Reinterpreting History with Psychology
by Rit NosotroComparative Essay
Compare long accepted historical events and persons that have been reinterpreted givent the influence of psychology. Specifically, how has secular psychology influenced historic Judeo/Christian theologies?
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Summary:
The following excerpt is used with permission from www.thebereancall.org. It is offered as a springboard to deeper analysis of the modern trend of mixing psychology with history and theology.
[The essay prompt still needs to be answered]- - -
Pop psychology often spills onto the pages at the expense of Scripture. In the midst of some good advice, Warren says: "Jacob was insecure...Joseph was abused...Samson was codependent...David had an affair and all kinds of [dysfunctional] family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed...Peter was impulsive..." (p. 233). This is humanistic psychological terminology that undermines the example of biblical victory demonstrated in these men's lives. *********************************************************
Psychology's humanistic delusion of "self-image" is even applied to Jesus. We're told that He served "from a secure self-image" and His task of washing His disciples' feet "didn't threaten his self-image" (p. 269). The very concept of "self-image" is not once found in the Bible! It is an insult to Christ and undermines the teaching of Scripture to attribute His perfect life to having a "good self-image" and to suggest that a "good self-image" will enable others to serve God. Some of what RW says is good, but, sadly, it is laced with the arsenic of Schullerisms and psychobabble.
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Next, Gideon is psychologically diagnosed: "Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities..." (p. 275). Again RW is promoting unbiblical humanistic psychology! Gideon said, "my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house" (Jgs 6:15). He sounds like other heroes of the faith such as Paul, who considered himself to be "less than the least of all saints" (Eph 3:8), and confessed, "in me...dwelleth no good thing" (Rom 7:18), yet he was the chief apostle. When Saul was "little in [his] own sight," God made him king of Israel (1 Sm 15:17). Many other examples could be given, such as Moses saying he couldn't even speak. Never were any of these men told that they had low self-esteem and that to be successful servants of God they needed to develop a positive self-image. Never! Then why does RW pass along such unbiblical, self-centered ideas to his readers?
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(The above excerpts are from a critique of Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Life by T. A. McMahon. PO Box 7019, Bend, OR 97708 to request a free copy.)
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