Page 108 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Church Traditions for a Christian Psychology

Agnes and Werner May (Germany)
Church Traditions and Christian Psychology:

The Death or the Richness of a Christian Psychology?

– a Married Couple Talk

Werner: Agnes:

The contributions so far to “Church Traditions I am not sure whether we will ever have only
for a Christian Psychology” are what I would a/one Christian Psychology, but I am very sure
like to call different splashes of colour, promp- that we shall not “take refuge” in a narrow deno-
ting in me the question whether they – together minational one. As a guideline for our journey,
and with further confessional “brush-strokes” I would suggest some ideas which Eric Johnson
and in dialogue with the various schools of psy- points out in his summary to “Psychology &
chology – could at some point result in a Chri- Christianity. Five Views” (2010: 292-310). Ha-
stian psychology. Or, on the other hand, whe- ving read the five perspectives on the relation-
ther they are already indicating that the attempt ship of psychology and Christianity (which are
to develop a Christian psychology represents, all shaped by a personal and denominational
precisely because of this diversity in theology way of thinking and practicing Christianity),
and church history, an over-ambitious goal. he looks for the benefit and writes (2010: 292):
My view is that we can only reach the goal of “…that this book’s vigorous debate points to a
a Christian psychology in a project spanning larger reality that lies behind all of the views,
several generations, a project not starting with and this reality requires listening to all of them
the lowest common theological denominator and appropriating the valid insights of each
or “taking refuge” in a Christian psychology of one, in order to get the ‘biggest picture’ we can.”
one’s own confession, but rather one in which He argues for an ongoing dialogue, led by hu-
everyone allows himself to be inspired perso- mility (… a wise man listens to advice, Prov.
nally by this diversity, both in his individual 12:15) and seeking God’s understanding first.
psychological task profile and in the anchoring In the interpersonal dialogue, we have to deeply
in his own confession. accept the other, listen to him carefully, receive

Agnes und Werner May are mar-
ried about 40 years. They live
in Germany and have six adult
children.
At the IGNIS Institute Agnes
works as editor, writer and adult
educator for the correspondence
course Foundations of Christian
Psychology. Werner is a Christian
Psychologist with the main
topics: Christian counseling, fa-
mily and education, counseling of
foster families, “The Healing No”
and to create this e-Journal.

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