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Psychological Seduction
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239 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
8 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
William Kilpatrick
22 books16 followersWilliam Kilpatrick is the author of several books, including Psychological Seduction and Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong. His articles on Islam have appeared in Investor's Business Daily, FrontPage Magazine, Jihad Watch, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Register, World, and other publications. Professor Kilpatrick, who taught for many years at Boston College, lectures frequently to audiences in the US and abroad.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 9, 2018
Even though this book was written approximately 40 years ago, the message is still incredibly relevant to society today. Every chapter was full of wisdom and humble thoughtfulness as the author points out that perhaps today people put entirely too much emphasis on SELF. Kirkpatrick writes that many psychologists and psychiatrists say that focusing on yourself and doing what’s in your best interest is the way to truly be happy and healed. However, the author believes that too much self focus will actually do the opposite. I found this book to be so helpful in fighting society’s constant emphasis on SELF and everything being about me. I am so thankful for all the wisdom it has to offer. I definitely recommend it!
August 31, 2021
When this book is good, it’s excellent. The basic idea that psychology and Christianity are at odds, that psychology tells us to find ourselves and Christ tells us to lose ourselves, is well-stated but bogged down with lots of unnecessary and at times questionable content. Still recommend!
January 1, 2022
This book was published in 1983. I decided to read it because my pastor mentioned in Sunday School a couple of weeks ago that he still pulls it out after having first read it over 30 years ago.
(Life Hack: If someone you respect is still referring to a book 10 years or more after having read it, you will probably profit from reading it, too)
The book did not disappoint. Kilpatrick's primary theme is that psychological ways of thinking have subtly, but surely, taken over the way we think and talk about ourselves, to the detriment of both the individual and society at large. Even within the church, psychological themes have in many ways displaced traditional, biblical ways of thinking about sin, faith, love, hope, and other significant elements of the human experience.
Only by letting go of our self-esteem (the elevation of which is the primary goal of most modern psychologies) and immersing ourselves in the romantic narrative of the biblical worldview can we realize the God-given roles we were meant to play and place the sin and suffering we inevitably experience in their proper context.
Drawing extensively from C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, and George MacDonald, Kilpatrick offers an alternative to the psychological seduction--one that inspires and elevates rather than succumbing to the despair of materialism.
Definitely still relevant and recommended.
(Life Hack: If someone you respect is still referring to a book 10 years or more after having read it, you will probably profit from reading it, too)
The book did not disappoint. Kilpatrick's primary theme is that psychological ways of thinking have subtly, but surely, taken over the way we think and talk about ourselves, to the detriment of both the individual and society at large. Even within the church, psychological themes have in many ways displaced traditional, biblical ways of thinking about sin, faith, love, hope, and other significant elements of the human experience.
Only by letting go of our self-esteem (the elevation of which is the primary goal of most modern psychologies) and immersing ourselves in the romantic narrative of the biblical worldview can we realize the God-given roles we were meant to play and place the sin and suffering we inevitably experience in their proper context.
Drawing extensively from C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, and George MacDonald, Kilpatrick offers an alternative to the psychological seduction--one that inspires and elevates rather than succumbing to the despair of materialism.
Definitely still relevant and recommended.
May 18, 2023
Really, really good.
November 3, 2025
A CHRISTIAN REJECTS PSYCHOLOGY AS INFERIOR TO CHRISTIANITY
William Kirk Kilpatrick taught educational psychology for ‘many years’ at Boston College. He wrote in the Preface to this 1983 book, “Psychology is a river with many branches and tributaries. This book is not intended to explore every branch but to chart the general direction and force of the stream. The criticisms I offer… are directed toward psychology as a social force: in other words, psychology as it influences our everyday ways of thinking and acting. Psychology as a science has a legitimate part to play in our society. It is another matter, however, when it wants to play every part and direct the drama as well. What I have to say in the following chapters does not apply equally to all areas of psychology, but rather than make constant qualifications (‘this, but not that’), I have used, for the most part, the simple word ‘psychology.’”
He states in Chapter 1, “when people hear I’m involved with both psychology and Christianity, they generally assume I’m working on a synthesis to bring the two together, to patch up whatever few remaining differences there might be. ‘Aren’t psychology and religion just two different ways of getting at the same thing?’---it’s a question I often hear. It is true that popular psychology shares much in common with Eastern religion; in fact, a merger is well under way. But if you’re talking about Christianity, it is much truer to say that psychology and religion are competing faiths. If you seriously hold to one set of values, you will logically have to reject the other.” (Pg. 13-14)
He continues, “For non-Christians, popular psychology has … [a] seductive influence. Many seem to turn to it as a substitute for traditional faiths. They may even think of it as a more evolved form of religion---a more efficient and compassionate way of doing good than Christianity. Psychology levels the hills of anxiety and makes the crooked way straight. It if the rod and staff that comforts them.” (Pg. 15)
He explains, “One task of this book, then, is to disentangle Christianity from the psychological religion. Once we have done that, I think it will be seen that Christianity is and has been all along a better way of meeting our needs---even those needs that are thought of as purely human. In short, although [Christianity] is more than a psychology, it happens to be better psychology than psychology is.” (Pg. 15-16)
He reports, “I should first admit that I, too, was a victim of the confusion between psychology and Christianity… I began to lose interest in the Christian faith in graduate school. That was when I discovered psychology… I merely thought I was adding something on. But before long I had shifted my faith from one to the other. There was no reason not to. As far as I could see, there was no essential difference between the two… Psychology, in addition, had interesting explanations for almost every type of human behavior, and I had no reason to doubt its version. Erich Fromm said that to love others you first have to love yourself. Didn’t that square with that Jesus taught?... My newfound Bible was psychologist Carl Roger’s ‘On Becoming a Person.’ In it Rogers gently suggested that humans are at heart good and decent creatures with no … natural disposition toward hatred… There were no bad people… only bad environments. Rogers’s optimistic doctrine coincided with the religious trend of those days.” (Pg. 16-17)
He goes on, “I was also unaware of the growing discrepancy between my psychological creed and my religious one… My personal introduction to the world of encounter was through a minister… [Abraham] Maslow’s thoughts merged with those of the Jewish theologian Martin Buber in … my mind… Soon I began to blur other lines: those that separated good and evil… I became convinced, despite years of Christian training to the contrary, that evil was not a thing that inhered in people but rather the result of unjust social conditions.” (Pg. 18-19)
He adds, “I was now prepared to abandon most of my Christian heritage to the realm of mythology… Whatever reconciliation I managed to effect between psychology and Christianity… was always at the expense of Christianity… I never went to the extreme of making a full-blown religion out of psychology. Something in my early Christian training prevented me… My life was getting out of hand, and the only advice I could get from psychologist friends was to open up more… A reverse process set in. My faith in psychology… began to disintegrate… I did come back to Christianity---real Christianity, not the diluted version… True Christianity does not mix well with psychology. When you try to mix them, you often end up with a watered-down Christianity instead of a Christianized psychology.” (Pg. 20-23)
He asserts, “The fact that psychologists are trying to help people often keeps us from asking whether they know how to help… A good deal of research suggests that psychology is ineffective. And there is evidence pointing to the conclusion that psychology is actually harmful. The first indication that psychology might be ineffective came in 1952 when Hans Eysenck of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, discovered that neurotic people who do not receive therapy are as likely to recover as those who do. Psychotherapy, he found, was not any more effective than the simple passage of time. Additional studies by other researchers showed similar results.” (Pg. 28-29)
He argues, “Our response to the question, ‘Should you like yourself?’ has to be tempered with common sense… All of us … would like to see the self-rejecting teenager who frets over her popularity learn … to accept herself. The main question … is should she continue to like herself … when she callously manipulates others to improve her social standing. Are we… to like ourselves regardless of how we behave?... Now the psychological answer to this question is to say that if we truly like ourselves these other things won’t happen… as much… And this is the point… where Christianity and psychology part company. People will continue to behave badly, says the Christian, because human nature is twisted… Psychological theory doesn’t take account of the Fall.” (Pg. 37)
He states, “One task of this book is to distinguish Christianity from psychological imitations of it… Sometimes Christians forget what Christianity is all about and begin to accept substitutes that can be produced at less cost and seem to perform the same functions. One current example of this is the use by Christians of moral education programs developed by secular psychologists… the two most popular programs are the ‘values clarification’ and the ‘moral reasoning’ approach… These approaches have become immensely popular, not only in public schools, but also in Christian ones. In some religious education programs they seem to be offered as a surer guide to morality than prayer or the Ten Commandments. Other Christians, however, along with conservative Jews, have criticized these programs as being anti-religious in nature.” (Pg. 102)
He says, “The real test of a theory or way of life… is not whether it can relieve pain but what it says about the pain it cannot relieve. And this is where, I believe, psychology lets us down and Christianity supports us, for in psychology suffering has no meaning while in Christianity it has great meaning. Now when you deprive someone of the sense that there is meaning in his suffering, you only compound the pain. Dumb, meaningless suffering is harder to take than suffering that seems to have a purpose… you will be encouraged [by psychology] to believe that suffering is a mistake that can be avoided by rational living… What all this means, of course, is that your past suffering was worthless. The only good it has done, perhaps, has been to get you to the psychologist’s office.” (Pg. 181-182)
He concludes, “We shall be most ourselves when we become the self God intends us to be. And that, truly, will be a self to marvel at.” (Pg. 235)
This book may interest Christians seeking critiques of psychology.
William Kirk Kilpatrick taught educational psychology for ‘many years’ at Boston College. He wrote in the Preface to this 1983 book, “Psychology is a river with many branches and tributaries. This book is not intended to explore every branch but to chart the general direction and force of the stream. The criticisms I offer… are directed toward psychology as a social force: in other words, psychology as it influences our everyday ways of thinking and acting. Psychology as a science has a legitimate part to play in our society. It is another matter, however, when it wants to play every part and direct the drama as well. What I have to say in the following chapters does not apply equally to all areas of psychology, but rather than make constant qualifications (‘this, but not that’), I have used, for the most part, the simple word ‘psychology.’”
He states in Chapter 1, “when people hear I’m involved with both psychology and Christianity, they generally assume I’m working on a synthesis to bring the two together, to patch up whatever few remaining differences there might be. ‘Aren’t psychology and religion just two different ways of getting at the same thing?’---it’s a question I often hear. It is true that popular psychology shares much in common with Eastern religion; in fact, a merger is well under way. But if you’re talking about Christianity, it is much truer to say that psychology and religion are competing faiths. If you seriously hold to one set of values, you will logically have to reject the other.” (Pg. 13-14)
He continues, “For non-Christians, popular psychology has … [a] seductive influence. Many seem to turn to it as a substitute for traditional faiths. They may even think of it as a more evolved form of religion---a more efficient and compassionate way of doing good than Christianity. Psychology levels the hills of anxiety and makes the crooked way straight. It if the rod and staff that comforts them.” (Pg. 15)
He explains, “One task of this book, then, is to disentangle Christianity from the psychological religion. Once we have done that, I think it will be seen that Christianity is and has been all along a better way of meeting our needs---even those needs that are thought of as purely human. In short, although [Christianity] is more than a psychology, it happens to be better psychology than psychology is.” (Pg. 15-16)
He reports, “I should first admit that I, too, was a victim of the confusion between psychology and Christianity… I began to lose interest in the Christian faith in graduate school. That was when I discovered psychology… I merely thought I was adding something on. But before long I had shifted my faith from one to the other. There was no reason not to. As far as I could see, there was no essential difference between the two… Psychology, in addition, had interesting explanations for almost every type of human behavior, and I had no reason to doubt its version. Erich Fromm said that to love others you first have to love yourself. Didn’t that square with that Jesus taught?... My newfound Bible was psychologist Carl Roger’s ‘On Becoming a Person.’ In it Rogers gently suggested that humans are at heart good and decent creatures with no … natural disposition toward hatred… There were no bad people… only bad environments. Rogers’s optimistic doctrine coincided with the religious trend of those days.” (Pg. 16-17)
He goes on, “I was also unaware of the growing discrepancy between my psychological creed and my religious one… My personal introduction to the world of encounter was through a minister… [Abraham] Maslow’s thoughts merged with those of the Jewish theologian Martin Buber in … my mind… Soon I began to blur other lines: those that separated good and evil… I became convinced, despite years of Christian training to the contrary, that evil was not a thing that inhered in people but rather the result of unjust social conditions.” (Pg. 18-19)
He adds, “I was now prepared to abandon most of my Christian heritage to the realm of mythology… Whatever reconciliation I managed to effect between psychology and Christianity… was always at the expense of Christianity… I never went to the extreme of making a full-blown religion out of psychology. Something in my early Christian training prevented me… My life was getting out of hand, and the only advice I could get from psychologist friends was to open up more… A reverse process set in. My faith in psychology… began to disintegrate… I did come back to Christianity---real Christianity, not the diluted version… True Christianity does not mix well with psychology. When you try to mix them, you often end up with a watered-down Christianity instead of a Christianized psychology.” (Pg. 20-23)
He asserts, “The fact that psychologists are trying to help people often keeps us from asking whether they know how to help… A good deal of research suggests that psychology is ineffective. And there is evidence pointing to the conclusion that psychology is actually harmful. The first indication that psychology might be ineffective came in 1952 when Hans Eysenck of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, discovered that neurotic people who do not receive therapy are as likely to recover as those who do. Psychotherapy, he found, was not any more effective than the simple passage of time. Additional studies by other researchers showed similar results.” (Pg. 28-29)
He argues, “Our response to the question, ‘Should you like yourself?’ has to be tempered with common sense… All of us … would like to see the self-rejecting teenager who frets over her popularity learn … to accept herself. The main question … is should she continue to like herself … when she callously manipulates others to improve her social standing. Are we… to like ourselves regardless of how we behave?... Now the psychological answer to this question is to say that if we truly like ourselves these other things won’t happen… as much… And this is the point… where Christianity and psychology part company. People will continue to behave badly, says the Christian, because human nature is twisted… Psychological theory doesn’t take account of the Fall.” (Pg. 37)
He states, “One task of this book is to distinguish Christianity from psychological imitations of it… Sometimes Christians forget what Christianity is all about and begin to accept substitutes that can be produced at less cost and seem to perform the same functions. One current example of this is the use by Christians of moral education programs developed by secular psychologists… the two most popular programs are the ‘values clarification’ and the ‘moral reasoning’ approach… These approaches have become immensely popular, not only in public schools, but also in Christian ones. In some religious education programs they seem to be offered as a surer guide to morality than prayer or the Ten Commandments. Other Christians, however, along with conservative Jews, have criticized these programs as being anti-religious in nature.” (Pg. 102)
He says, “The real test of a theory or way of life… is not whether it can relieve pain but what it says about the pain it cannot relieve. And this is where, I believe, psychology lets us down and Christianity supports us, for in psychology suffering has no meaning while in Christianity it has great meaning. Now when you deprive someone of the sense that there is meaning in his suffering, you only compound the pain. Dumb, meaningless suffering is harder to take than suffering that seems to have a purpose… you will be encouraged [by psychology] to believe that suffering is a mistake that can be avoided by rational living… What all this means, of course, is that your past suffering was worthless. The only good it has done, perhaps, has been to get you to the psychologist’s office.” (Pg. 181-182)
He concludes, “We shall be most ourselves when we become the self God intends us to be. And that, truly, will be a self to marvel at.” (Pg. 235)
This book may interest Christians seeking critiques of psychology.
May 19, 2009
An interesting book, but it seems like I had heard most of this before. But maybe it represented much more original thinking back in 1983. Perhaps I had heard about it all before because he wrote about it way back then.
The best part of the book was the comparison of Christianity as a (true) story we live to psychology which can never be a story because it is mostly centered only on the self and not how he fits into something bigger than himself. The book's best insights often come from wisdom Kirkpatrick has gleaned from G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis.
The biggest drawback to the book is the near absence of footnotes. For instance, I was reading this in the first chapter, "A recent book by a renowned evangelical minister calls for a 'new reformation' based on self-esteem, which he calls 'the highest value.' In this 'emerging reformation,' says the author, psychology and theology will 'work side by side as strong allies.'" Who was this author? To read the word "emerging" there implies that the "emerging church" movement has roots that go quite a ways back in time, but how can I find out more without footnotes?
This lack of rigorous crediting of sources and lack of a professional feel to the book's written style is what keeps it from being a four-star book for me. But it is still a great book with plenty of commonsense wisdom about how to view one's life.
The best part of the book was the comparison of Christianity as a (true) story we live to psychology which can never be a story because it is mostly centered only on the self and not how he fits into something bigger than himself. The book's best insights often come from wisdom Kirkpatrick has gleaned from G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis.
The biggest drawback to the book is the near absence of footnotes. For instance, I was reading this in the first chapter, "A recent book by a renowned evangelical minister calls for a 'new reformation' based on self-esteem, which he calls 'the highest value.' In this 'emerging reformation,' says the author, psychology and theology will 'work side by side as strong allies.'" Who was this author? To read the word "emerging" there implies that the "emerging church" movement has roots that go quite a ways back in time, but how can I find out more without footnotes?
This lack of rigorous crediting of sources and lack of a professional feel to the book's written style is what keeps it from being a four-star book for me. But it is still a great book with plenty of commonsense wisdom about how to view one's life.
April 4, 2012
Written almost 30 years ago, Psychological Seduction is a great book to see the differences between psychology and Christianity. Whichever side of the discussion you take, because Kilpatrick's tone is irenic, you will receive a very fair representation both views. Kilpatrick is obviously a Christian, but he presents his case in a winsome and kind manner.
The only criticism I have of the book is that he didn't site any sources for his facts or studies.
Because we live in a psychologized culture, I highly recommend this book to every Christian who desires to walk more closely with the living God. It is very important for us to know what we have inadvertently tasted, swallowed, and become.
The only criticism I have of the book is that he didn't site any sources for his facts or studies.
Because we live in a psychologized culture, I highly recommend this book to every Christian who desires to walk more closely with the living God. It is very important for us to know what we have inadvertently tasted, swallowed, and become.
May 9, 2023
Still reading halfway. Excellent arguments. People with common sense which is now rare to find ironically due to psychology use/abuse will agree much of points the author makes.
The foundation of psychology and theology do not align or relate to begin with and the rest of every aspect of both topics are contradictory yet artificial “popularity” of psychology has successfully twisted every system of the government.
The use of psychology has done more harm than good. The tree is known by its fruits as Jesus said. Investigation of the origin of psychology and its connections to other fields such as philosophy, cultural shift, policy makings, finance, business and education all intertwines together.
I appreciate the work Kilpatrick did and his effort to defend the truth and expose deceits of psychology and its bad purpose.
Obviously certain interest groups and individuals are gaining benefits at the top of the ladder through this unnaturally warped system after all. The biggest picture with the biggest endeavor or the forest to see the world and its history is of course the Bible. However Pawns in the game by William Guy Carr comes the closest in realistic and historic ways to explain the same grand picture by far after the Bible.
Thomas Szasz was another holocaust survivor psychiatrist-professor who opposed and argued against psychiatry. The threat he perceived of psychiatry/psychology abuse in the hands of power hungry political figures is much agreeable realistically and has been proven historically.
Isaac Asimov was a biochemisty professor of Boston University who argued against Evolutionism defending Creationism. His works are wonderfully devoted scientifically, historically and biblically.
Carroll Quigley was another reliable one regarding history schools don’t teach about.
The Harvard Psychedelic Club by Lattin also exposes the involvement of the big name’s corporate & foundation and its parts played in 60’s cultural revolution in conjunction and collaboration with others.
Oh, James Kunstler is another intellect who perceives current events rationally and be able to discern and spot hidden nonsenses saying for what it is.
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind
by Gustave Le Bon, Propaganda
by Edward L. Bernays, Crystallizing Public Opinion
by Edward L. Bernays are all factual and useful books to read and know about of why people in 21st century seem to be dumber and softer than the previous generations. Conspicuously intelligence and wisdom are not the same.
Much of evidences point to certain groups and figures all too well to ignore. And I believe the profound question of why and for what is already answered in the Book of Revelation.
The foundation of psychology and theology do not align or relate to begin with and the rest of every aspect of both topics are contradictory yet artificial “popularity” of psychology has successfully twisted every system of the government.
The use of psychology has done more harm than good. The tree is known by its fruits as Jesus said. Investigation of the origin of psychology and its connections to other fields such as philosophy, cultural shift, policy makings, finance, business and education all intertwines together.
I appreciate the work Kilpatrick did and his effort to defend the truth and expose deceits of psychology and its bad purpose.
Obviously certain interest groups and individuals are gaining benefits at the top of the ladder through this unnaturally warped system after all. The biggest picture with the biggest endeavor or the forest to see the world and its history is of course the Bible. However Pawns in the game by William Guy Carr comes the closest in realistic and historic ways to explain the same grand picture by far after the Bible.
Thomas Szasz was another holocaust survivor psychiatrist-professor who opposed and argued against psychiatry. The threat he perceived of psychiatry/psychology abuse in the hands of power hungry political figures is much agreeable realistically and has been proven historically.
Isaac Asimov was a biochemisty professor of Boston University who argued against Evolutionism defending Creationism. His works are wonderfully devoted scientifically, historically and biblically.
Carroll Quigley was another reliable one regarding history schools don’t teach about.
The Harvard Psychedelic Club by Lattin also exposes the involvement of the big name’s corporate & foundation and its parts played in 60’s cultural revolution in conjunction and collaboration with others.
Oh, James Kunstler is another intellect who perceives current events rationally and be able to discern and spot hidden nonsenses saying for what it is.
The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind
by Gustave Le Bon, Propaganda
by Edward L. Bernays, Crystallizing Public Opinion
by Edward L. Bernays are all factual and useful books to read and know about of why people in 21st century seem to be dumber and softer than the previous generations. Conspicuously intelligence and wisdom are not the same.
Much of evidences point to certain groups and figures all too well to ignore. And I believe the profound question of why and for what is already answered in the Book of Revelation.
March 22, 2023
This is a great book that I would recommend, particularly to people who spend a lot of time consuming psychological content. I really liked how he used the big picture of Christianity and common sense things from human experience to draw people away from the psychological framework of reality.
November 19, 2022
This is a worthy critique of modern psychology, its secular underpinnings, and the dangers Christians bring upon their faith by allowing the doctrine of self-actualisation to blur the distinctions between creature and Creator. However, this is far from a mere polemical rant against modernism, or a shallow Christian screed about why the Bible leaves no room for intellectual inquiry. Rather, it is a warmly humorous defence of humankind in all its messy entanglements of vulnerability, dependency and simpleness. Sometimes it crept close to getting five stars. At certain points it is truly excellent - I loved the chapter about childhood, the intrinsic awareness of children for the divine and mysterious infused throughout our universe. It felt somewhat Chestertonian. Perhaps not quite as incisively brilliant, but also less rambunctious, which is arguably a good thing.
Want to read
November 12, 2009Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Chapter 10, as one of Eight Books on Evil and Suffering.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews