Does Christian psychology exist?

Can we speak of the existence of Christian psychology as we speak of Buddhist psychology?

For those who like straight answers, I will say yes. It exists and it is very, very real.

Therefore, in the following lines you will find a brief summary of what Christian psychology consists of. what Christian psychology consists of and how it is put into practice.

What do we mean by Christian psychology?

We often forget that Psychology ("speaking of the Soul", etymologically speaking) is a complex, global and fascinating world.

It encompasses very different aspects of reality: it develops continuous scientific research from which all of us psychologists nourish ourselves and which serve as a touchstone to give solidity to all the knowledge that is being accumulated.

And it also continually investigates, among all that human knowledge has to offer, what can be useful for people to improve their lives. what can be useful for people to improve their lives..

Therefore, Psychology is constantly evolving, creating and shaping knowledge, concepts and techniques based on the most recent discoveries and also on all the knowledge, techniques and experiences accumulated by mankind.

But there is another aspect: Psychology is not only a branch of knowledge. It is also a way of being and being in the world, a living and vibrant perspective that is constantly evolving for each person. for each person.

Main myths about this form of Psychology.

It is curious that if we say, for example, that there is a Buddhist psychology, it seems quite normal to us. But if we say that there is a Christian Psychology, we find the most disparate attitudes. And that is due to a multitude of prejudices that we drag along.

Let us look at some of them.

1. Christian psychology is only useful for Christians

This is not true because over the centuries, a great deal of knowledge, experiences and techniques have been accumulated that can be useful not only to Christians of any denomination, but also to people of any religion and to agnostics and atheists.

2. Christian knowledge is backward and closed

This prejudice is due to ignorance of reality. Christian thought is a continuous hotbed of ideas and proposals, of new approaches and people who are always and people who are always seeking to go one step further in the search for knowledge. Many people, at this very moment, are working so that the enormous amount of knowledge accumulated in so many centuries of history can serve humanity, whatever it believes in.

3. If we talk about psychotherapy, the Christian approach does not solve all problems.

True, as long as we keep in mind that there is not only one there is no single current in the world of psychotherapy that can solve all problems..

What is it embodied in practice?

Christianity has much to contribute to the world of psychology. Throughout its centuries of history, it has accumulated a series of resources, techniques, knowledge and ways of doing things, which, when adapted and updated, can be invaluable tools for human development.

But we cannot end this article without giving some practical examples.

It is well known that In the business world, the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola have made a deep impression on the world of business.. Adapted and modernized, they are used today in a multitude of business courses and seminars. And their philosophy is studied in various faculties, without it being necessary for the participants to be Christians.

The use of spiritual retreats is also on the rise. the use of spiritual retreats in Christian monasteries, retreats for all types of people.retreats aimed at all types of people who wish to put their lives in order and learn to reposition what is truly important.

Finally, I will mention that there are many groups made up of people who are rediscovering the world of silence and meditation. the world of silence and meditation by the hand of techniques that Christian hermits used many centuries ago.. The benefits of these practices are countless.

And we could go on and on giving examples, such as the enormous fascination that monastic life has been awakening lately, the new uses in psychotherapy of metaphors and images from the Gospels in psychotherapy....

Perhaps the most important step we should take in order to benefit from this enormous wealth of knowledge is to put aside our preconceived ideas and ask ourselves what is the legacy left to us by so many and so many people, and what is the most important thing we can do in order to benefit from it. the legacy that has been left to us by so many people dedicated to the cultivation of the inner world. Certainly, Christian psychology is more alive than ever and we will see that it contributes more and more to our lives.