with biases and a preconceived agenda. In the final analysis, the authors indicate that they chose to believe the children involved in the Oude Pekela incident while Rossen did not while attributing the whole incident to “mass hysteria.” The authors stress their customary level of objectivity and professionalism as physicians and scientists. They excoriate Rossen for his lack of familiarity with the language and customs of The Netherlands, his lack of proper credentials, and for having a preconceived agenda that led to a sloppy, incompetent, manipulative, and self-serving approach to his academic research. Jonker and Jonker-Bakker, having previously refused to respond to Rossen's allegations, accepted the invitation of the Journal of Psychology and Theology, and have broken their silence in the special issue on SRA/MPD.
Satanic Ritual Abuse and Legend Ostension
Authors: Ellis Bill
Published: February 2018

Folklorists have proposed the term ostension to describe real-life actions that are guided by a pre-existing legend. In its purest form, ostension is the literal acting out of a story in real life. An example might be if a group of child abusers, hearing rumors about Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA), were to change their modus operandi to include some of the atrocities mentioned, to confuse children and make prosecution difficult. Such a situation is possible, but folklore research suggests that it is far rarer in reality than three other forms of ostension: pseudo-ostension, quasi-ostension, and proto-ostension. In pseudo-ostension, individuals fabricate details of SRA to lead others to believe that satanists are responsible, when the child abuse has a different nature and motivation. In quasi-ostension, over-anxious authorities may overinter-pret evidence to make it coordinate with notions of “classic” SRA, when in fact the situation is less clear-cut. Finally, in proto-ostension, individuals may, for a variety of sincere reasons, claim events of other people as their own personal experiences. Analysts of the SRA controversy should be careful not to commit themselves to extreme positions of belief or disbelief; facts can become narrative and narrative can become fact.
Satanic Ritual Abuse in Popular Christian Literature: Why Christians Fall for a Lie Searching for the Truth
Authors: Passantino Bob , Passantino Gretchen
Published: February 2018

The focus of this article is on some of the lay and secular popular literature that supports belief in satanic ritual abuse. The effects of SRA “survivor” stories and the importance of historical perspective on the SRA phenomenon are discussed. The approach of Christian investigative writing underpinning the article is that believers should promote a higher, not lower standard than the secular press. Biblical and common sense principles are enunciated for the sorting out of truth from untruth in relation to SRA sensationalism.
Covenantal versus Dispensational Theology: A Pilot Study concerning Self-Reported Family Effects
Authors: Neumann Joseph K.
Published: February 2018

Dispensational and covenantal theology are two distinct systems that are frequently used to understand Scripture. The relationship of these theological systems to children and family life is reviewed. A brief survey was mailed to 30 covenantal churches and 30 dispensational churches. Covenantal theology was associated with greater frequency of dedication/baptism, family worship, larger family size, and second-generation missionary families than dispensational theology, though not all differences were statistically significant. No differences were found with respect to children's behavior problems or social skills. Sampling problems, methodological limitations and further research needs are discussed.
Missions and Mental Health: A Personal Safari
Authors: Duvall Nancy S.
Published: February 2018

This is a description of one psychologist's involvement in missions and mental health with explicit sharing of impressions from a 3-month cross cultural experience in Kenya in the spring of 1992. It covers some aspects of the developing dialogue regarding mental health issues for MKs and for missionaries, and it provides an example of one professional's expanding awareness of cross-cultural issues. It is a personal statement and journey but raises the possibilities for a variety of opportunities for this kind of very practical integration of faith and learning.
The Reacculturation of Missionary Families: A Dynamic Theory
Authors: Stringham Edward M.
Published: February 2018

Case descriptions and a grounded theory of missionary reacculturation were generated incorporating the perspectives of individual members and the dynamics of three missionary family systems. Repatriated subjects reported grieving over loss of reinforcing events associated with their lives overseas and altered frames of cultural reference. Adult subjects reported greater awareness of management stresses that had accentuated problems related to vocational adjustment and family life cycle stage. Reentry of families was associated with decline in family cohesiveness, greater dependence of wives on husbands’ emotional support, and interpersonal tensions resulting from childrens’ readoptation to the home culture. This study positions for the first time in the literature on missionary reacculturation four theoretical conclusions which require empirical validation: (a) a history of dysfunctional family-of-origin relationships is predictive of reentry transition difficulties for women, (b) concurrent transitions in other life dimensions after reentry are complicated by stresses associated with completing the intercultural cycle, (c) favorable sojourn outcomes facilitate adaptive grieving processes, and (d) couples whose marriages develop symmetrical power distributions following repatriation benefit to a greater extent from mutual support than couples whose relationships assume more asymmetrical distributions.
Confidentiality and the Duty to Report Abuse: A Current Case Study
Authors: Macdonald Don , Hill Alexander D. , Li Chi-Dooh
Published: February 2018

Counselors in religious settings face many difficult legal decisions. One of the most frequent decisions is whether or not to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The Washington State Supreme Court recently upheld the convictions of two church-based counselors for failure to inform state officials of suspected child abuse. The reasons given for this decision are discussed. The court's interpretations of state and federal laws have far-reaching implications for counselors who seek to blend religious faith and clinical practice. Such counselors would be wise to consider the court's findings and interpretations vis-à-vis their own clinical work and their understanding of how faith informs practice.
Abolishing the Rod
Authors: Oosterhuis Alyce
Published: February 2018

The use of the rod and the strap in the home and school from a liberating Christian viewpoint is addressed. Tracing in broad strokes the history of the rod and role of children in society from ancient through medieval times to the present, the article concludes with an affirmation of redemption for children from the condemnation of the rod.
Response to Oosterhuis: Discipline versus Punishment
Authors: Gangel Kenneth O. , Rooker Mark F.
Published: February 2018

The authors critique Oosterhuis's article “Abolishing the Rod,” Journal of Psychology and Theology, 21, 127–133. Central to the critique is the distinction between discipline and punishment, which is unclear in Oosterhuis's discussion. Response also contends that punishment is not obsolete merely because it is ancient; the “radical change” between Old and New Testaments is challenged; and the source of authority is ascribed to Scripture rather than trends of modern educational psychology.
Outcome Research and Religious Psychotherapies: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?
Authors: Johnson W. Brad
Published: February 2018

The multitude of religious approaches to psychotherapy are rarely evaluated with established outcome research methodology. Factors contributing to the lack of research in this field are discussed. The author offers an integrative foundation for outcome research. State-of-the-art outcome research design components are reviewed and guidelines are offered for conducting outcome research with religious psychotherapies. These are intended to bind such research around a coherent and meaningful program of empirical validation.
Relationship between Religious Orientation and Love Styles, Sexual Attitudes, and Sexual Behaviors
Authors: Leak Gary K.
Published: February 2018

This research had two objectives: (a) to extend our understanding of the sexual behavior, attitudes, and love styles of religiously mature and immature individuals using recent measures of love styles and sexual attitudes and (b) to investigate, for the first time, the sexual and love correlates of the quest religious orientation. The results are consistent with prior research using other measures, and they suggest that intrinsically religious individuals are highly discriminating in their conservative approach to sexuality, while extrinsics are somewhat self-serving. While only exploratory, these results should encourage scholars and practitioners to appreciate the highly complex relationships between religiosity and sexuality, and that global statements (e.g., religious individuals are sexually conservative) need to take into account a particular individual's religious orientation as well as the nature of the sexual dimension being considered.
Toward a Masturbation Ethic
Authors: Sanford Keith
Published: February 2018

An appropriate Christian masturbation ethic will be informed by a distinctive moral vision, historical viewpoints, psychological research, and contemporary issues. The Christian scriptures do not prescribe a masturbation ethic, but rather nurture a particular moral vision that has as its final telos right relationships both with God and among persons. Historical viewpoints, however, have been based on misinformation about human relationships and have reflected a primary concern for procreation. In light of contemporary research, an appropriate masturbation ethic must consider both the prevalence of masturbation and the connection between masturbation and fantasy. Contemporary issues relating to masturbation include topics such as lust, self control, guilt, alleged benefits of masturbation, and God's intended purpose for sex. Although an appropriate masturbation ethic cannot be prescriptive, it will contain elements of both self control and freedom.
Psychopathology, Guilt, Perfectionism, and Family of Origin Functioning among Protestant Clergy
Authors: Rickner Ronald G. , Tan Siang-Yang
Published: February 2018

Levels of psychopathology, guilt, perfectionism, and family of origin functioning among a sample of male, Protestant clergy (N = 168) were compared with those of male teachers from public high schools (N = 43) and Christian high schools (N = 51). Data were collected via self-report instruments. Results revealed no significant differences between groups on psychopathology or perfectionism. However, clergy and Christian teachers had significantly higher guilt scores than public high school teachers, but higher guilt was associated with only the Norm Violation subscale. Clergy perceived their family of origin as significantly less healthy than the comparison groups. Some support was found for the “mother dominant/father absent” theory of vocational choice among pastors. Scriptural literalism among pastors was not significantly related to psychopathology, guilt, perfectionism, or family of origin functioning. Implications of the present findings are discussed.
Spiritual Gifts: A Psychometric Extension
Authors: Cooper Stewart E. , Blakeman Stephen D.
Published: February 2018

Spiritual gifts inventories appear to be constructed in a scientific manner, but they are often technically inadequate. The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Objective Questionnaire Testing set of the Motivational Spiritual Gifts Inventory (MGI). Analyses of the questionnaire data indicated that despite the apparent strength of the spiritual gifts subscales’ content validity, reliability fell only in the poor to moderate range. Construct validity was also tenuous. Interscale factor analysis using an oblique rotation supported a three-factor rather than a seven-factor solution. Furthermore, 37% of the items correlated more highly with a subscale other than intended. These three findings cast doubt on this instrument's ability to assess seven separate sets of personality and behavioral characteristics. Strengths and weakness of spiritual gifts inventories and recommendations for their future use are discussed.
Psycho-Spiritual Dreams in the Nineteenth Century, Part I: Dreams of Death
Authors: Kemp Hendrika Vande
Published: February 2018

This historical examination focuses on dreams at a time when these manifestations of sleeping consciousness first drew the interest of the new psychologists in addition to that of philosophers, clergy, and laity. The data is the dream literature from 1860 to 1910, reflected primarily in popular magazines. The author summarizes the dream articles in religious magazines and by the clergy, followed by a description of parapsychological dreams and religious themes in dreams. Finally, a discussion of dreams of death and the various ways that death is symbolized and personified is presented. References are provided for selected literature of the twentieth century.
A Clinical Theology of the Developmental Process: A Child Psychiatrist's Perspective
Authors: Josephson Allan M.
Published: February 2018

Christians have historically faced challenges when they have chosen a professional mental health career. These challenges, framed in the idiom of prevailing theories or in the behavior of colleagues, continue in contemporary practice. This work reviews aspects of the process of human emotional development which, rather than challenging a Christian position, are confirmatory of a Christian world view. As an apologetic derived from professional experience, this article takes several observations of C.S. Lewis about the natural world and applies them to the study of development. The author describes a recurring theme in human development: All individuals desire that their developmental needs are met, and protest when this does not occur. Through an analysis of several developmental needs, widely accepted as critical in human development, the author concludes these developmental observations are strongly supportive of the Christian position.
The Comparative Efficacy of Christian and Secular Rational-Emotive Therapy with Christian Clients
Authors: Johnson W. Brad , Devries Ronald , Ridley Charles R , Pettorini Donald , Peterson Deland R.
Published: February 2018

The present study utilized a comparative psychotherapy outcome design to evaluate the relative therapeutic efficacy of Christian and secular RET with depressed Christian clients. Results showed both treatments significantly reduced depression, automatic negative thinking, irrational thinking, and general pathology. These gains were maintained after three months. There were no significant differential treatment effects. Results are discussed in terms of the implications for accommodation theory.
Satanic Ritual Abuse: A Question of Memory
Authors: Mcculley Dale
Published: February 2018

In spite of reports by thousands of adults who describe satanic ritual abuse in their backgrounds, the Special Issue of the Journal of Psychology and Theologyreveals obdurate skepticism regarding their credibility on the part of several contributors. Some of these disbelievers currently are citing experiments demonstrating extreme malleability for human memory as evidence that survivor accounts, especially those involving delayed memory, are fantasies implanted by incompetent clinicians. However, leading memory researchers such as Dr. Bessel van der Kolk of Harvard Medical School maintain that traumatic memories, which typically are engraved in the sensori-motor processes, are not subject to the same kinds of contamination that can affect normal memory. Traumatic amnesia, described in the DSM-III-R as psychogenic amnesia, is a phenomenon which has been known to mental health professionals for more than 100 years. The clinically observed characteristics of traumatic memory formation and retrieval match precisely the patterns of memory recovery exhibited by SRA survivors, and strongly confirm the reality of their cult abuse.
Group Psychotherapy as Spiritual Discipline: From OZ to the Kingdom of God
Authors: Mcdargh John
Published: February 2018

In this article, the author uses the process of a single session in the work of a long-term psychotherapy group to structure an exploration of the way in which psychological models, theological commitments, and personal experience have come together to inform the author's own approach to group psychotherapy. The article also suggests that the practice of group work such as this may itself become an occasion for reflection upon the mysteries of Christian faith.
The Development and Preliminary Validation of the Belief in Divine Intervention Scale
Authors: Degelman Douglas , Lynn Donna
Published: February 2018

The primary purpose of the present study was to create and validate a scale assessing the extent to which people believe in divine intervention. A six-item Belief in Divine Intervention Scale (BDIS) was one of six scales administered to 204 students at a community college and a Christian liberal arts college. The BDIS displayed a high level of internal consistency (coefficient alpha = .910), and a principal components analysis strongly supported its unidimensionality. There was a large primary component with high loadings of all items on the primary component (.811 - .845). BDIS scores were significantly correlated to self-reported importance of religion and were significantly higher among students from the Christian college. BDIS scores were not significantly related to locus of control measures or belief in a just world. Overall, the BDIS revealed good psychometric properties and provides a short, easily administered measure of belief in divine intervention.
Unwanted Sexual Experiences among Christian College Women: Saying no on the Inside
Authors: Neal Cynthia J. , Mangis Michael W.
Published: February 2018

Of 332 female college students who responded to a survey, 51% indicated that they had experienced an unwanted sexual incident. Twenty percent of the incidents occurred in childhood and 72% in adolescence or young adulthood. The stories fell into several categories: 15% were rated as sexual assault by a stranger, 11% as date rape, 13% as incest, and 55% as “lost voice.” Extent of the sexual involvement ranged from mild (7%), to kissing (14%), petting (45%), and intercourse (20%). The majority of situations involved a boyfriend, friend, or family member. Subjects also assessed their parents’ attitudes on gender roles. Those subjects who reported unwanted sexual experiences rated their fathers’ and mothers’ views of women as significantly more traditional than subjects who had not reported such experiences. These data suggest that parents’ attitudes about gender roles may be related to vulnerability and lead to unwanted sexual experiences.
Religious Orientation, Guilt, Confession, and Forgiveness
Authors: Meek Katheryn Rhoads , Albright Jeanne S. , Mcminn Mark R.
Published: February 2018

Religious orientation and psychological functioning were investigated in an analog study with 83 participants. After completing the Religious Orientation Scale (Allport & Ross, 1967), participants read a continuous narrative with three scenarios in which they first committed a dishonest act, and then felt compelled to confess what they had done. The final scenario contained a manipulation of grace or no-grace, in which half of the participants were forgiven for their act and half were not. Following each scenario, participants were tested for feelings of guilt and related behavioral and emotional responses. Intrinsically religious participants were more prone to guilt, more likely to confess their wrongdoing, and more likely to forgive themselves than extrinsically religious subjects. Guilt was found to have a mediating effect between intrinsic religiousness and some, but not all, outcome variables. The potentially beneficial consequences of guilt are discussed.
Integrating across the Psychology Curriculum: A Content Review Approach
Authors: Dykstra Michelle L. , Foster James D. , Kleiner Kathleen A. , Koch Christopher J.
Published: February 2018

Teaching integration at the undergraduate level requires thoughtful coordination among psychology faculty. This article describes a content review process by which complimentary strengths and perspectives can be discovered and used to design a coordinated integration curriculum. The George Fox College undergraduate psychology department's integration content review is offered as an example. A content review requires a framework for both exploration of integration activity and desired outcomes. We propose four levels of integration activity in the classroom: (a) modeling of personal faith, (b) integrative discussions, (c) integration readings, and (d) course level integration. These levels are progressive, complimentary, and dependent, to some extent, on the course content. In addition, careful articulation of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes the department wishes a student to have at graduation is important for the design of an integration curriculum and for assessing outcomes. The content review is an opportunity for the department to coordinate efforts toward a multi-layered integration of psychology and Christian faith.
The Fruit of Integration: Results in the Teaching of Psychology
Authors: Cosgrove Mark P.
Published: February 2018

The most useful models of integration seem to be those which hold that assumptions affect academic disciplines. This article will suggest that the Christian world view can lead to changes in the psychology classroom, without failing to support and strengthen what is excellent in the field of psychology. The three major areas of change to expect in the teaching of psychology are: (a) the subject matter of interest, (b) the research methods to gather information, and (c) the interpretations or meaning of psychological data. These changes will result in some special class offerings for the psychology student, more subjective research methods and journal articles, and an emphasis on the liberal arts in the teaching of psychology.
Integrative Themes in Physiological Psychology
Authors: Hillstrom Elizabeth L.
Published: February 2018

There are a number of topics in physiological psychology which invite integration. Some of these (human origins, human nature, and mind-body relationships) require discussion because Christian views on these issues are fundamentally different than the materialistic and evolutionary perspectives endorsed by most authorities in the field. Two other topics which invite integration include the biological factors in sexual behavior and the study of stress, immune function, and healing. In addition, the remarkable complexities and design apparent in the brain, the sense organs, and even individual neurons consistently underscore the theme that humans are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.
Solitude and Loneliness: An Integrative Model
Authors: Davies Mark G.
Published: February 2018

The bulk of research on loneliness has been content to define loneliness as the result of relationship deficits with others. This article expands the current understanding of loneliness to include relationship with self as an important factor. From this new understanding, solitude is considered as a possible intervention for dealing with specific types of loneliness. A circular model is then introduced that explains the relationship that loneliness and solitude have with each other. Suggestions for research, counseling, and education are then made from the new model.
Relational Resources as Buffers against the Impact of Stress: A Longitudinal Study of Seminary Students and Their Partners
Authors: Craddock Alan E.
Published: February 2018

In a study of married, first-year seminary students and their partners support was found for the hypothesis that relational resources can buffer the impact of stressors accumulating for these theological students and their partners. Specifically, there was evidence that high quality marital resources (global satisfaction and marital-spiritual orientation) and family resources (immediate and extended) possessed at entry to theological studies were associated with lower levels of stress reported later in that program. In addition, high levels of stress appeared to reduce marital satisfaction and quality of friendships, whereas low-stress persons reported improvement in their already higher quality marital resources as well as improved friendship resources. The hypothesis was not supported with respect to the buffering effects of entry level quality of friendships or personal-spiritual resources.
Putting Personal Experience Back into the Equation: A Reply to Clinton and Bookman
Authors: Farnsworth Kirk E.
Published: February 2018

The role of the person in interpreting the Bible and integrating psychology and theology has always been problematic. Some approaches emphasize personal, subjective experience. Others emphasize objective biblical truth. This article attempts to show the importance and difficulty in communicating balance of the two extremes. Critiques of my prior attempts to bring personal experience back into the equation are evaluated—in terms of biblical interpretation that is first, dominated by and second, free from personal experience. It is concluded that God himself has put both Scripture and the person at the heart of interpretation and integration. We dare not remove either one.
The Therapist in a Missions Context: Avoiding Dual Role Conflicts
Authors: Hall M. Elizabeth Lewis , Barber Betsy A.
Published: February 2018

Recent involvement of mental health workers in the task of world missions has led to greater awareness of the ethical challenges faced in this context. The challenge of avoiding dual role conflicts is addressed here. Dual role conflicts occur when the therapist's involvement with the client in a role other than that of therapist jeopardizes the client's well-being by interfering with the therapy or harming the client. The characteristics of the missions context that contribute to dual role conflicts are explored, followed by an examination of the ways in which dual roles can become problematic from a social psychology perspective. It is suggested that problems can occur when expectations between two roles are in conflict, when obligations from two roles are incompatible, or when the power inherent in the therapist role leads to ethical violations. Finally, five suggestions are offered for minimizing the adverse effects of dual roles on the missionary client and on the therapist.
An Empirical Test of a Theory of Factors Affecting Life Satisfaction: Understanding the Role of Religious Experience
Authors: Chumbler Neale R.
Published: February 2018

This study examined the relationships between five dimensions of religious involvement (i.e., participation, divine interaction, existential certainty, spiritual gifts, and divine power or authority), two forms of secular social involvement (i.e., social activity and social affiliation), six social background covariates (i.e., marital status, gender, race, age, social class, and traumatic life events), and individual life satisfaction. Following specific theories of life satisfaction previously delineated by Ellison (Ellison, 1991; Ellison, Gay, & Glass, 1989), the study employed nested regression models to analyze data from a convenience sample of 163 adolescents and adults derived from a university (n = 68) and a nondenominational protestant church (n = 95) in the Southeast. In general, findings indicated that individuals with strong religious faith report higher levels of life satisfaction. Specifically, two of the five dimensions of religious involvement, divine power and existential certainty, had relatively strong relationships with life satisfaction, when controlling for social background covariates and secular social involvement. In addition, both forms of secular social involvement have small but persistent positive relationships with life satisfaction when social background variables and religiosity are held constant. Also discussed are the implications of the findings for psychologists interested in personality/developmental theory, social psychology, and counseling.
The Initial Development and Factor Analysis of the Spiritual Assessment Inventory
Authors: Hall Todd W. , Edwards Keith J.
Published: February 2018

The present article reports the development and factor analyses of a new, theoretically-based measure of spiritual maturity viewed from a Judeo-Christian perspective and designed for clinical use by pastoral counselors and psychotherapists, as well as researchers. The Spiritual Assessment Inventory (SAI) is based on a model of spiritual maturity that integrates relational maturity from an object relations perspective and experiential God-awareness based on New Testament teaching and contemplative spirituality principles. A pool of items was developed to measure two hypothesized dimensions of spiritual maturity: awareness of God and quality of relationship with God. Two factor analytic construct validity studies were conducted. Based on the first study, the SAI was revised and expanded. In the second study, five factors were identified: Awareness, Instability, Grandiosity, Realistic Acceptance, and Defensiveness/Disappointment. The results of the factor analyses and correlations of the factors with the Bell Object Relations Inventory support the underlying theory and validity of the SAI and its potential usefulness for clinical assessment and research.
Toward Adult Cross-Sex Friendship
Authors: Hiebert Dennis W.
Published: February 2018

Current public debate about sexual correctness has exacerbated traditional anxieties about adult cross-sex friendship. In seeking a Christian understanding of such relationships, the nature of friendship is explored by distinguishing it from other personal relationships and by overviewing a model of friendship. Then, after describing the normative barriers to cross-sex friendship, O'Meara's four specific challenges are discussed in light of Scripture: (a) determining the type of emotional bond represented by the relationship, (b) contending with the issue of sexuality, (c) dealing with the barrier of inequality, and (d) presenting the relationship as authentic to relevant audiences. Finally, Christian recommendations for the practice of cross-sex friendship are presented.
Psychotherapy as “Work in the Spirit”: Thinking Theologically about Psychotherapy
Authors: Kunst Jennifer , Tan Siang-Yang
Published: February 2018

This article is an exploration of the meaning, value, and function of psychotherapy within a theology of work. Using Volf's (1991) three-fold model of “work in the Spirit,” psychotherapy is seen as cooperation with God, as eschatological work, and as pneumatological or Spirit-centered work. Psychotherapy's most basic goal is to repair the broken personality. The work of psychotherapy is cooperation with God in God's own work of preserving and transforming the original, now-fallen creation. The fruit of such work—the healed and restored human person—will be the raw material from which God will build the new creation. Thus, the work of psychotherapy is God's work in both its intrinsic and instrumental value, as it honors the original creation and makes way for the new. Finally, psychotherapy is seen as God's work in that it is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who gifts, calls, and enables psychotherapists to participate in God's own preserving and transforming work in the world.
Forms and Degrees of Religious Commitment: Intrinsic Orientation in a Swedish Context
Authors: Hovemyr Maria
Published: February 2018

The psychometric properties of the revised Swedish Religious Orientation Scale (SROS II) were tested in two academic environments. Intrinsic, extrinsic, and quest orientations and their relation to self-esteem were examined. An attempt was made to identify two sub-groups within the intrinsic sphere, specified as Intrinsic-Dogmatic (ID) and Intrinsic Reflective (IR), and to validate these, tentatively, in relation to degree of conservatism, using the revised Swedish Social Attitude Scale. The subjects were undergraduate students of psychology and theology. The results suggest that forms and degrees of religious commitment can be adequately measured by SROS II. The ID - IR hypothesis was supported and previous research findings with regard to self-esteem were partially replicated.
Applicability of Levenson LoC Scale to the Lives of Geriatric Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Pankow Laura J.
Published: February 2018

Locus of control (LOC) has been studied as a parameter for personality assessment since its development in 1966. Several studies of the correlation of LOC with such theological components as faith and spirituality have been reported with varying conclusions regarding the relationship of these concepts. However, the question of how theological issues are assessed within the Levenson LOC scale and assessment of the applicability of this instrument to the lives of older adults, as interpreted by members of this population, has not been addressed. This study investigates those two aspects of the Levenson LOC scale and offers suggestions of how these preliminary findings might be applied in counseling this population.
Member Care in Missions: Global Perspectives and Future Directions
Authors: O'Donnell Kelly
Published: February 2018

Member care has become a specialized discipline within missions, drawing on the contributions of Christian counseling and psychology, pastoral care, and human resource development. Much is happening in the international member care community, especially in North America and Europe. This article highlights some of the key developments that have shaped and are shaping this field. It also points out the need to develop and prioritize additional supportive resources for those working among unreached people groups and for agencies from the “Newer Sending Countries” (Asia, Africa, and Latin America). The article closes with five suggestions—“PACTS”— for further developing this crucial field, calling upon the various member care streams to purposefully join together on behalf of the missions community.
The Effects of Marital Disruption on the Intergenerational Transmission of Religious Values
Authors: Max Dana A. , Brokaw Beth Fletcher , Mcqueen William M.
Published: February 2018

This study sought to investigate the relationship between adolescent religiosity and parental religiosity between families where marriages were intact and those that were disrupted. It was hypothesized that adolescents who come from disrupted families, regardless of the level of discord in that family, would not reflect the religious values of their parents as well as their peers who come from intact families. The subjects for this study were 244 high school students who completed a questionnaire assessing their own religiosity, the perceived religiosity of their parents, and the perceived level of conflict between their parents. The results supported the main hypothesis. The results also showed a significant correlation between adolescent religiosity and perceived parental religiosity, and that adolescents are significantly less religious as a group from their mothers, but are more religious than their fathers. Finally, the results indicated that adolescents coming from disrupted families are less religious than adolescents coming from intact homes.
Toward Guidelines for the Development, Evaluation, and Utilization of Christian Self-Help Materials
Authors: Johnson W. Brad , Johnson William L. , Hillman Casey
Published: February 2018

This article explores the rapid proliferation of Christian self-help books, the advantages and potential problems relative to their use, and the literature regarding self-help utilization patterns among practicing mental health professionals. The authors then recommend consideration of several general guidelines for authors, reviewers, and professionals who might write, evaluate, or recommend self-help books to clients. These are offered as “quality control” standards which may serve to improve both the value of Christian self-help materials and the manner in which they are utilized.
Personality Correlates of One's Image of Jesus: Historiographic Analysis Using the Five-Factor Model of Personality
Authors: Piedmont Ralph L. , Williams Joseph E. G. , Ciarrocchi Joseph W.
Published: February 2018

This research obtained ratings of Jesus on a comprehensive, well-validated personality instrument, the Adjective Check List. Ratings from 77 women and 38 men (ages 17 to 75) were obtained, and the resulting historiographic profile portrayed Jesus as being sympathetic and supportive of others, although he was perceived as maintaining an autonomous and detached presence. Using the five-factor model of personality as the organizing framework, we found that about 11% of the variance in the Jesus ratings overlapped with self-ratings of personality. We outlined the utility of historiographic analysis employing comprehensive models of personality by discussing it in terms of attachment theory.
Jung and Christology
Authors: Chapman G. Clarke
Published: February 2018

Can Jungian thought help revitalize Christology for modern believers? First, a survey of Jung's comments on Jesus shows his portrayal of a charismatic young rabbi who came to embody the cardinal archetype of the Self. But he lost contact with his shadow side (the figure of Satan thus gaining differentiation) and on the cross was forsaken by Yahweh. So the incarnation, incomplete in Jesus, yearns for fulfillment through the individuation (“Christification”) of each Christian. Second, a mixed evaluation seems required by theology. Jung offers valuable resources to Christology by his depiction of Jesus’ suffering and true humanity in a cross-cultural setting and by his summons to a responsible imitatio Christi. But theology must object to Jung's idiosyncratic exegesis, his docetic figure of Christ, the absence of any resurrection, and the disjuncture of Jesus both from earthly evil and from a sadistic God of wrath.
Influence of Physicians’ Religious Values on Inservice Training Decisions
Authors: Neumann Joseph K. , Leppien Frederick V.
Published: February 2018

Survey responses of board-certified physicians were compared as a function of their self-identification with Liberal Protestant (LP), Conservative Protestant (CP), Liberal Catholic (LC), Liberal Jewish (LJ), or Agnostic (Ag) values. Respondents rated approval/interest to vignettes describing an inservice which reflected either Evangelical Christian, Liberal Protestant, Humanist (Hu), or Hindu values. Other items asked respondents to provide demographic and religious-value related information. CPs were generally more approving of all vignettes than LPs, LCs, LJs, and Ags. Hu vignettes were more approved than the other 3 vignettes. Physicians generally were more approving of vignettes related to their own values. Ags were least similar to parental values relative to the other 4 groups and less dedicated to their beliefs. CPs may be most likely to be accepting of the professional work of others yet least likely to have their theistically identified professional activities approved. Methodological issues, the Slippery Slope hypothesis, the possible importance of belief in an absolute authority, and professional implications were reviewed.
From Soul to Self and Back Again
Authors: Duvall Nancy S.
Published: February 2018

This article surfaces issues relevant to the concepts of soul and self. It attends to the current focus on self, which some would see as a contemporary substitute for what used to be described as soul. It looks to some of the historical understanding of soul as given in Scripture and some philosophers (Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, and Descartes) and shows a shift in focus from soul to self stemming from the time of Descartes. While some forms of body-soul dualism are appropriately rejected (Plato, Descartes), not all forms of dualism are problematic. An attempt is made to differentiate understandings of soul and self based on implied perspectives that are often unspecified and therefore confused. Finally, a brief overview of some of the psychoanalytic conceptualizations of self are given, conceptualizations that focus on subjectivity or imply a need for something superordinate to contain the functions or representations given. It is suggested that while focus on self or subjectivity is needed and helpful, focus on soul is needed to give theoretical foundations for psychology and psychotherapy.
Whatever Happened to the Human Soul? A Brief Christian Genealogy of a Psychological Term
Authors: Johnson Eric L.
Published: February 2018

The term soul disappeared from psychological discourse as modern psychology arose in the late 1800s. Yet the concept is used almost universally across cultures, and the term had served a valuable lexical purpose for previous centuries in the West as a general label for human inner life that included moral and religious connotations. The removal of soul from Western psychological discourse provides an instructive example of the power of modern, naturalistic sensibilities to control what counts as valid—power that is masked as an “objective” search for knowledge. Some reasons for resurrecting the term soul are provided.
A History of the Concept of the Soul during the 20TH Century
Authors: Boyd Jeffrey H.
Published: February 2018

The word soul can have many meanings. In this article it is taken to mean the inner or subjective person. When the body dies and disintegrates, the inner person survives and provides continuity of personal identity between this life and the resurrection life. Sigmund Freud and the mental health movement have been involved in treating the soul, and I argue that the soul is the central focus of all psychotherapy. During the 20th century the Biblical Theology Movement sought to discredit soul-body dualism as an allegedly Greek philosophical idea that contradicted the whole-person view of human nature that was found throughout the Bible. They restricted their use of the word dualism to refer only to Platonic dualism, in which the body was despised or inferior. There are other forms of dualism which say that the human is made of two parts, only one of which is the corpse. The Biblical Theology Movement emphasized this life and the resurrection life, but paid little attention to the intermediate state. The word soul was, to some extent, dropped from contemporary Bible translations. But that anti-soul position is not tenable when one considers the intermediate state (between death and resurrection) when there is a clear dichotomy: the soul (or spirit) is with Christ while the body lies in the grave. I propose that it would be theologically acceptable to bring the soul back from Siberia, so as to make it again a part of theology and the theological object of care and healing.
Marbles, Clocks, and the Postmodern Self
Authors: Piehl Robert O.
Published: February 2018

This article traces the construct of self from its modern origins in Cartesian dualism through postmodern psychoanalytic forms. As the self crosses the postmodern divide, a new configuration based on relationality emerges that alters classic metapsychological postulates. The postmodern concepts of nonreductive physicalism and holonic hierarchies serve to explicate a version of personhood derived from the Trinitarian doctrine of God. Because these transformations radically affect psychotherapeutic theory and practice, an understanding of the postmodern self that is both authentically biblical and current epistemologically is crucial for Christian therapists. To aid this end, the article employs an analogy that uses marbles and clocks to demonstrate the shift from the conception of the modern self to the postmodern person.
Two Orientations of the Self
Authors: Boyd Jeffrey H.
Published: February 2018

This article defends the view that the Christian orientation of the self (i.e., soul) is that of a self-in-relationship-with-God, whereas the secular view of the self does not include that divine orientation. These different orientations lead to rival and incompatible value systems.

To illustrate the two orientations of the self, this article will examine the secular mental health movement (SMHM), in which the author has been immersed for a quarter of a century. I seek to portray the spirit of the SMHM as a whole, without implying that any given SMHM practitioner suffers from that spirit. The spirit in question is definitely not-God-centered and may even promote the self as an idol. An idol is defined as anything or anybody that a person loves
Spirituality and the 12 Steps of Substance Abuse Recovery
Authors: Borman Patricia D. , Dixon David N.
Published: February 2018

Numerous treatment modalities incorporate spirituality as an important part of treatment. The 12-step program is one such program which claims to enhance one's spirituality, yet empirical support is limited. This preliminary study compared clients in 12-step outpatient programs to clients in non-12-step outpatient programs to assess the programs’ impact on spirituality. From scores on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale, no significant differences between 12-step programs and non-12-step programs were found, yet both treatments were found to lead to a significant increase over time of client spirituality. Individuals who prefer programs not based on the 12 steps may still experience an increase in their spirituality. Since participants in both treatment groups experienced a significant increase in spirituality, further support is found for the presence of spirituality in all clients. This finding supports the appropriateness of addressing spirituality openly in treatment.
Girard and Integration: Desire, Violence, and the Mimesis of Christ as Foundation for Postmodernity
Authors: Watson P. J.
Published: February 2018

Postmodern intellectual fragmentation increasingly challenges all efforts to integrate psychology and Christianity. The work of the literary and cultural theorist René Girard, nevertheless, suggests new opportunities for developing a Christian social science within the present cultural context. According to Girard, humans learn to desire specific objects through a process of imitation that he calls mimesis. Mimetic desire leads inexorably to violence. In theory, human communities were established when this violent desire was discharged in the murder of an innocent human scapegoat. This process is evident in primitive religion and myth and continues to operate within the structures of all human society. The Bible is centrally important in unmasking this bloodshed, and Girard's thought reveals why a peaceful postmodernity absolutely requires foundations in a mimesis of that which is modeled by Christ.