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and exorcists). life takes into consideration its genesis, properties, and
Christian counseling explicitly presupposes Christian an- purpose, as well as the facts of suffering and sinfulness.
thropology. Human beings cannot be helped if their rela- Therefore, Christian psychology is interested in and stu-
tions to God, values, and moral principles are neglected. dies such specifically human experiences as sin, grace,
One of the first questions that a person should be asked is suffering, and mercy, as well as the purpose and meaning
“What is your relation to God?” which is aimed at resto- of life (Porczyk, 2000, pp. 1–6). A number of questions
ring and rectifying one’s ultimate sense of identity. The still remain unanswered: What is the meaning and func-
person should answer for herself questions about what tion of suf-fering? How should one interpret psychologi-
she believes and what she does not, what is important or cally experiences of love, faith, and hope? What are the
not in her life and what the purposes of her life are. criteria of psychological and spiritual health? The answers
The objective of Christian counseling is not to equip to the above questions provided by contemporary acade-
persons to gain better control over their life, but to help mic psychology are insufficient and thus the perspective
them surrender all control to God, as well as to gain un- offered by Christian psychology is becoming increasingly
derstanding into their spiritual experiences and to shape relevant and attractive.
their conscience by helping them to make morally sound
choices.
Christian psychology, psychotherapy, and counseling References
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ling serves non-Christians by helping them to form, from Vaticana.
the perspective of psychological knowledge and revealed Jan Paweł II. (1993). Veritatis splendor. Watykan: Libreria
truth, a picture of patients in their enslavement, as their Ed. Vaticana.
spirit is closed or fettered. The therapist’s task is to help Jaworski R. (2000). Ku pełni życia. Płock: Płocki Instytut
set them free from this enslavement and open the door Wyd.
to fullness of life through explicating biblical principles Jaworski R. (1994). Psychologia chrześcijańska. Nowiny
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a merciful God. Johnson E.L., Jones S.L. (2000). Psychology & Christia-
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Efforts in the Development of a Christian Psychology Jones S.L. & Butman R.E. (1991). Modern Psychoterapies:
The conception of Christian psychology is being deve- A comprehensive Christian appraisal. Downers Grove IL:
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stance, the Association of Christian Psychologists (ACP), Ledger Ch. (1992) Dienst an Nichtchristen, „IGNIS-
established in Poland in 1995, runs the School of Chris- Journal” (2) 48-51.
tian Psychology and Psychotherapy and elaborates basic Materska M. (2001). Wstęp do psychologii z elementami
psychological and psychotherapeutic concepts based on historii psychologii. Warszawa: Wyd. Naukowe SCHO-
Christian anthropology. Great service to Christian psy- LAR.
chology has been rendered by the German Society for May W. (1992). Schluss mit den schlechten Gewonhei-
Christian Psychology, IGNIS (Deutsche Gesellschaft für ten! Studientext IGNIS. Kitzingen.
Christliche Psychologie, IGNIS) (cf. Jaworski 1994). Also McMinn M.R. (1996). Psychology, theology, and spiri-
in the USA Christian psychologists have produced many tuality in Christian Counseling, Wheaton IL: Tyndale
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As early as in 1956, for example an initiative of a small Neuroscientist’s Case for the Existence of the Soul. New
group of Christian therapists in the USA led to the esta- York, NY: Harper-Collins
blishment of the Christian Association for Psychological Ostrowska K. (2006). Założenia metodologiczne psycho-
Studies (CAPS). In 2011 CAPS’ Journal of Psychology logii chrześcijańskiej. W; Jackowska E., Jaworski R. (red.)
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Psychology in the USA was founded, publishing its own Popielski K. (1993). Noetyczny wymiar osobowości.
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Concluding Remarks html
Psychology may be placed in different scientific contexts. Szyszkowski W. (1998) Czy psychiatra może być
It is most often pursued as an empirical natural science, chrześcijaninem? Biuletyn SPCh (14) 1-7.
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rectify the distorted secular picture of life, human be- ship. Grand Rapids, MI Eerdmans.
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The Christian conception and interpretation of human

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