Page 34 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 10

Comment to

“The Christian

Conscience: The

Transformation of a

Created Module through

Christ and the Spirit“ Michael Strating

M.A., is a fourth
year Ph.D. student
in the Adult Clinical Psychology program at
In his article on conscience, Eric Johnson has the University of Windsor. His primary area
provided an excellent overview of one of the of study is in psychotherapy process research
key distinctive features of a Christian psycho- with a focus on emotional awareness and
logy that distinguishes Christian approaches emotion change processes. He is lovingly
from modern secular approaches to psycholo- supported by his wife, Katelynn, and child-
gy. Johnson provides a strong scriptural basis ren, Melody and Willem.
for understanding the conscience, comparing
and contrasting scriptural with humanistic and
existential perspectives on moral awareness. He
also makes use of psychological research and
scripture to shed light on the development of
the conscience and associated genetic, physio-
logical, cognitive, affective, motivational, and
relational (e.g., socialization and enculturation)
processes. While Johnson has undoubtedly only
scratched the surface of the topic of the consci-
ence and related issues here, I think that he has their own personal values and religious morals
captured many of the main themes. Not only in counselling contexts, typically with the goal
is this a theoretically well-founded conceptua- of symptom reduction, including the reduction
lization of conscience, but there are numerous of painful emotions such as guilt and shame.
practical and clinical implications of such an While we all have sinfully distorted consciences
understanding as well. and there are undoubtedly risks associated with
misguided proselytization of clients, there is
Though far more complex than the perception nevertheless a Christian responsibility to be in-
of physical stimuli, I think that the metaphor struments through which Christ can attune cli-
of the conscience as a sensory faculty akin to ents’ perceptions (and subsequent behaviour)
the five basic senses is a valid and useful one to God’s objective moral standards (just as an
for Christian psychologists. This conceptua- eye doctor’s job is to help patients to accurately
lization presumes an objective moral order of view objective visual stimuli). In short, it is a
which human beings have been given the abi- reminder that counselling is and never should
lity to perceive and respond to; a tenet held be a morally neutral context or process. I espe-
by Christians which stands in sharp contrast cially appreciate that Johnson connected this
with secular society and the rise of ethical re- specifically to recent changes in cultural-ethical
lativism in recent decades. For those of us who norms in sexual and gender ethics which have
are psychotherapists, this radically influences been promoted by secular psychologies and
our identity and role, as well as treatment goals which continue to present substantial social
and associated interventions. Secular psycho- challenges both within and outside the visible
logy dictates that therapists should suppress church, including counselling contexts.

32