Dialogue, Embodiment, and the Unity of Faith and Learning: A Conversation on Integration in a Postmodern Age (2006)

On the occasion of CAPS' 50th anniversary, a dialogue took place between four scholars who have each made significant contributions to the interdisciplinary dialogue between psychology and theology. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen, Richard Gorsuch, Newton Malony, and Bruce Narramore engaged in a lively conversation about the nature of integration, with each contributing unique, and sometimes conflicting insights, drawing from their faith backgrounds and professional experiences. A particular focus was placed on the practice of integration in the context of postmodernism. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), four scholars were invited to dialogue about the history and future of integration. All four have made significant contributions to the exploration of the interface between psychology and Christianity during their long and varied careers. They also reflect the diversity that has formed the ideological surround in which CAPS has developed, coming from different personal backgrounds, genders, theological communities, and subdisciplines in psychology. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen has authored and edited many books and dozens of articles on the interface between psychology and Christianity. Perhaps her best-known work is award-winning Gender and Grace (Van Leeuwen, 1990), now in its 14th English printing, which has been pivotal in shaping the thinking of many men and women on gender equality. Skeptical of Christianity throughout her youth, she was drawn to Christianity in early adulthood, and now considers herself a Calvinist evangelical Christian. Trained as a social psychologist, Dr. Van Leeuwen has also brought to her work a sophisticated understanding of philosophy of science and theology. Richard Gorsuch has brought his nationally-recognized expertise in factor analysis and measurement to the psychology of religion. His 1984 article in the American Psychologist, entitled Measurement: The boon and bane of investigating religion had a profound effect on this field. Dr. Gorsuch has been a strong advocate for spirituality in the secular psychological community. His interest in the effects of postmodernism on integration is reflected in Integrating Psychology and Spirituality? (2002), in which he proposes two methods of dialoging psychology and spirituality. Newton Malony, licensed psychologist and ordained minister, has written many articles and over 30 books, many of them reflecting his pastoral interest and the integrative application of psychology to issues facing the church. His most recent book is entitled, Christian Counseling: An Introduction (Malony & Augsburger, 2006). Dr. Malony is a clinical psychologist, and maintained a private practice in addition to his faculty duties at Fuller Theological Seminary prior to his retirement. In addition, he is an ordained United Methodist minister, serving at various times as full- or part-time parish pastor and chaplain. Bruce Narramore was founding dean of Rosemead School of Psychology. His books on parenting, guilt, and self-esteem were pioneering in bringing integrative help to Christian lay audiences, while at the same time, his book The Integration of Psychology and Theology: An Introduction, published in 1979 with John Carter (Carter & Narramore, 1979), was, and continues to be, foundational reading for students and professionals in the emerging discipline of integration. Raised in the Baptist tradition and trained in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, he identifies himself as an evangelical. The dialogue, which took place during the 2006 International CAPS Convention, was convened around the idea of exploring the past and future of the integrative enterprise. Like all good conversations, it took some unexpected turns. What emerged was a lively interchange regarding the nature of integration, the possibility of accessing truth in light of postmodernism, and the stance of the Christian psychologist with respect to the larger field of psychology. …