Psychology and Spiritual Formation in Dialogue: Moral and Spiritual Change in Christian Perspective

Can the phenomena of the human mind be separated from the practices of spiritual formation—of growing to have the mind of Christ? Research into the nature of moral and spiritual change has revived in recent years, in the worlds of psychology on the one hand and theology and philosophy on the other. But psychology and spiritual formation draw upon distinct bodies of research and theory grounded in different methodologies, resulting in conversation that has suffered from a lack of interdisciplinary cross-pollination.

Rooted in a year-long discussion held by Biola University's Center for Christian Thought (CCT), this volume bridges the gaps caused by professional specialization among psychology, theology, and philosophy. Each essay was forged out of an integrative discussion among theologians, psychologists, philosophers, New Testament scholars, educators, and pastors around the CCT seminar table. Topics that emerged included relational and developmental spirituality, moral virtue and judgment, and suffering and trauma. Psychology and Spiritual Formation in Dialogue speaks across disciplinary divides, fostering fruitful conversation for fresh insights into the nature and dynamics of personal spiritual change. Contributors include

Justin L. Barrett, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological SeminaryEarl D. Bland, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola UniversityEllen T. Charry, Princeton SeminaryJohn H. Coe, Biola UniversityRobert A. Emmons, University of California, DavisStephen Evans, Baylor UniversityBruce Hindmarsh, Regent College, VancouverMarie T. Hoffman, New York UniversityJames M. Houston, Regent College, VancouverSteven J. Sandage, David R. Paine, and Jonathan Morgan, Boston UniversitySiang Yang Tan, School of Psychology, Fuller Theological SeminaryEverett L. Worthington, Jr., Brandon J. Griffin, and Caroline R. Lavelock, Virginia Commonwealth University