The Book Soul Friend By Kenneth Leech Essay

al (2005) suggest that minimal evidence and research has been conducted on spiritual development, however, they hypothesize that spiritual development is a dimension of human life that is as important as cognitive, social, or emotional development and interrelated to each other. It is a dimension that is a person's effort to mix various aspects of development. Spiritual development introduces questions about the nature of spiritual change, transformation, growth, or maturity through life phases or stages. The authors emphasize that "understanding the continuity of childhood and adolescence is as vital to understanding spiritual development as it is to recognizing the phases and stages that are part of that process" (Roehlkepartain et. al,

This paper is written to share my personal spiritual journey. I will discuss the influence my family has had during my upbringing on my religious and spiritual practices. I will additionally share how my spirituality has changed and evolved over time as I married and now have a family of my own. This paper will describe how spirituality has determined and motivated my personality and the adult I have become. This will help me to expound on how my personal spiritual beliefs will establish a respectful, collaborative, and caring relationships with my future clients.

Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn is a conscious effort to apply all the major elements of Christian faith to the work of counselors. McMinn has created a workable blueprint for Christian counselors by writing at length about Christian faith in and out of the counseling office, psychological health, prayer, scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption. In doing so, McMinn has successfully blended modern counseling techniques with Christian life in such a way that a Christian counselor can easily apply it to his/her own life and ultimately to effective counseling for his/her clients.

We as individuals ordinarily go through life looking at life through our own views of how things should be grounded on our own worldviews. While, a worldview is how a person views the world and the theories that they personally have of the world. Nevertheless, Entwistle provides a fresh outlook for the observer on how psychology is integrated into our worldviews, as a source of guidance and faith. In addition, this is addressed on theology in which, the bible stems from. I found the assimilation of psychology and theology that the author provides, to be essential in assisting individuals with a variety of issues. For some individuals this can be a challenge, being that some Christians have a hard time with integrating

Psychoanalytic therapy is seen by many as an unorthodox way of helping people recover from psychological problems. Psychoanalytic theory is made up of two hypotheses, psychic determinism and dynamic unconscious. Psychic determinism “implies that mental life is a continuous manifestation of cause-related relationships, and that nothing happens by chance” (Merydith, 2007). However, dynamic unconscious implies that a various amount of basic needs, impulses, and desires are out an individual’s consciousness (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). In contrast, coming from a Greek Orthodox perspective human nature is seen from the eyes of the Lord. Growing up in this denomination it has taught the parishioners that they were made in the image of God. They have worth and value in this world and it is important that they know this.

A worldview in isolation is a worldview without a purpose. This paper allows the author to flesh out her worldview, then apply it to faith in counseling. Reality is centered on God, and is ultimately understood through him. Worldviews that do not allow for the a-natural to be involved in an understanding of psychotherapy may seem antithetical to the Christian faith. However, worldviews such as modernity are appropriate mechanisms for science, and science itself is not a threat to Christianity. Even though its applications and interpretations can seem to rise up at times against Christian belief, this is a question of hermeneutics, not a question of the fundamental rightness or wrongness of science. God created humanity to seek for

systems, in which all influence the person. A more complete plan of care may be offered

McMinn and Phillips’ work listed in their book “Care for the Soul” helps me to understand the integration between theology and psychology. In the context of pastoral counseling, both theology and psychology can be used as interpretive frameworks that can be treated individually in terms of its distinctive methods, aims, norms and linguistic conventions. However, it is important not to separate the two conceptual frameworks from each other when we seek to understand persons in their psychological and spiritual wholeness. Psychological discourse should be placed into the larger theological framework of meaning. The integration of the theological and psychological modes of discourse should not be striving only for systematic or conceptual idea, but to apply them in practice at the level of personal integration in intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. The skill of using these ways of thinking and speaking becomes a part of who the pastoral counselor is, part of the counselor’s ordinary way of functioning.

psychologists without Christian training that try to integrate, minimize the magnitude of the doctrine, psychologize the Christian belief system, and ignore the historical sociological framework of psychology. Oppositely, theologists that don’t have psychological education try to incorporate the two and end up misrepresenting the fine distinction of psychology and therefore misunderstand clinical application. Clinical psychologists are recognizing more and more the spiritual component in an individual’s life in order to cope with difficulties (Entwistle, 2010).

During the time of 1954, Clyde Narramore developed a talk show program entitled “Psychology for the living” The radio program began airing on more than hundreds of Christian based stations. Later between the 1960s he wrote a hot topic book that gave a Christian approach to therapeutic sessions. This therapeutic session incorporated a high number of scripture passages along with Christian influenced counseling based off of Carl Rodger’s methodologies

The topic I have chosen for my final project is the argument of whether or not we as humans have a soul. If so, is it something different from the brain and does this “force” survive after our physical death? The concept of a soul has long been rooted in religion and we still debate its existence to this day. As humans, we fear the unknown that follows this existence; after this physical life. Due to this fear we have created this idea of a force larger than ourselves. Many scientists and philosophers have contradicting viewpoints on the existence of a soul. However research and discussion still continues on the matter to hopefully uncover the answers we seek.

In conclusion the model of historical integration question: is science enemies or allies? Christianity and psychology are needed and can be engrafted together to provide doctrinal truth as well as worldly truth. There are several types of counseling with several challenges and risks. Integrating psychology and theology were said to be a slow process but there is a need for it. Medication may be needed by a client for mental health issues as well as other health issues and counseling, rather secular or Christian counseling the concern should be for the client’s well-being and restoration.

Everywhere we look we see people searching for greater significance in this world and in themselves. This quest sometimes leads to establishing or changing one’s identity. Developing into an individual is the process defined as personhood. Personhood is a straight forward concept applicable to everyone except Jesus Christ. Personhood becomes problematic with Jesus because of His documented dual nature being fully divine and fully human. Jesus’ dual nature has generated a significant amount of controversy throughout history. The intention of this essay is to explore the personhood of Jesus which will confirm His dual nature was not only valid but also required for humankind’s salvation.

My class reading and teaching in the last few weeks provide me with a solid idea about spiritual direction. My understanding is that in the spiritual direction session, the director is to listen to on an ongoing conversation between the directee and God. The Holy Spirit has already been working in the life of directee before the session and will continue to be at work after the session is over. The emphasis of spiritual direction will be to enhance the relationship between the directee and God. In a spiritual direction session, typical questions asked are "Where is God in this?" or "Where has God gone and why don't I sense any divine presence at all?" I learn to know that "spiritual direction arises out of inviting and listening to God." One thing I am in tension with myself and need to be reminded constantly is that I should not have the attitude or expectation to resolve the issue mentioned in the session. The focus of the session should be about what goes on between the directee and God.

I will explore a few of unique approaches as outlined in the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. I will describe my experience of integrating some of the concepts of spiritual direction into my practice.