Details for Theology and Psychology

Who am I?  What is the soul?  How should Christian faith interact with the psychological sciences?  This unit considers the theological concepts of grace sin and freedom as found within traditional Christian theologies of the human person.  It also seeks to interact with the discipline of psychology and contemporary insights into the study of the mind.  The unit should be of particular interest for all people interested providing pastoral advice and counselling from a Christian perspective.

Awards offering Theology and Psychology

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Theology

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This unit considers the theological concepts of grace sin and freedom as found within traditional Christian theology in interaction with the discipline of psychology.

Outcomes

1. Construct a theological anthropology in dialogue with the discipline of psychology, exploring concepts such as the imago dei, soul, spirit, consciousness, mind/brain, and the social formation of identity;
2. Appraise and apply the basic concepts of the psychology of religion to the human quest for identity and meaning;
3. Discuss and evaluate the theological concepts of grace, sin, conversion and freedom against the background of the discipline of psychology;
4. Formulate strategies for spiritual transformation drawing on the resources of psychology and theology;
5. Evaluate the insights of positive psychology and explain their implications for well-being.

Subject Content

1. Introduction: the soul
2. Consciousness, mind/brain and free choice
3. Social formation of identity
4. History of psychology
5. Humanistic psychology
6. Existentialism
7. Positive psychology
8. Forgiveness
9. Grace and sin
10. Freedom of choice and therapy

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face to Face (onsite)
• Distance/E-learning (online)
• Intensive (One week: 7 hours per day for 5 days = 35 class hours + approx 85 hours out of class time for research, writing, exam preparation and execution, ancillary activities associated with completion of assigned tasks)

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

• Critical Reflection (40%)
• Case Studies (30%)
• Applied Short Answers (30%)

Prescribed Text

• Poplin, M. (2014) Is Reality Secular? Testing the assumptions of four global worldviews. IVP.

Please consult your instructor before purchasing any texts.