We humans have powerful tendencies to label and categorize. It may even be something that Adam passed on to us. Notice that Adam got to name the animals as he saw fit. Does part of being in the image of God mean that we have an innate drive to name things as they are?
But what [...]
Entries from August 2006
August 30, 2006
The Power of a Label
August 30, 2006
Why we should read the history of psychology and christianity
Am reading Bryan Maier’s (my new colleague) recent dissertation-turned-book, The Separation of Psychology and Theology at Princeton, 1868-1903: The Intellectual Achievement of James McCosh and James Mark Baldwin. Don’t get put off by the long title (we like those in academic treatises because they really tell us what the book will be about).
In short, McCosh, [...]
August 29, 2006
PTSD Katrina Story in Philadelphia
The news is littered with Katrina stories marking the 1 year anniversary of the storm. Our own crew of 2 staff and 4 students just returned from the Bay St. Louis, MS area where they were meeting with folk. The pictures they brought back show the immensity of the damage and the devastation that still [...]
August 28, 2006
Where’s your geographical home?
Just spent a week in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I spent most of my growing up years in Vermont, have lived in Mass, NH, and Maine, where my parents live now. There’s something about NE that feels like home. The houses, the terrain, the temperature. It all gives the feel of home, even though I have [...]
August 28, 2006
The conflict of a degree granting institution
Thinking a bit more about confidentiality and the issues that arise in a Masters of Counseling program. Dingle’s Sister raised a couple of interesting points in “her” earlier comments to a post I made about confidentiality. She suggested that we have a conflict:
Are we here to (a) grant degrees or (b) graduate healthy, transparent, wise [...]
August 23, 2006
Who’s at fault for atheistic psychology?
Its easy to get into an us vs. them attitude in life. It the Christians against the schemes of the world.
I teach Christians interested in learning biblically authentic ways to help others work through emotional and relationship problems. As we study psychological techniques, many of my students rail against the secularism, the individualism, and [...]
August 22, 2006
A Taste of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb
Could you wear the white dress?
Just attended a wedding. It was a beautiful and poignant event. The bride (we’ve known here since she was a little girl) and groom glowed with love and joy. The father of the bride made some of the best remarks I’ve ever heard about a couple—especially his new son-in-law–and [...]
August 18, 2006
Happy 16th Anniversary Kim!
16 years ago, a brutally hot day, I married my best friend, Kimberly Vinal. By the way, I highly recommend doing it that way. We met at Westminster, became friends and just enjoyed each other’s company without the sexual tension. It was only after I realized that I didn’t want to lose this relationship that [...]
August 16, 2006
Making Abuse of Power Okay
If you have time, read last Sunday’s Philadelphia Inquirer cover story on the police who use their badge to extort sex (http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/15263711.htm). Most interesting was the comments made by former State Trooper, Michael Evans. He talked about how he justified his behavior to himself:
“I would see women that were vulnerable where I could appear as a [...]
August 16, 2006
Confidentiality an overrated thing?
Just got done talking with a colleague about how we will handle confidentiality in our about-to-be-launched pastoral counseling center for students in our Seminary. By the very nature that we are all employees of the Seminary, we will engage in dual relationships with our counselees. In professional ethics codes, dual relationships are frowned upon and those who engage [...]
