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Søren Kierkegaard's Christian Psychology: Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care
Few writer-philosophers of the past have evoked as much curiosity in the twentieth century than Soren Kierkegaard. The further one probes into his thought the more his ideas prove to have relevance for the modern world and especially to Christians. Such is the case with psychology.
For Kierkegaard, the study of psychology is intrinsically linked with the task of personal becoming, reflecting his own struggle to overcome the dark and cheerless environment of his early life. His interpretive framework os consciously Christian. In his view, humankind was made for relation with God, and this recognition is basic to self-understanding. But in self-deception and rebellion against God, human beings are constantly resisting their own true happiness and fighting against their own best interests.
On this Kierkegaardian premise, C. Stephen Evans unfolds the implications and effects of this human desire for wholeness and growth of the self. This book is written "for psychologists, pastors, counselors, and ordinary people struggling to understand themselves and others."
For Kierkegaard, the study of psychology is intrinsically linked with the task of personal becoming, reflecting his own struggle to overcome the dark and cheerless environment of his early life. His interpretive framework os consciously Christian. In his view, humankind was made for relation with God, and this recognition is basic to self-understanding. But in self-deception and rebellion against God, human beings are constantly resisting their own true happiness and fighting against their own best interests.
On this Kierkegaardian premise, C. Stephen Evans unfolds the implications and effects of this human desire for wholeness and growth of the self. This book is written "for psychologists, pastors, counselors, and ordinary people struggling to understand themselves and others."
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2014
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About the author
C. Stephen Evans
59 books34 followersC. Stephen Evans (b. Atlanta , Georgia) is an American historian and philosopher, he is one of the United States' leading experts on Søren Kierkegaard having published six books on Kierkegaard over 25 years. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Baylor University. He holds a B.A. with High Honors (philosophy), from Wheaton College, an M.Phil. (philosophy) from Yale University, and a Ph.D. (philosophy) from Yale University.
He has won numerous awards, and reviews manuscripts for several university presses, including Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Princeton University Press, as well as Harper and Rowe. He does the same for several academic journals. He was curator of the Howard V. and Edna H. Hong Kierkegaard Library. He has organized several major conferences. He served five years on the the editorial board for Kierkegaard Monographs and for the International Kierkegaard Commentary Series. He is a past president of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Søren Kierkegaard Society.
He has won numerous awards, and reviews manuscripts for several university presses, including Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Princeton University Press, as well as Harper and Rowe. He does the same for several academic journals. He was curator of the Howard V. and Edna H. Hong Kierkegaard Library. He has organized several major conferences. He served five years on the the editorial board for Kierkegaard Monographs and for the International Kierkegaard Commentary Series. He is a past president of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the Søren Kierkegaard Society.
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August 19, 2023
Maybe the best thing I’ll have read all year.
“Genuine Christianity is a vigorous, tough-minded solution to the problems of human existence. Christian psychology can play a vital role in helping to reintroduce Christianity into Christendom, because if we do not understand the problems of human existence, we cannot understand how Christianity could be a solution” (112).
“If human psychological health is inextricably tied to spiritual health, then it is impossible for the Christian therapist to function in a value-neutral way, as if a person’s God-relationship were a peripheral fact with no significant consequences. Everyone needs the gospel to become spiritually whole, but there are people who need to hear and respond to the gospel even to become psychologically whole” (123).
“Genuine Christianity is a vigorous, tough-minded solution to the problems of human existence. Christian psychology can play a vital role in helping to reintroduce Christianity into Christendom, because if we do not understand the problems of human existence, we cannot understand how Christianity could be a solution” (112).
“If human psychological health is inextricably tied to spiritual health, then it is impossible for the Christian therapist to function in a value-neutral way, as if a person’s God-relationship were a peripheral fact with no significant consequences. Everyone needs the gospel to become spiritually whole, but there are people who need to hear and respond to the gospel even to become psychologically whole” (123).
Displaying 1 of 1 review