American Protestantism In The Age Of Psychology
by Dr Stephanie Muravchik /
2011 / English / PDF
1.7 MB Download
Many have worried that the ubiquitous practice of psychology and
psychotherapy in America has corrupted religious faith, eroded
civic virtue, and weakened community life. But an examination of
the history of three major psycho-spiritual movements since World
War II - Alcoholics Anonymous, The Salvation Army's outreach to
homeless men, and the "clinical pastoral education" movement -
reveals the opposite. These groups developed a practical religious
psychology that nurtured faith, fellowship, and personal
responsibility. They achieved this by including religious
traditions and spiritual activities in their definition of therapy
and by putting clergy and lay believers to work as therapists.
Under such care, spiritual and emotional growth reinforced each
other. Thanks to these innovations, the three movements succeeded
in reaching millions of socially alienated and religiously
disenchanted Americans. They demonstrated that religion and
psychology, although antithetical in some eyes, could be blended
effectively to foster community, individual responsibility, and
happier lives.
Many have worried that the ubiquitous practice of psychology and
psychotherapy in America has corrupted religious faith, eroded
civic virtue, and weakened community life. But an examination of
the history of three major psycho-spiritual movements since World
War II - Alcoholics Anonymous, The Salvation Army's outreach to
homeless men, and the "clinical pastoral education" movement -
reveals the opposite. These groups developed a practical religious
psychology that nurtured faith, fellowship, and personal
responsibility. They achieved this by including religious
traditions and spiritual activities in their definition of therapy
and by putting clergy and lay believers to work as therapists.
Under such care, spiritual and emotional growth reinforced each
other. Thanks to these innovations, the three movements succeeded
in reaching millions of socially alienated and religiously
disenchanted Americans. They demonstrated that religion and
psychology, although antithetical in some eyes, could be blended
effectively to foster community, individual responsibility, and
happier lives.
