Ancient Christian Wisdom and Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy: A Meeting of Minds

by Alexis Trader, H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. (Foreword)

Ancient Christian Wisdom and Aaron Beck's Cognitive Therapy details a colorful journey deep into two seemingly disparate worlds united by a common insight into the way our thinking influences our emotions, behaviors, and ultimately our lives. In this innovative study about mental and spiritual health, readers are not only provided with a thorough introduction to the elegant theory and practical techniques of cognitive therapy, they are also initiated into the perennial teachings of ascetics and monks in the Greek-speaking East and Latin-speaking West whose powerful writings not only anticipated many contemporary findings, but also suggest unexplored pathways and breathtaking vistas for human growth and development. This groundbreaking interdisciplinary volume in the art of pastoral counseling, patristic studies, and the interface between psychology and theology will be a coveted addition to the working libraries of pastors and psychologists alike. In addition, it is ideal as a textbook for seminary classes in pastoral theology and pastoral counseling, as well as for graduate courses in psychology dealing with the relationship between psychological models and religious worldviews.

Genres: Psychology, Christianity, Christian, Theology

351 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2011

Reviews

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing book. The author organizes the book in a similar format throughout each chapter (Ancient Christian Insights to Modern CBT Insights to The Similarities and Differences between the two insights), this makes it for easy reading. The language however is technical, so it challenges the reader to keep focused, yet its in this technical language that we can see the parallels, convergences, and divergences. The author provides a slue of examples for each abstract/theoretical concept or proposal for psychotherapeutic treatment options.

Now the reviewer is a Catholic, whereas the author is Eastern Orthodox. While the author speaks like as if these insights can only come from Eastern Orthodoxy, I would contend with great gusto that the concepts found in this book have a very rate of assimilation towards those who are Catholic. Therefore, I would actually say that this book is highly readable for any Christian Denomination which would call itself Apostolic and was founded back in Antiquity. For Protestants, this book can only help show the need to consider more seriously the Theology and Insights of Apostolic and Ancient Churches, since the author tries to show throughout some examples of what Protestant psychotherapists do as well.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first came upon this book when it first came out a couple years ago and was amused/intrigued by the title and by the highly incongruous comparison it implied. In fact, I was so intrigued that it kind of stuck in my head and, every once in a while over the past couple of years, I'd check the holdings of the excellent University of Toronto library system to see if it had been ordered yet. When I saw in June that it was, I couldn't resist any longer.

What is perhaps rather more surprising is that, somehow, Father Trader managed to deliver the goods. He manages an insightful and meaningful comparison between the wisdom of the ancient (usually Desert) Fathers around 'bad thoughts' and the more modern Cognitive Behavior Therapy championed by Aaron Beck. Both identify thoughts which are unhelpful to a person and teach the person how to reformulate the thoughts to more beneficial understandings which, then, has an impact on the person's mental/spiritual health. Of course, these two approaches to thinking come out of very different worldviews and Father Trader is eloquent in setting out these differences. Yet, I came away with the hope that both approaches can learn from each other how to better help the people who come to them.

This is, however, a highly quirky book, albeit an effective one. It demonstrates Orthodox scholarship at its best- insightful, theologically reflective and, yes, sometimes a little florid in style. So, it may put off some readers as a result. Still, I think its insights into both spirituality and psychology make it well worth the effort.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 stars a bit grudgingly. Lots of information in this book. Fr. Trader demonstrates he has widely read and is knowledgeable of both the Orthodox spiritual tradition and Cognitive Therapy. He attempts to compare the two through a series of metaphors, which I found cluttered the text - a little too clever in my mind but a venue for him to show off his knowledge. It made for cumbersome reading for me. Though he fully acknowledges the uncompromising differences between Cog Therapy and monastic asceticism, it seemed to me at times he was straining credibility in trying to compare the two. They start with very different premises and have very different goals.

[Robert Heckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meticulously researched, erudite, and intriguing study comparing insights from Patristic Christian spiritual advice and cognitive behavioral theory. At times, a bit dense, but overall fascinating. Anyone interested in the intersection of Christian (particularly Orthodox and patristic) spiritual practice and psychology should read at least parts of this book.

["Cyril' (David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author, a revered Athonite monk and scholar, compares and contrasts Congnitive Therapy with an Eastern Orthodox Christian world view. With some caveats, he finds much good in Aaron Beck.