Page 118 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 2

The Book

Eric L. Johnson

Foundations for Soul Care:

A Christian Psychology

Proposal

2007, IVP-Academic, 716 pages

Foundations for Soul Care presents a theoreti-
cal framework for a distinctly Christian model
of psychotherapy. In contrast to the individua-
list, human-centered models that characterize
modern psychotherapy, this is a relational, God-
centered model derived from Scripture and the
Christian traditions, empirical research, and
philosophical analysis.

Review by Martijn Lindt (Netherlands)

‘Foundations of Soul Care’ by Eric Johnson (2007) is no ‘Soul Care’ is the term Johnson responsibly uses. It clearly
less than a masterpiece. To begin with, this book contains indicates that we have a tradition here. Johnson recogni-
the most references of any book in my library. Johnson zes the achievements of modern psychology to the full
has read for us the history of the relationship between (‘… a voluminous, extensive, scientifically rigorous lite-
Christianity and psychology. He is a great reader before rature on human beings and their psychological care has
the Lord. One of the very valuable assets of this book is arisen…’; p. 220). Yet he stands without compromise in
his own reflection on ‘reading’. the classical Christian tradition.

His essential contribution to psychology and to us is the These are almost all my words. Johnson has a far more
way he detects, sharply as a laser beam, how deep mo- modest tone, for which I also admire his book. He is ca-
dernist psychology has infiltrated our minds, leading us reful, nuanced: ‘The various Christian approaches have
to believe that we have incorporated objective science all made important contributions to the debate’; p. 9); ‘ …
even when we have critically filtered it as Christians. It is there will always be different notions of just what [Chris-
a work of exorcism. tian psychology] is’; ‘... there will always be significant
worldview differences among psychologists in this age’;
He breaks down the barriers that have been built between ‘This book provides a description of some of the main
Scripture and psychology. He grounds his argument in features of [italics mine] these foundations for a Chris-
Scripture, making it constantly present as living Scripture tian understanding of Soul Care’; ‘…the existence of dif-
that sends its rays into the domain of psychology. Since ferent worldview communities will enable us to obtain a
Johnson, it is visible in the extent to which modernism broader understanding of the nature of human beings…’.
has driven out Scripture and occupied psychology under Johnson says Christian Psychology is still in its children’s
the pretence of being the only really objective science. shoes (my Dutch expression), while he offers an adole-
scent pair himself.
Johnson has interpreted the postmodernist development.
He posits this as an opportunity for Christianity. Every He never reduces the classical Christian tradition to only
discourse is embedded in a tradition. The psychologi- one denomination. His work is ecumenically valid. He is
cal discourse is open to a variety of traditions: the other never distracted by petty quarrels within the Christian
world religions have also developed their own psycholo- tradition, which are irrelevant for psychology. Yet he is
gies, e.g. Buddhist Psychology. Now there is the oppor- firmly rooted in his reformed protestant tradition, alt-
tunity − even the kairos perhaps − for a Christian Psy- hough quite unlike the often self-opinionated positions
chologytoo. Not just a Psychology with some Christian of many in my country.
element incorporated into it, but a Psychology built on
Christian foundations, on Christ.

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