Analysis Section
(Hawkins and Clinton Book Review)
by Brian Campbell, 2016
Information on the “Christian Psychology Model”
Here are the instructions for the Analysis section of your book review:
Analysis (15 points)In this section (approximately 1 page) consider the Module/Week 2 lecture discussion on the models of integration (you may also consult the “Comparing the 5 Views Christians Take to Psychology” PowerPoint or the “The Integration of Psychology and Christianity” document for this section) and explain how you would describe the integration approach of Hawkins & Clinton. What model of integration do you think their approach represents? Would Hawkins & Clinton identify psychological issues apart from spiritual issues, or are they all the same? How important is psychological theory and research in the Hawkins & Clinton approach?
In a previous handout, I highlighted the model “Christ, The Transformer of Culture” (which is also referred to as the “Allies Model”). This information was taken from your class presentation (Module/Week 2 lecture on models of integration.
Below, I have provided additional information relevant to the Analysis section of the review of the book by Hawkins and Clinton. First, I provide an outline of the “Christian Psychology Model,” which is the 5th theoretical model illustrated in the PowerPoint presentation entitled: “Comparing the 5 Views Christians Take to Psychology.” This is the model that I feel is the most comprehensive and overarching model that reflects the Hawkins’ and Clinton’s (2015) textbook. I provide an outline of this model (Table 1) which is taken from the PowerPoint presentation.
Next, I provide direct quotations relevant to some general perspectives (Table 2) drawn from your textbook. This is followed by a more comprehensive consideration of the “Christian Psychology Model” (Table 3).
Under each topical heading, I have provided some direct quotations relevant to the different components of this model. These direct quotations do not cover the entire textbook; they were drawn from the first 120 or so pages of the textbook. I have provided this information so that students could see how Hawkins’ and Clinton’s textbook contains information that directly reflects the Christian Psychology Model. As you read your textbook, I suggest you stop after each chapter and go over the various concepts that are reflected in the model. Add additional direct quotations (under the relevant headings) as you read past page 115 of your textbook (the point where I stopped collecting the direct quotations).
Please note: I do not expect you to be able to describe the Christian Psychology Model in approximately one page (as the assignment suggests). Instead, I would suggest you try to summarize the model of “Christ, The Transformer of Culture.” As the subtitle of your book suggests, the text by Hawkins and Clinton is intended to be: “A Fresh Biblical & Transformational Approach” to Christian counseling.
Rather than try to summarize the entire Christian Psychology Model, go through the direct quotations I have included in Tables 2 and 3, and look for evidence from the textbook that would support the “Christ, The Transformer of Culture” model. I think you may be surprised at how much information from your textbook relates to this model. For example, the following quote from page 15 is directly relevant to the “Transformational” model:
--“Godly change is transformational change – change that lasts and has a deeper impact – and people of faith are now demanding nothing less” (p. 15)
Once again, for your Analysis section of the book review, I suggest you focus your attention on the model “Christ, The Transformer of Culture,” which is also called the “Allies Model.” Show how information from your textbook reflects/supports this model.
Please remember; do not simply turn in a paper with a list of direct quotations. The direct quotations should be used as important information from which to construct your analysis, which will consist mainly of paraphrased sentences. Please limit the number of direct quotations you utilize. Too many direct quotations weaken your narrative.
I strongly suggest that you do not try to tackle reviewing the “Christian Psychology Model.”
Finally, don’t forget…According to the instructions for the book review, there are three separate questions that you should address in the Analysis section:
1. What model of integration do you think their approach represents?
2. Would Hawkins & Clinton identify psychological issues apart from spiritual issues, or are they all the same?
3. How important is psychological theory and research in the Hawkins & Clinton approach?
I hope this helps.
Dr. Campbell
Table 1Outline
Christian Psychology Model
The Agenda of a Christian Psychology Model (Slide 25)
The overarching agenda is “the ongoing development of a distinctly Christian psychological theory, research programs, and soul care practice.” (Slide 25)
Shaped by Scriptures. (Slide 26)
Informed by other relevant sources of psychological truth. (Slide 26)
Similar to secular psychology. (Slide 26)
Based on other relevant sources of psychological truth. (Slide 26)
Major Features That Distinguish a Christian Psychology Model (Slide 31)
God is the center of human life. (Slide 31)
God reveals himself in creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. (Slide 31)
Humans are made in God’s image. (Slide 32)
Humans are sinners and are alienated from God. (Slide 32)
Redemption is necessary for proper human maturity. (Slide 32)
Human life is oriented toward an eternal future with God. (Slide 33)
Human life is multi-dimensional: spiritual; ethical; psychosocial; biological (Slide 33)
Spiritual. (Slide 36 & 37)
Ethical. (Slide 36 & 37
Psychosocial. (Slide 36 & 37
Biological. (Slide 36 & 37)
Involves a broad spectrum of modalities and is holistic. (Slide 35)
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Comparing the Five Views Christians Take to Psychology
Johnson, E. (n.d.). Comparing the Five Views Christians Take to Psychology [PowerPoint Slides]. Retrieved from http://www.aacc.net/email/media/scp_1.ppt
Table 2
Some General Perspectives
· Purpose of book: “The purpose of this book is to embolden and equip those who have a spiritual awareness but lack the knowledge and confidence to declare their position on the role of faith in emotional and psychological healing” (p. 7).
--“The Holy Spirit (HS) regenerates the human heart so the person can respond in faith to the gospel of grace and become a child of God” (p. 83).
--“Real, supernatural power for lasting change comes from the Holy Spirit” (p. 83).
-- “… Christian counselors are anchored in the importance of the spiritual dimension for the development of full humanity” (p. 84).
-- “The real power for lasting change comes from the Holy Spirit, who is at the foundation of biblical spirituality, is joined to truth-based thinking, a commitment to obeying the truth revealed in the Scripture, and life in a community of encouragement and accountability” (p. 86).
--“Godly change is transformational change – change that lasts and has a deeper impact – and people of faith are now demanding nothing less” (p. 15)
Table 2
Christian Psychology Model
(Quotations)
· Agenda: “… the ongoing development of a distinctly Christian psychological theory, research programs, and soul care practice.” (Slide 25).
o “As we seek to build ‘the house’ of Christian counseling and soul-care ministry in the 21st century, we need to continually remind ourselves that without the foundation of Jesus Christ, the Word of God and the Spirit of God, our efforts will be based on human wisdom and strength instead of God’s eternal truth and divine power” (p. 20).
o “Christian counseling, in its purest form, is a covenant between a caregiver and a care seeker to labor collaboratively for the possession of the soul – through the power of the Holy Spirit, under the authority of the word of God, and within a context of accountability and encouragement – for the purpose of the imitation of Christ” (p. 13).
o “The condition of our souls determines how we relate to God, our connections with other people, our goals and purposes, and our reactions to the difficulties and joys of life. Christian counselors need to grasp the complex and profound nature of the soul” (p. 70).
o “To understand human nature, we must carefully explore the components of the soul” (p. 77).
o “As we commit to possess our souls and pursue the imitation of Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit” (p. 81).
· Primacy of Scriptures: “a Christian psychology will be shaped primarily by the Christian scriptures…” (Slide 26).
o “We view all the resources available to us as God-given, and we rely on the Word of God and the Spirit of God to produce genuine, lasting change in us and in our clients” (p. 6).
o “This is our hope and prayer for you as you increasingly love God, study his Word, and apply the God-given insights gleaned from Scripture and study in your practice” (p. 26).
o “A proper understanding of psychology doesn’t add anything to the Bible’s teaching on human nature, but it can give insights into the complexities of human behavior, learning, and human physiology so people can apply the truth of Scriptures more powerfully and specifically in their lives” (p. 36).
o “The new Christian counselor believes in God who has revealed himself and his truth in the Scriptures” (p. 43).
o “The Scriptures themselves are the key resource for knowing God and pursuing his plan for our lives” (p. 44).
o “The goals and the processes of counseling – trusting God to change thoughts, behaviors, and emotions – are thoroughly grounded in the Bible” (p. 46).
o “Mind change – putting off the lies the world and putting on the truths of God revealed in the Scriptures – is a central pattern of sanctification for all believers, including those who benefit from Christian counseling” (p. 46).
o “…Christian counseling is…committed to a process of moving forward under the authority of the Word of God” (p. 52).
o “All other ideas advanced by persons, regardless of those people’s credentials or impressive intelligence, must be filtered through the authoritative revelation of the mind and will of God found in the Bible” (p. 55).
o The new Christian counselor…“He first devours the Scriptures. In them he finds the definition of personhood, the truth regarding God and humans, the record of the fall, and the promise of the renewed heaven and earth. In them he finds the path and the means to emotional, psychological, and spiritual health” (p. 58).
· Other Relevant Sources of Psychological Truth: Christian research; secular psychology; philosophy; and other human services (Slide 26).
o “Increasingly, outcome studies document the positive role of faith in mental health” (Scalise & Clinton, 2015; Koenig, 2004; Wade, Worthington & Vogel, 2007).
o “Furthermore, empirical studies have supported the assertion that religious faith positively impacts physical and mental health” (Koenig, 2004).
· Similarity to Secular Psychology: Christian psychology will resemble secular psychology except where the psychological component is worldview dependent (Slide 27).
o “The power of this positive relationship between faith and mental health is so great that many have begun calling it the fifth force – after the first four forces in psychotherapy: psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural influences (Garzon, 2011).
o “A growing cadre of researchers (see Worthington, Jennings, & DiBlasio, 2010; Garzon, Garver Kleinschuster, Tan & Hill, 2001; Koenig, 2011) are advancing Christian counseling on empirical frontiers” (p. 23).
o “Additionally, the study of neuroscience fits well within the Christian worldview, especially in terms of the direct influence on cognition, affect, and behavior (Crabb, 2007)” (p. 23).
o “However, many areas of commonality exist between secular and Christian approaches to therapy, and these areas of agreement provide fertile ground for dialogue” (p. 107).
Christian Psychology: Major Features
1. God is the center of human life.
· “We view all the resources available to us as God-given, and rely on the Word of God and the Spirit of God to produce genuine, lasting change in us and in our clients” (p. 6).
· “As Christian counselors, our responsibility is to pursue God and his wisdom with all our hearts” (p. 25).
· “Christian counseling… Sees all of life through the scriptural lens of God the Father’s passion for an intimate connection with the people he created in his image” (p. 40).
· “As God’s partners, we become conduits of his power, his purpose, and his passion for hurting, doubting, struggling people” (p. 43).
· “Or worldview for Christian counseling begins with the proposition that the triune God of the Bible is alive and is the Creator of all things… is the source of all wisdom and truth… and seeks a love relationship with every person on earth…” (p. 44).
· “At the core, or human spirit… we are spiritual and eternal beings created in the image of God” (p. 79).
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2. The triune God is gradually and increasingly manifesting himself in creation, fall, redemption, and consummation (Slide 31).
· “Sin has disconnected us from God and made a strangers in the land he gave us” (p. 8).
· “However, all is not lost. Our Redeemer lives, and he offers us forgiveness, purpose, and ultimate hope” (p. 8).
· “God is working at every turn to call our names and invite us to turn our hearts back from the destruction of sin” (p. 9).
· “He not only sees but also understands and offers hope and healing” (p. 10).
· “Christian counselors see all people – believers as well as unbelievers – through the lens of God’s creation” (p. 86).
3. Creation: Humans are made in God’s image (Slide 32)
· Imago Dei is at the center of Hawkins' concentric circles (Illustration, page. 78).
· “Human beings at their core are fashioned in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27)” (p. 59).
· His [the new Christian counselor] heartfelt desire for all clients is that they might experience life in the core self, embrace the process of being restored to the image of God, and experience shalom in every area of life” (p. 59).
· “At the center of human personality is the human spirit (hs), originally created in the image of God” (p. 83).
· “Created in the image of God, humans share his capacity for decision, engagement, and communication” (p. 94).