EMCAPP Journal 2

8 Comment on Eric Johnson “What is a Christian Psychology?” Nicolene Joubert Eric Johnson’s article delineates the essence of Christi- an psychology as a psychology embedded in a Christian ideological surround. The construction of such a distinctive psychology needs time (a few decades at least) and serious in depth study and application of Scriptures and other Christian texts to psychology. The construction process should not exclude modern and postmodern psychology but engage in dia- logue with this field to be enriched by valid psychological information. The construction of a Christian psychology thus requires a clear articulation of Christian worldview assumptions as foundation and the process of construction which should include engagement with modern and postmo- dern psychology over a period of time. I would like to comment further on the meaning of worldview and the importance of time in the construc- tion process. Worldview has been defined in many ways. It has been defined, amongst others, as philosophy of life, world out- look, cultural orientations, value orientations and uncon- scious systems of meaning. The following definition by Koltko-Rivera (2004) provi- des a more comprehensive description of the concept. “A worldview is a way of describing the universe and life within it, both in terms of what is and what ought to be. A given worldview is a set of beliefs that includes limi- ting statements and assumptions regarding what exists and what does not (either in actuality, or in principle), what objects or experiences are good or bad, and what objectives, behaviours, and relationships are desirable or undesirable. A worldview defines what can be known or done in the world, and how it can be known or done. In addition to defining what goals can be sought in life, a worldview defines what goals should be pursued. World- views include assumptions that may be unproven, and even improvable, but these assumptions are super ordi- nate, in that they provide the epistemic and ontological foundations for other beliefs within a belief system.” Applying this definition of worldview to the construction of a Christian psychology is imperative as it would lead to a clear articulation of a Christian worldview regarding Christian anthropology, epistemology and ontology. These worldview statements, serving as a foundation for Christian psychology would further include value state- ments, beliefs about good and evil and beliefs regarding time orientation. As Eric Johnson implied it would ena- ble Christian psychologists to study and treat universal psychological themes in the light of these statements. Further to this, the importance of a timeframe was high- lighted in Eric Johnson’s article and warrants further re- flection. Worldview beliefs regarding time orientation reflect ideas about temporal focus of behaviour and may be viewed as prescriptive or proscriptive beliefs, i.e. beliefs that judge the means of action or the end of action to be desirable or undesirable. The nature of time orientation statements relate to the question whether we should focus on the past (tradition), the present (the here and now) or the future (planning ahead for future welfare). Time orienta- tion beliefs are often related to existential and evaluative beliefs. A Scriptural orientation towards time should thus guide our Christian psychology project. I would like to high- light some of the Scriptures in support of Eric Johnson’s quest for time. Firstly, there is no time to God although He reveals Himself to man in time and space. 2 Pet 3: 8 and Ps 90: 4 indicate that God can stretch out time or compress it to fulfil His purposes. There is thus time enough to fulfil God’s purpose with Christian psy- chology. Secondly, God our creator and Christ our Redeemer and Healer are timeless and unchangeable. Deut 32: 4 “He is the Rock, he work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” The immutability and eternity of Christ as depicted in Heb13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” cements the belief that God the Son is timeless and unchangeable. Christ, the unchangeable Truth will always guide our Christian psychology endeavours will continue the process in the generations to come. EMCAPP

EMCAPP Journal 2

Pages