P
Psychotheosophy
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The purpose of this thread is to create dialogue regarding a model
for a Catholic Psychology. It is designed to be a unification of
Thomist Philosophy and modern psychological theory. Since it is
a Catholic theory, all of Thomist Philosophy will be assumed to be
true, and if contradicted with a psychological theory, the
psychological theory shall be pruned to fit Thomist philosophy.
If you have a dispute with Thomist Philosophy, please consider
discussing it with a catholic apologist. Again, this thread is
intended to assume that Thomist philosophy is always correct.
This Catholic psychological model is based on the assumptions
St. Thomas made concerning attributes of God. St Thomas states
that God is happiness, existence, goodness, and form (or oneness).
This model uses these attributes to unite Thomist philosophy
with psychological theory. The following points suggest how this
will be done:
Catechism states that the effects of original sin is that our human nature
has been “wounded in the natural powers proper to it (e.g. thinking);
subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; inclined
to sin – an inclination to evil that is called ‘concupiscence.’ Baptism,
by imparting the life of Christ’s grace, erases original sin and turns a
man back toward God, but the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined
to evil, persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle. If this model
is accurate, catholic psychology would be able to help heal the effects of
original sin, as it should. Even if you have nothing to post, please pray
for this possible model of catholic psychology.
for a Catholic Psychology. It is designed to be a unification of
Thomist Philosophy and modern psychological theory. Since it is
a Catholic theory, all of Thomist Philosophy will be assumed to be
true, and if contradicted with a psychological theory, the
psychological theory shall be pruned to fit Thomist philosophy.
If you have a dispute with Thomist Philosophy, please consider
discussing it with a catholic apologist. Again, this thread is
intended to assume that Thomist philosophy is always correct.
This Catholic psychological model is based on the assumptions
St. Thomas made concerning attributes of God. St Thomas states
that God is happiness, existence, goodness, and form (or oneness).
This model uses these attributes to unite Thomist philosophy
with psychological theory. The following points suggest how this
will be done:
- St. Thomas states that all people seek God, who is happiness,
as our ultimate goal. Since this is also the ultimate goal
of all psychological theory, we can say that God is the ultimate
goal of all psychological theory. - St. Thomas states that happiness is a goal, so Adlerian therapy
shall be considered. - St. Thomas states that God is goodness. Experiencing goodness
is to “feel good.” This is a goal of psychological practice.
Since a catholic understanding of “feeling good” is a joy and
peace that can be experienced even in the midst of suffering
(e.g. the martyrs), existential therapy shall be considered.
Works by Victor Frankl will be encouraged. - St. Thomas states that God is form. Since logical contradiction
implies nonexistence (e.g. an apple that is not an apple is nothing
(or A + (-A) = 0)), and since God is happiness and existence, then
logical form implies happiness. Here we shall, therefore, consider
cognitive therapy for the purpose of our reformation. - St. Thomas states that God is existence. Sometimes something can
feel good, but is not logical. Sometimes something seem logical,
but not feel right. These situations are the result of missing
information (which may repressed, suppressed, or uninformed), and
needs to be made to appear existent. Here psychoanalysis and
client-centered therapy shall be considered. - St. Thomas states that the soul is a mind that thinks, and a will
that chooses. Since Albert Bandura, a behaviorist, states that
our behavior informs and motivates us, then catholic good works
help the soul to inform the mind and motivate the will. Here,
behavior therapy shall be considered.
Catechism states that the effects of original sin is that our human nature
has been “wounded in the natural powers proper to it (e.g. thinking);
subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; inclined
to sin – an inclination to evil that is called ‘concupiscence.’ Baptism,
by imparting the life of Christ’s grace, erases original sin and turns a
man back toward God, but the consequences for nature, weakened and inclined
to evil, persist in man and summon him to spiritual battle. If this model
is accurate, catholic psychology would be able to help heal the effects of
original sin, as it should. Even if you have nothing to post, please pray
for this possible model of catholic psychology.