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Miller, 2004). The idea is that animals that did texts. Stress is a part of the pruning process, an
not stress in the face of danger did not survive to instance of fatherly discipline for our benefit.
pass on their genes. The physiological pathways To cope with evil rumors, bad reports, and un-
for such appraisals are often cast as the (leftover welcome news, Scripture and recent research
from pre-historic periods but now problematic) suggest that a deep awareness of God’s good-
causal circuitry of stress, for example, as when ness, power, and knowledge leads to decreases
threat appraisals “…originate in brain systems in worry and stress.
that also control physiological stress reactions The dimensions of a Christian psychology ap-
in the body.” (Gianaros & Wager, 2015, p. 313). proach to rumor suggest mechanisms for how
Stress is thus typically understood as a conse- decreases in stress occur. Bad news can be in-
quence of threat appraisal within a naturalistic terpreted within a biblical surround, in full
evolutionary and adaptive frame. view of the Scriptural theme that God has all
things under control. Evil rumors can be set
Conclusion within the “God is good” narrative frame, fitted
Rumors may or may not be stressful, depending within a larger story that God “has my welfare
on one’s “felt” worldview. In this article, I explo- in mind.” Evil tidings can be considered in light
red the link between rumors and stress from the of their possible origins and intent to discou-
perspective of Christian vs. modern psycholo- rage or provoke distrust, cognizant that earth
gy. The modern psychological understanding is situated in a spiritual war zone. Fear rumors
of the rumor-stress link is naturalistic throug- can be received in view of the available choice
hout. Rumor is a collective, and stress is an in- options; we can be informed yet not alarmed,
dividual, adaptive threat detection mechanism even about terrible “wars and rumors of wars.”
that arose out of a materialistic evolutionary Indeed, Jesus commanded his disciples to not
heritage. The use of the word “stress” draws its be alarmed (Matt. 24:6). To this final thought,
intended meanings from material and engi- Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse
ne mechanics. Thus modern psychology links continues to be as fitting now as when it was
rumors and stress as collective and individual first penned:
survival signals. Coping with stress and fear ru- “See that ye be not troubled. Is it possible to
mors would then seem to be a zero-sum game hear such sad news, and not be troubled? Yes,
in which the material must receive reinforce- where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is
ments, or the force applied must be reduced. kept in peace, and is not afraid, no not of the
Alternately, the threat detection mechanism has evil tidings of wars. Be not put into confusion
become too sensitive and thus “maladaptive.” or commotion; see that ye be not. There is need
Therapy then involves threat reappraisal as “ir- of constant care and watchfulness to keep trou-
rational.” ble from the heart, but it is against the mind of
From a Christian psychology approach, ru- Christ, that his people should have troubled
mors are information and stories interpreted hearts, even in troublous times.” (Henry, Scott,
and non-deterministically responded to within & Stokes, 1833, p. 145).
theological narrative and spiritual warfare con-

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