Spiritual Formation, Counseling, and Psychotherapy

Integrating psychology and theology has come with various intellectual challenges, including the challenge of valuing various ways of knowing. Psychology, deeply rooted in a scientific epistemology, places great value in systematic and measurable observations. Christian theology is bounded by central doctrines, forged over centuries of dialog and based on the authority of a sacred text. Those integrating psychology and theology most effectively have learned to value both epistemologies -- the scientific and the authoritative -- and have often been maligned and misunderstood in both worlds for valuing the epistemology of the other. This book is focused on Christian spirituality. The editors believe that Christian spirituality can contribute to both the evangelical integration dialogue, and to the broader discussion of spirituality and religion because of its insight into the nature of God, human development and maturity, and the means of spiritual change.