Page 19 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Empirical steps toward a Christian Psychology

renowned psychologists of religion from many do not understand or take into consideration
countries should be mentioned; these are, e.g., the importance of relationships between the
W. James, J.B. Prat, C.G. Jung, G. Allport, D.W. psychological and spiritual (religious) domains.
Wulff, E. Johnson, B. Gromm, H. Sunden, A. In my work with the students of the Cardinal
Oser, F. Gmünder, P, Vergote, J. Majkowski, W. Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw (Po-
Prężyna. land), I have seen that a discussion of different
important existential experiences and intere-
In discussing the characteristic aspects of Chri- sting phenomena both from the theological
stian psychology, along with grace one should and psychological perspectives leads to deep
consider such issues as the Trinitarian image of insights into the nature of those facts. Issues
God and the role of the Holy Trinity in religious such as development, morality, family, time,
experiences (T. Griffiths), the interpretation of self-acceptance, forgiveness, tradition, the spi-
the mystery of human life in the context of the ritual gifts, death, corporeality, conflicts, sin,
revealed truth concerning the Creation, the In- grace, and many others – gain a new depth only
carnation of the Son of God, and Redemption. thanks to an interdisciplinary approach and
Christian psychology should be Christocentric analysis from a psychological and theological
and Trinitarian, ecclesiological, and biblical. It perspective.
should reflect the confluence of the theological
and psychological perspectives in describing In this context, the studies conducted by Dr. Ti-
and researching the existential experiences of mothy A. Sisemore and the development of the
man, such as love, betrayal, sin, conversion, Richmont Grace Scale constitute a major step in
forgiveness, vocation, etc. As a psychological providing reliable, scientific research into one
discipline—exploring and interpreting psy- type of religious experience—the experience
chological experiences (cognized reality, emo- of grace. The verified validity and reliability of
tions, motivation for behavior) —it must meet the presented technique and the identification
the formal criteria appropriate for the science of four factors within this scale guarantee that
of psychology. However, it extends its scope by tests using this technique will be highly effec-
including issues related to the existential expe- tive.
riences described by theology (sin, contrition,
repentance, grace, the spiritual gifts, guilt, and Thus, while expressing my gratitude to Dr. Si-
salvation). semore for studying grace in Christian psycho-
logy and taking into account the theological
From a European perspective, I would like to and anthropological questions characteristic
draw attention to the strong tendency of aca- of Christianity, and in response to his propo-
demia to ignore and marginalize psychological sal for furthering Christian psychology, I would
research concerning religion in general, and like to amplify his postulate by voicing a call
Christianity in particular. The issue of religious for the development of Christian psychology
life is on principle absent from academic course through research involving the psychology of
books for general, developmental, and social religion, taking into account both faith and re-
psychology. Nowadays, this subject appears to ason. This was accentuated by John Paul II at
be a taboo. However, it seems that the psycholo- the beginning of his encyclical “Fides et Ratio”:
gy of religion may be a domain where psycholo- “Faith and reason are like two wings on which
gical interpretations of the theological princip- the human spirit rises to the contemplation of
les of Christianity could be explored, affording truth; and God has placed in the human heart
some in-depth insights. Regretfully, at most a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know
universities and colleges the psychology of reli- himself—so that, by knowing and loving God,
gion is not mandatory, due to which psychology men and women may also come to the fullness
graduates lack the necessary competence in the of truth about themselves (cf. Ex 33:18; Ps 27:8-
spiritual sphere. They have a limited view of hu- 9; 63:2-3; Jn 14:8; 1 Jn 3:2).”
man existence without a spiritual sphere. They

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