In the early 1900s, many conservative theologians viewed psychology as a "secular threat." They feared that explaining human behavior through biology or childhood trauma would make the concept of sin obsolete.
This is such a fascinating crossover. It’s the story of how the "pulpit" and the "couch" went from being rivals to becoming unlikely partners. American Protestantism in the age of psychology
As the decades passed, the influence of psychology moved from the fringe to the center of the sanctuary. This created what historians call the "therapeutic" turn in religion. In the early 1900s, many conservative theologians viewed
Sermons began to focus less on "wrath" and "judgment" and more on "self-esteem," "healing," and "wholeness." As the decades passed, the influence of psychology
We are now living in the "Age of Psychology" more than ever. You can see it in how modern Christians talk about their faith. We speak of "trauma-informed" ministry and setting "boundaries." We use the Enneagram or Myers-Briggs to understand our "God-given temperament."
But this merger hasn't been without its critics. Some worry that by focusing so much on the self , we’ve lost the focus on the divine . They argue that when the Gospel becomes a self-help manual, it loses its power to challenge us. The Bottom Line