by: Alvin Dueck, Kevin Reimer

• Format

  E-Book

  ISBN

  9781441207975

  Pub. Date

  Nov 2009

  SRP

  $32.00

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About

This integrative work considers philosophy, ethics, theology, and cognitive science in making an argument on behalf of and for the psychological community. It will benefit psychology professors and students, Christian psychologists and psychotherapists, mental health workers, pastors, and theologians.

Endorsements

"Dueck and Reimer set forth a non-violent, non-coercive approach to therapy as if faith makes a difference, as though ethical values matter. They ask, 'what if we took Jesus seriously in what he said and did as well as what was done to him?' This is a book for thoughtful caregivers who want to plunge deeply, those for whom floating on the psychological and therapeutic surface no longer satisfies."--David Augsburger, professor of pastoral care and counseling, Fuller Theological Seminary

"This is a remarkably compassionate and eye-opening book. It should be read by all present and future clinicians."--Nancey Murphy, professor of Christian philosophy, Fuller Theological Seminary

"What are the implications of Isaiah's vision of a peaceable kingdom on earth for psychologists, psychotherapists, pastors, and mental health workers who are committed to building on the work that Jesus began nearly two thousand years ago? Alvin Dueck and Kevin Reimer address this question by challenging the empire mentality of western psychology through learned but accessible discussions of the inevitable conflicts between objective science and indigenous religious traditions. Invoking Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well as a paradigm for meeting the suffering on their own ground and their own terms, Dueck and Reimer have provided a visionary blueprint to guide and enhance the constructive work of their colleagues."--Donald Capps, professor of pastoral psychology, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Drawing on philosophical and theological resources often ignored by those associated with pastoral care, Dueck and Reimer do nothing less than reimagine psychological theory and practice. This is a landmark book that hopefully will reshape the field of psychology for Christian and non-Christian alike."--Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke Divinity School

"Long overdue. By providing a theologically and morally compelling critique of Western culture, Dueck and Reimer succeed in challenging the reader to rethink the legitimacy of the very foundations upon which contemporary psychology--both in research and in practice--rest. Don't get lost in the exquisite writing or in the beauty of how their argument unfolds. Instead, allow this book to make you uncomfortable and then do something about it."--Peter C. Hill, editor, Journal of Psychology and Christianity, and coauthor, The Psychology of Religious Fundamentalism

"Dueck and Reimer don't pull any (Anabaptist) punches in this provocative and inspiring book. They offer a radical critique of contemporary Christian and secular psychology and psychotherapy, demonstrating how often Western theorists and practitioners unwittingly operate under the influence of political 'empire,' linguistic hegemony, and philosophical foundationalism. Their constructive proposals for a peaceable psychology are carefully argued and illustrated by gripping cases of suffering. Psychologists and anyone interested in the role of religion in contemporary human life will be challenged by Dueck and Reimer's insightful analysis of the complexity of therapy in our world of many cultures."--F. LeRon Shults, professor of theology and philosophy, University of Agder, Norway

"Finally, an interculturally sensitive treatise on the integration of psychology and theology. Dueck and Reimer invite us to explore a socially just psychology at the complicated intersection of religion, politics, ethnicity, and therapy. A Peaceable Psychology is a courageous vision and my vote for the most important book by Christian psychologists in the past decade."--Steven J. Sandage, associate professor of marriage and family studies, Bethel University

"In A Peacable Psychology, Dueck and Reimer have succeeded in communicating with thunderous passion and impeccable, interdisciplinary scholarship, a clarion call to embrace God's incarnational reign in this broken world. Professional caregivers of all orientations will be deeply challenged to rethink not only their point of departure but also the process and ultimate vision for their work. This is a transformational book."--Marie Hoffman, director, Society for Exploration of Psychoanalytic Therapies and Theology

"Dueck and Reimer offer a thoughtful engagement with psychology that avoids therapeutic individualism's inherent lack of accountability while attending to the nuances and therapeutic potential of particularity across cultures and contexts. Their prophetic voices resound most profoundly when they bear witness to the power of weakness in the formation and articulation of a 'peaceable psychology' that can nurture souls and heal wounds."--Keith G. Meador, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-director of the Center of Spirituality, Theology, and Health, Duke University

"Dueck and Reimer speak prophetically out of their Mennonite traditions to argue for a peaceable psychology founded on the model of Jesus Christ. This peaceable psychology will challenge us all to serve whatever neighbors God sends us and to do whatever we must to help them regardless of the oppressive regimes of epistemological, professional, and political power that interfere with God's work of love. Perhaps most importantly, this book asks and then leaves unanswered many questions that point toward the need for further communal discernment on how we can deepen the theory and practice of a peaceable psychology. All Christians, and certainly all Christian psychologists, should read this book."--P. J. Watson, U. C. Foundation Professor of Psychology, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

"I can think of few topics more timely and relevant than learning how to more effectively engage our increasingly complex and multi-cultural communities. Those of us who aspire to be God's image bearers in word and deed have much to learn from indigenous healing communities. A Peaceable Psychology is a thoughtful and much-needed contribution to a dialogue that is exceeding rare in even faith-based communities in Northern America and Western Europe. It offers keen insights and has profound implications for theory, research, and practice."--Richard E. Butman, professor of psychology, Wheaton College