“Opposite Sexes or Neighboring Sexes? Beyond the Mars-Venus Rhetoric”

Mary Stewart VanLeeuwen, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology and Philosophy, and Resident Scholar, Center for Christian Women in Leadership, Eastern University, St. Davids, PA

In contemporary social science, “sex” is often used to denote biological and “gender” to denote learned characteristics. This presentation begins by pointing out that this is a useful but too simple distinction, then goes on to enumerate other methodological challenges in doing research on sex and gender. Biological considerations are discussed in the context of the biblical creation mandate, given to both women and men, to “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” Some historical and meta-analytic data are used to show that, for any given trait, within-sex differences are always greater than between-sex differences. This makes it highly questionable to speak of different masculine or feminine “essences” (let alone planetary origins!), though many Christians keep trying to do so, both on the academic and popular level. Finally, it is proposed that we use “gender relationships” rather than “gender roles” as the more appropriate unit of analysis, and this is illustrated with regard to issues such as parenting, marriage education, and programs for helping to reduce the divorce rate.

“Religious vs. Spiritual: The New Pluralism Reconsidered”

H. Newton Malony, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

Most applied psychologists (counselors) who extol themselves as "Christian" are faced with variations of the V-codes (Spiritual and Religious Problems) of the DSM-IV-R. This presentation will attempt to bring some structure to these situations by suggesting definitions for spiritual and religious that functionally relate the two. This schema conceives religious as utilization of concepts to better understand and sustain spiritual experiences of trans-empirical reality. Grounding the capacity for such trans-empirical experiences in human imagination, religious models for treatment are seen to be legitimate in the post-modern environment where truth is never proven but where all alternatives can be asserted. This approach results in a pluralism where most spiritual experiences inevitably process into religious. Christian counselors should be more concerned with function rather than dogmatic substance. This implies that the pathology-ameliorative and health-giving efforts of religious faith should be applauded, irrespective of the extent to which that faith is orthodox or semi-heretical. As Carl Jung concluded, people not only HAVE their gods, they MAKE their gods.

“Wanted: More In-Depth Integration”

Bruce Narramore, Ph.D, Distinguished Professor, Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, La Mirada, CA & President, Narramore Christian Foundation

Wonderful strides have been taken in relating Christian beliefs and practice to the discipline of psychology since the beginning of CAPS in the 1950's. This paper contends, however, that with relatively few exceptions we have largely failed to produce scholarly works that thoroughly integrate an in-depth understanding of basic Christian doctrines with an equally well informed view of the subject matter of psychology. This background analysis is followed by an overview of areas of Christian belief that should have a major role in shaping our integrative dialogue and suggestions as to directions that this more in-depth integrations might take. Christian doctrines that will be discussed included revelation, human nature, sin, salvation, sanctification, community and the future. Psychological topics will include normality, maladjustment and transformation.

“Science and Miracles in Clinical Practice?”

Richard Gorsuch, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

Is there a paradigm that makes both science and miracles available to Christian therapists in a manner that respects both? Historically no, for science and miracles have been part of two separate world views. The former has brought the power of the scientific method to the needs of people and thereby has given clinicians tools such as intelligence testing and techniques such as the multiple methods of therapy. The later comes from our Christian heritage which has told us of the power of God to impact a unique person’s life in a unique way, a way which violates some assumptions of scientists (such as deterministic causation). Christians who have studied science appear to flip between two incompatible models, one for science and one for miracles, which makes it difficult to utilize the power of each. However, when science is understood as studying replicable data consistencies and miracles are understood as unique acts of God, they are both philosophically consistent. Clinicians can integrate both science and miracles into clinical practice, helping their clients understand how both can be helpful -- but there still is a problem or two.

Special Presentation! Featuring two former CAPS executive directors

Fifty Years of History of CAPS: An Exploration in the Interface of Psychology and Theology/Spirituality

This session features presentations by two past Executive Directors of CAPS, Dr. J. Harold Ellens and Dr. Randolph K. Sanders. They will conduct an interactive seminar in which they will narrate their understanding of that history. This will be followed by responses to questions and comments presented by a panel of five long-standing members of CAPS, while endeavoring to engage the entire audience in the discussion and inquiry. The entire process will be a free-flowing dialogue between those attending the session and Drs. Ellens and Sanders

The Reverend Dr. J. Harold Ellens is a retired pastor, professor, and US Army Colonel. He is Emeritus Executive Director of CAPS International which he served from 1974 to 1989, and Founder and Editor Emeritus of The Journal of Psychology and Christianity. He holds four masters degrees in classics, theology, Second Temple Judaism, and Christian Origins; and two PhDs, one in Psychology and one in Biblical Studies. Dr. Ellens continues to be very active in Interim Ministries in the Presbyterian Church USA and as a psychotherapist in private practice. He is the author, co-author, and editor of 111 books and 167 professional journal articles, as well as numerous training videos. He has a long history in conducting seminars and workshops and consulting with major corporations regarding command and staff operations.

Randolph K. Sanders, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in New Braunfels, Texas. He is the award winning author of several books and numerous articles, and served as the Executive Director of CAPS from 1994-2005. In addition to his practice, Dr. Sanders travels nationwide providing workshops on ethics and risk management. He earned his doctorate from the School of Psychology at Fuller Seminary