Page 8 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

C. Eric Jones & Eric L. Johnson Eric Johnson

A Christian’s Guide to (USA), Ph.D., is
Professor of Pa-
Psychology 1 storal Care at
Southern Baptist
Theological Se-
Objective evidence and certitude are doubtless minary and the
very fine ideals to play with, but where on this director of the
moonlit and dream-visited planet are they Society for Chri-
found? stian Psycholo-
William James gy.
ejohnson@sbts.edu
What is Psychology?
Human beings are the pinnacle of God‘s crea- Articles by Eric:
tion and the psychological study of people is http://emcapp.ignis.de/1/#/96
arguably the most complex and fascinating dis- http://emcapp.ignis.de/6/#/8
cipline there is. However, different religious and http://emcapp.ignis.de/2/#/4
philosophical assumptions seriously affect how
we view human beings. Therefore, understan-
ding the field of psychology is no simple task. C. Eric Jones,
Perhaps we should begin by defining the field: PhD., Associate
psychology is the science of the immaterial (in- Professor, Re-
visible) aspect of individual human beings. It gent University.
is the study of what Christians call the “soul” Eric‘s research
(the Greek word psyche means soul). The aim interests are Po-
of this chapter is to provide an overview of con- sitive Psycholo-
temporary psychology, in light of its underlying gy, Self and So-
assumptions, and a roadmap for understanding cial Cognition.
the field Christianly. He enjoys rea-
ding and writing
Psychology Before Modern Psychology about the psychological and theological im-
Herman Ebbinghaus, a pioneer in memory re- plications of spiritual and personal develop-
search, once quipped, “Psychology has a long ment.
past, but only a short history.” Though the cur- ejones@regent.edu
rent approach to the field goes back just 150
years, systematic reflection and writing on the Article by Eric:
nature of human beings have been going on for http://emcapp.ignis.de/5/#/32
more than two millennia. The ancient Greek
philosopher, Aristotle, for example, carefully
described many aspects of the soul, including Greek and Roman philosophers, their psycho-
its sensing, thinking, feeling, and remembering. logical reflections were based on a Christian
Even the Bible makes reference to psychological worldview and influenced most by the Bible.
topics, though less systematically. A few centu-
ries later, great Christian thinkers began devo- Modern Psychology
ting their attention to a variety of psychological Impressed by the accomplishments of the natu-
issues - Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Julian of ral sciences (astronomy, physics, and chemistry)
Norwich, and Calvin - some more philosophi- and discouraged by the religious conflicts of the
cally, some more theologically, and some more 1600’s, Western intellectuals in the 17th and
practically, but while influenced by ancient 18th centuries became increasingly convinced

1 The following article was adapted from Jones, E., &
Johnson, E. L. (2012). “Christian psychology,” in Omni- 7
bus IV: The Modern World. Lancaster, PA: Veritas Press.