Author: Seybold, Kevin S.

Journal of Psychology & Christianity, Vol. 24(2), Sum 2005, pp. 122-129

Abstract:

At the turn of the 20^th century, religious experience was a legitimate subject matter for psychologists to investigate. As the century progressed, however, most psychologists lost interest in studying this common human experience. In the 21^st century, religious experience is once again an important field of research, not only for psychology but for neuroscience as well. This article reviews some of the findings of neuroscience and cognitive science relevant to religious experience, including the importance of emotion in human cognition, the role of the brain in experiencing God, and the question of the innateness of spirituality. Avoiding a reductionist approach, the article concludes by recognizing the importance of bringing a levels of explanation perspective to the study of religious experience.

Authors: Chara, Jr., Paul J.; Gillett, Jill N.

Journal of Psychology & Christianity, Vol. 23(3), Fall 2004, pp. 234-248

Abstract:

Possible synesthetic perceptions of God by 187 students from a secular university and a religiously affiliated college were investigated. Participants were presented 27 questions about their sensory images of God. Participants’ responses to the questions revealed several strong regularities in perception, suggesting a weak synesthetic experience and were interpreted to support the Martino and Marks (2001) semantic coding hypothesis. Additionally, gender, religious orientation, and value preferences were found to be related to many of the participants’ images of God, whereas some associations appeared to transcend the psychosocial factors studied. The perceptions of the participants were also compared to relevant biblical passages and found to be highly consistent with a scriptural portrayal of God in some ways but inconsistent with a biblical depiction of God in other respects.

Author: Rosenau, Douglas E., Sytsma, Michael R.

Journal of Psychology & Christianity, Vol. 23(3), Fall 2004, pp. 261-270

Abstract:

The church is struggling to develop a truly livable theology of sexuality and sexual intimacy. After suggesting some of the factors that may have contributed to this serious neglect-including idolatry, dualism, and the distortions of poor exegesis of Scripture-this essay explores the priority of intimacy, and sexual intimacy, to God’s heart through examining writings found within the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is suggested that sexuality provides great insights into God’s character and the way God interacts with God’s people. The development of more articles and sermons on sexual theology is implored if this millennium is to be a time when the church better understands God’s sexual economy and unveils many valuable lessons.

Author: Leffel, G. Michael

Journal of Psychology & Christianity, Vol. 23(2), Sum 2004, pp. 130-139

Abstract:

This article outlines four theological principles of John Wesley’s therapeutic and creational vision of Christian spirituality. It first sketches alternative theological models of the relationship between nature and grace, suggesting that models of the God-world relationship that emphasize Gods transcendence to the exclusion of immanence tend to perpetuate a bifurcation of psychological and spiritual processes of change, contributing to a continuing “disenchantment of nature.” Wesleys concept of Prevenient Grace is discussed as an alternative model of the God-world relationship. Some of Wesley’s lesser known passages concerning the therapeutic and cosmological features of Prevenient Grace are discussed, and implications for a more integrated view of psychotherapy and spiritual formation are considered