Page 8 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 2

EMCAPP

Comment

on Eric Johnson

“What is a Christian Psychology?”

Nicolene Joubert

Eric Johnson’s article delineates the essence of Christi- Christian anthropology, epistemology and ontology.
an psychology as a psychology embedded in a Christian These worldview statements, serving as a foundation for
ideological surround. Christian psychology would further include value state-
ments, beliefs about good and evil and beliefs regarding
The construction of such a distinctive psychology needs time orientation. As Eric Johnson implied it would ena-
time (a few decades at least) and serious in depth study ble Christian psychologists to study and treat universal
and application of Scriptures and other Christian texts to psychological themes in the light of these statements.
psychology. The construction process should not exclude
modern and postmodern psychology but engage in dia- Further to this, the importance of a timeframe was high-
logue with this field to be enriched by valid psychological lighted in Eric Johnson’s article and warrants further re-
information. flection.

The construction of a Christian psychology thus requires Worldview beliefs regarding time orientation reflect ideas
a clear articulation of Christian worldview assumptions about temporal focus of behaviour and may be viewed as
as foundation and the process of construction which prescriptive or proscriptive beliefs, i.e. beliefs that judge
should include engagement with modern and postmo- the means of action or the end of action to be desirable
dern psychology over a period of time. or undesirable. The nature of time orientation statements
relate to the question whether we should focus on the
I would like to comment further on the meaning of past (tradition), the present (the here and now) or the
worldview and the importance of time in the construc- future (planning ahead for future welfare). Time orienta-
tion process. tion beliefs are often related to existential and evaluative
beliefs.
Worldview has been defined in many ways. It has been
defined, amongst others, as philosophy of life, world out- A Scriptural orientation towards time should thus guide
look, cultural orientations, value orientations and uncon- our Christian psychology project. I would like to high-
scious systems of meaning. light some of the Scriptures in support of Eric Johnson’s
quest for time. Firstly, there is no time to God although
The following definition by Koltko-Rivera (2004) provi- He reveals Himself to man in time and space.
des a more comprehensive description of the concept.
2 Pet 3: 8 and Ps 90: 4 indicate that God can stretch out
“A worldview is a way of describing the universe and life time or compress it to fulfil His purposes. There is thus
within it, both in terms of what is and what ought to be. time enough to fulfil God’s purpose with Christian psy-
A given worldview is a set of beliefs that includes limi- chology.
ting statements and assumptions regarding what exists
and what does not (either in actuality, or in principle), Secondly, God our creator and Christ our Redeemer and
what objects or experiences are good or bad, and what Healer are timeless and unchangeable.
objectives, behaviours, and relationships are desirable or
undesirable. A worldview defines what can be known or Deut 32: 4
done in the world, and how it can be known or done. In “He is the Rock, he work is perfect: for all his ways are
addition to defining what goals can be sought in life, a judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and
worldview defines what goals should be pursued. World- right is he.”
views include assumptions that may be unproven, and
even improvable, but these assumptions are super ordi-
nate, in that they provide the epistemic and ontological The immutability and eternity of Christ as depicted in
foundations for other beliefs within a belief system.” Heb13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and
forever” cements the belief that God the Son is timeless
Applying this definition of worldview to the construction and unchangeable. Christ, the unchangeable Truth will
of a Christian psychology is imperative as it would lead always guide our Christian psychology endeavours will
to a clear articulation of a Christian worldview regarding continue the process in the generations to come.

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