In a sense, theologies are psychologies. They discuss the human condition, largely in terms of motivation and cognition, and suggest ways of organizing our thinking about human aspirations and goals. These considerations are nowhere more evident than in contemporary process, liberation, and feminist theologies. This article shows parallels among these perspectives relative to modern psychological research and theory, primarily in social psychology and more particularly relative to social cognition theory. The importance of the role of the self and needs for meaning, control, and self-esteem are stressed, indicating that theology can serve as psychological theory and that both psychology and theology might benefit from increased interaction between the disciplines.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AcklinM., BrownE., & MaugerP. (1983). The role of religious values in coping with cancer. Journal of Religion and Health, 22, 322–333.
2.
BensonP., & SpilkaB. (1973). God image as a function of self-esteem and locus of control. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion12, 297–310.
3.
BerkhofL. (1939). The history of Christian doctrine.Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
4.
BierW. C. (Ed.). (1972). Alienation: Plight of modern man.New York: Fordham University Press.
5.
BrownD. (1981). To set at liberty.Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
6.
ClarkW. H. (1958). The psychology of religion.New York: Macmillan.
7.
CobbJ. B. (1977). Theology and pastoral care.Philadelphia: Fortress.
8.
CoxH. G. (1968). Commentary. In CutlerR. (Ed.), The religious situation (pp. 2311–234). Boston: Beacon.
9.
CoxH. G. (1984). Religion in the secular city. NewYork: Simon and Schuster.
10.
DalyM. (1973). Beyond God the Father.Boston: Beacon.
11.
FichterJ. H. (1981). Religion and pain: The spiritual dimensions of health care.New York: Crossroad.
12.
FiorenzaE. S. (1984). Bread not stone: The challenge of feminist biblical interpretation.Boston: Beacon.
13.
FolkmanS. (1984). Personal control and stress and coping processes: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 839–852.
14.
GutierrezG. (1973). A theology of liberation.Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
15.
JohnsonF. (Ed.). (1973). Alienation: Concept, term, and meanings.New York: Seminar.
16.
KaufmanG. (1985). Theology for a nuclear age.Philadelphia: Westminster.
17.
KellyG. A. (1955). The psychology of personal constructs (2 Volumes). New York: Norton.
MacquarrieJ. (1967). God and secularity.Philadelphia: Westminster.
22.
MacquarrieJ. (1973). A theology of alienation. In JohnsonF. (Ed.), Alienation: Concept, term, meaning (pp. 311–320). New York: Seminar.
23.
McFagueS. (1987). Models of God.Philadelphia: Fortress.
24.
MaslowA. H. (1971). The farther reaches of human nature.New York: Viking.
25.
NiebuhrR. (1941). Nature and destiny of man (Vol. I). New York: Scribner's Sons.
26.
NovakM. (1968). Secular saints. The Center Magazine, 1(4), 51–59.
27.
O'BrienM. E. (1982). Religious faith and adjustment to long-term hemodialysis. Journal of Religion and Health, 21(1), 68–80.
28.
OgdenS. M. (1963). The reality of God and other essays.New York: Harper and Row.
29.
PargamentK. I. (1987). God help me: Towards a theoretical framework of coping for the psychology of religion. Paper presented at the Annual Convention for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Louisville, KY.
30.
ReutherR. R. (1983). Sexism and God talk: Toward a feminist theology.Boston: Beacon.
31.
RothbaumF., WeiszJ. R., & SnyderS. S. (1982). Changing the world and changing the self: A two-process model of perceived control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 5–37.
32.
RubinZ., & PeplauA. (1973). Belief in a just world and reactions to another's lot: A study of participants in the national draft lottery. Journal of Social Issues, 29, 73–93.
33.
SchillebeeckxE. (1969). La Vie Religieuse Dans Un Monde Secularise. In GutierrezG. (Ed.), Approaches Theologiques IV, La Mission De L'Eglise (pp. 285–289). Brussels: Editions Du CEP.
34.
SegundoJ. L. (1976). Liberation of theology.Maryknoll, NY: Orbis.
35.
SpilkaB. (1970). Images of man and dimensions of personal religion: Values for an empirical psychology of religion. Review of Religious Research, 11, 171–182.
36.
SpilkaB. (1976). “The compleat person”: Some theoretical views and research findings for a theological-psychology of religion. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 4, 15–24.
37.
SpilkaB. (1982, August 26). Theory in the psychology of religion. William James award presentation at the Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
38.
SpilkaB., ShaverP., & KirkpatrickL. A. (1985). A general attribution theory for the psychology of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 24, 1–20.
39.
SuchockiM. H. (1982). God, Christ, church: A practical guide to process theology.New York: Crossroad.
40.
TaylorS. E. (1983). Adjustment to threatening events: A theory of cognitive adaptation. American Psychologist, 38, 1161–1173.
41.
TillichP. (1957). Systematic theology (Vol. II). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
42.
WeiszJ. R., RothbaumF. M., & BlackburnT. C. (1984). Standing out and standing in: The psychology of control in America and Japan. American Psychologist, 39, 955–977.
43.
WikstromO. (1986, November). Attribution, roles, and religion. Paper presented at the Convention of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, Washington, DC.
44.
WilliamsD. D. (1981). The spirit and the forms of love.London: University Press.
45.
WylieR. (1979). The self-concept (rev. ed.). Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
