Psychology and Spirituality

I've had a couple of conversations recently that have got me thinking again about the issue of how to approach life when you hold a set of beliefs that have wide lifestyle implications. In the environment I grew up in it was generally emphasised that the starting point for life should be working through your beliefs and values and then letting them naturally incarnate as concrete actions. The concept of freedom and ensuring that all actions were natural expressions of an inward desire was very important. Any suggestion of imposing a structure of practices onto life would be met with concern and suspicion as the demon of legalism was lurking round every corner.

I've recently been reading a bit of psychology that I've found helpful in attempting to understand this whole issue.



WARNING: What follows is some seriously amateur psychology.

The perspective that I grew up with seems to broadly reflect the cognitive thread of psychology. Cognitive psychologists see the investigation of the human mind as of paramount importance. In order to understand behaviour, enquiry into the human psyche and the role of cognitive processes in self-regulation and self-perception is deemed to be the starting point. The emphasis here is clearly on the interior over the exterior.

Behavioural psychologists, on the other hand, emphasise the importance of the immediate environment on behaviour as opposed to the interior workings of the mind. This perspective sees behaviour as driven by exterior controls and not internal values or beliefs.

During the mid-1970's, there began to emerge a psychological discipline that sought to combine the previously distinct threads under the banner of cognitive-behaviourism. This approach emphasised that human activity consists of three modalities; thoughts, feelings and behaviour. These modalities are believed to be inseperable, interlinked and interlocked. There is therefore an equal weighting placed on both internal and external processes in relation to human action.

In relation to my own spirituality, I find the cognitive-behavioural approach to be very useful. This allows me to reflect on the logic and implications of my beliefs and act accordingly in my everyday life. However, it also encourages me to put in place specific practices and disciplines that I do whether I feel like it or not. While I would have once seen this as shallow empty ritual, I now recognise that these practices can actually have a forming effect on my thoughts and emotions.

What do you reckon?

Embezzlement

I've recently read a very stimulating paper called Embezzlement: The Corporate Sin of Christianity? written by Ray Mayhew. I've found the paper really challenging; it's probably the most important thing I've read in the last few years! However, it's twenty two pages long, which doesn't make it the most appealing read, especially after reading a blog post. So, here are a few of my favourite quotes from the article that will hopefully whet your apetite for the whole thing (go on, read it, it's definitely worth it).

'I am not saying that we are obligated to follow the example of the early church. But most of us do believe that they have bequeathed us an important legacy. We take this with great seriousness in the area of doctrine, and I am simply advocating that we listen to them with equal seriousness in the area of stewardship.'

'the assumption of most church leaders today is that we have the right to spend our revenue in ways that we believe would be most beneficial to the work for which we are responsible. Budgets are drawn up, employees paid, buildings built and maintained, and missionaries supported. This is the way things are done, and as long as there is an annual audit and no misappropriations of funds, all is well. But is it?'

'It is not surprising that, after immersing himself for a lifetime in the patristic writings, John Wesley wrote his now famous lines that, “any Christian who takes for himself anything more than the plain necessities of life lives in an open, habitual denial of the Lord.” As we know, he practiced what he preached by giving most of his income away, wearing inexpensive clothes and eating only simple food. “If I leave behind me ten pounds,” he wrote, “you and all mankind bear witness against me that I lived and died a thief and a robber.”10 Strong words, but a faithful echo of patristic orthodoxy and ethics.'

'In the late fourth century John Chrysostom echoed Matthew 25 in lamenting, “thou hast been bidden to give freely to the hungry.....but thou dost not count him deserving even of a loaf; but thy dog is fed to fulness while Christ wastes with hunger.” Such perspectives were normative in informing the theology of stewardship in the early church.'

This paper has led a bunch of American-based Christians to develop a faith experiment called Relational Tithe. I find the whole subject deeply challenging, let me know what you reckon.

It's gonna be a boy!!!!

We had the 20 week scan yesterday and the baby appeared to have a penis. I say appeared because they are wrong around 20 percent of the time which is pretty lame as far as I'm concerned.

I will now spend the next few weeks dreaming about Jon Junior wearing the number 11 jersey for Wales in the not too distant future.

Merton and Communism

I know that Thomas Merton quotes probably account for around 60% of my blog content, but what the hell, I found some more really good ones yesterday on the bus.

‘A man cannot be a perfect Christian – that is, a saint – unless he is also a communist.

If Christians had lived up to the Church’s teaching about property and poverty there would never have been any occasion for the spurious communism of the Marxists and all the rest – whose communism starts out by denying other men the right to own property.

There is only one true doctrine about property rights… Those rights exist and cannot be denied, but they imply an obligation, which… would mean that most Christians would be living with something like the communism of the first Apostles.

No one denied those men the right to won land, or to keep what they owned… Yet that right implied an obligation to satisfy the needs of others as well as their own.

If you have money, consider that perhaps the only reason God allowed it to fall into your hands was in order that you might find joy and perfection by giving it all away.’

A very challenging perspective.

Old Stories, New Meanings

I’d heard the parable of the sower about a million times. I knew it backwards. Jesus was talking about evangelism and people becoming Christians. You know, saying the sinner’s prayer and getting saved by putting your trust in him.

You see, the seeds on the path, the ones that got eaten by the birds, those were the people who doubted; the devil had tricked them into not believing anymore.

The seeds on the rocks that couldn’t take root and got scorched by the sun, they were the people who never went to church. I mean, how can you expect to stay saved and fully believing if you don’t get the right teaching and encouragement? When your friends make fun of you you’re bound to back out quickly if you haven’t got the right support.

But those seeds among the thorns, I never really understood them. Why would the worries of life and wealth stop you believing? Well, anyway, I didn’t really need to worry about that because I was one of the seeds that fell on good soil. And I was going to convert loads of people to believe in Jesus too, producing a crop yielding hundreds.

But then, on the bus the other day I read the parable again. And something struck me that I’d never seen before. Jesus actually said that the parable was about receiving the message of the Kingdom of God and not about becoming a Christian.

Then I began to think about this Kingdom, about being a peacemaker, loving my neighbour (especially the uncomfortable ones), saying no to violence and turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, thirsting for justice, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and caring for creation.

The problem is that I find these things difficult. I’m very busy, not much free time since leaving university. And I’ve just bought a house; most of my money goes on paying the mortgage and doing it up. And then I realised. Far from producing a crop yielding hundreds I’d actually fallen amongst the thorns.

A hotel, somewhere in Leicestershire......

The large conference hall of delegates comes to a hush as the conference chair steps up to make her opening address….

A mobile phone rings

Jon: Oh S**t!

Jon grabs his phone and quickly exits the conference hall drawing the attention of most of the delegates

Jon: Hello….

Rebecca: Hi, where are you?

Jon: In a conference, it’s about to start, what do you want?

Rebecca: Are you sitting down?

Jon: No, what do you want? Oh God, you haven’t written off the car have you?

Rebecca: No, you’re going to be a dad

Jon: Wow! Are you sure?

Rebecca: Yes

Jon: How sure?

Rebecca: I’ve taken the test three times

Jon: Unbelievable, that's great news.......

We Just had our first scan today. The baby's head is 2.5cm in diameter, we saw it's feet, it's hands and it's spine. Due date is March 17th next year. Whoot Whoot!

Holiday Pics

Just come back from a lovely holiday in the French Alps. Here are a few pics.

Ambition and Achievement

Since leaving home and going to university I’ve found myself frequently worrying about achievement and success. Not in terms of financial and material gain but in relation to my faith, spirituality and discipleship. I’ve often taken a step back, looked at my life and thought ‘What have I actually achieved?’ Examples of people who started churches at a young age or spent years committed to campaigning for a worthy cause often spring to mind. I keep wondering about what I could do in order to make my mark, establish myself as a success.

A few months ago I was reading a chapter of Thomas Merton’s book ‘New Seeds of Contemplation’. He explores in detail this kind of mindset, and says about people that think this way,

‘They can only conceive of one way of becoming real: cutting themselves off from other people and building a barrier of contrast and distinction between themselves and other men…. I have what you have not. I am what you are not. I have taken what you have failed to take…. I spend my life admiring the distance between you and me; at times this even helps me to forget the other men who have what I have not and who have taken what I was too slow to take’.

For Merton, this kind of attitude is unhelpful and ultimately destructive. The alternative he suggest is,

‘I must look for my identity, somehow, not only in God but in other men. I will never be able to find myself if I isolate myself from the rest of mankind as if I were a different kind of being’.

I suppose this would mean to view the success of others as my own success, and to view my own success as the success of others. Not easy in reality, when all the messages we receive from our culture point in the opposite direction.

Blog Birthday

Well, I was really looking forward to it for weeks, and then I blinked and it went by without me remembering. My blog was one year old 10 days ago.

Altogether now,

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you..............

I would also like to share another great flash game with you all. Anyone who has supported English football since Italia 1990 and enjoys violence will love it.

A few little things....

After recieving some abuse for not posting for a while a thought I should do an update.

Just started the NVQ section of my probation qualification. This basically means that I will be spending hours and hours collating and numbering evidence over the coming months. Joy!

Went surfing for the first time in four years last Sunday. We headed for Llangennith hoping to find some lovely clean and small summer surf. Instead I got battered in 3-4 foot heavy waves for two hours. Didn't get out the back and resigned myself to fooling around in the white water. Things did get better though. On the way home we stopped off at Caswell and spent the last hour in 1.5ft waves which meant I got to ride a few before returning home absolutely knackered.

A question: How on earth can you justify preaching a health and wealth, faith based message to the homeless, the mentally ill and substance abusers?

And finally....

Scrivner sent me an email a while ago telling me it would be a good idea to repost a theological worldview quiz thing I did a while back. Well the quiz is here, and my results were

Emergent/Postmodern 89% Neo orthodox 86% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 79% Roman Catholic 61% Reformed Evangelical 32% Modern Liberal 32% Classical Liberal 29% Charismatic/Pentecostal 14% Fundamentalist 0%

I read the blurb about what that means I should believe but I don't think it's completely accurate. I'm also suprised by the 61% Catholic.

If you're bored......

Click here to play the greatest flash game ever.

An Interesting Night

Last night Becky and I went with friends to hear a speaker who had a big influence on me during my university years. We really enjoyed the music and the atmosphere of the night, but a few of the things that were said bothered us both.

There was just too much church bashing. Too many accusations. Too many cheap shots. Too much made of the distinction between the mainstream church and the speaker's version of the gospel. We are all part of the church. The failings of one group is the failing of the whole. It is too easy to abandon our brothers and sisters when they make mistakes, distancing ourselves from them as if we are in some way superior. I much prefer McLaren's approach, where traditions are accepted for their strengths and not vilified for their weaknesses. Where humility about our own approach is central to partaking in the great mission of God.

Pictures

The House.










Sunset at Local Park.

So we're finally in

At last, having started the process before Christmas, we have finally moved into our own home. We also have a little addition to the Matthews family, her name is Luna.

She has crapped under the bed once, and in the corner of the living room three times; we have only had her for a week!

Moving into your own house is expensive, aside from the ridiculous amount of debt there are a billion different types of insurance, solicitors fees, mortgage fees etc. etc. We are now officially on the property ladder but broke.

Anyway, a house warming is on the cards for the summer and there is always room if anyone wants to visit Swansea earlier.

The Language of Relationship

Towards the end of last year, I posted on the subject of my spiritual journey and how I have come to believe that both the destination and process by which we travel are equally formative on our lives.

This discovery, of course, was only possible because I had previously rejected the idea of an intimate involvement with God on a daily basis, and had tended to focus solely on God as my destination. The main reason for this shift was my growing anxiety surrounding the language of personal relationship.

Professor John Suk has recently written a great article about the problems with having our own personal Jesus. While I agree with most of the commentators that it is probably not a case of either/or, Professor Suk has put into words everything that makes me cringe about the relationship metaphor. The first two comments by Mark Goodyear have also helped me identify what troubles me most in this area.

Thanks to Maggi for the link.

It is great to be Welsh, honest

After the appalling Welsh performance against the Italians yesterday I have been in need of some cheering up. This joke posted by Maggi was just what I needed to hear.

White, Pasty, Woolly-Jumper Wearing, Anaemic....

At least that’s the stereotype. In case you haven’t guessed, I’m talking about vegetarians. For about 18 months I’ve been questioning whether to leave meat-eating behind me, but have found that my love of meat has heavily influenced my decision to remain a carnivore.

That is until recently. After a conversation with Scrivner and doing a bit of reading, I have decided that for ethical and environmental reasons I am going to take the plunge and begin my journey towards a meat-free life. I’ve managed to get the wife on board (ish) and have had a fairly successful first week.

What do you all think?

Oskar Schindler and Generosity

I have seen the film Schindler’s List only once when I was 16 years old. Yet this scene has remained with me ever since.

Schindler (to himself) I could've got more... if I'd just... I don't know, if I'd just... I could've got more...

Stern Oskar, there are twelve hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

He can't.

Schindler If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money, you have no idea. If I'd just...

Stern There will be generations because of what you did.

Schindler I didn't do enough.

Stern You did so much.

Schindler starts to lose it, the tears coming. Stern, too.

The look on Schindler's face as his eyes sweep across the faces of the workers is one of apology, begging them to forgive him for not doing more.

Schindler This car. Goeth would've bought this car. Why did I keep the car? Ten people, right there, ten more I could've got. (looking around) This pin --

He rips the elaborate Hakenkreus, the swastika, from his lapel and holds it out to Stern pathetically.

Schindler Two people. This is gold. Two more people. He would've given me two for it. At least one. He would've given me one. One more. One more person. A person, Stern. For this. One more. I could've gotten one more person I didn't.

We live in the 15th richest country in the world (GDP per capita) while 27,400 children die of preventable causes every day. What should our response be to the vast inequalities that make our lives possible?

An insightful reminder

Thanks to Jonny Baker for the link.

Newbigin and Politics

My interest in politics has recently been revived after a few encouraging conversations with an old friend and watching Gorgeous George on celebrity big brother (I know, big brother, yes, I'm a hypocrite). At the same time, a few of us from church have been studying Leslie Newbigin's brilliant 'Foolishness to the Greeks'. In commenting on the great left/right divide, Newbign argues that both positions arise from a similar starting point,

'In the one case (capitalism), freedom is pursued at the cost of equality; in the other (socialism), equality is pursued at the cost of freedom. Both derive from the Enlightenment vision of human beings as autonomous individuals with innate and equal rights to pursue self-chosen ends to the limit of their powers.'

He then goes on to outline how a the gospel provides a true alternative that critiques the very basis of contemporary politics,

'From its first page to its last, the Bible is informed by a vision of human nature for which neither freedom nor equality is fundamental; what is fundamental is relatedness. Human beings reach their true end in such relatedness, in bonds of mutual love and obedience that reflect the mutual relatedness in love that is the being of the Triune God himself. Neither freedom no equality are words that can take us to the heart of the matter.'

A truely challenging perspective.

The Exorcist

For years I chose not to watch 'The Exorcist'. I thought it was an evil film, a film that Christians shouldn't watch, a film that could damage me spiritually. About six months ago I finally changed my mind. I was suprised by what I saw. Far from being a demonic film that endangers the spiritual health of its viewers, I found 'The Exorcist' to be a film about the battle between faith and science.

The film is about two journeys. On the one hand, we meet a mother (Chris McNeil) with a troubled daughter (Regan McNeil). In the search to help her daughter, Chris exhausts the resources of the medical profession both somatic and psychiatric to no avail. As a last resort, the doctors suggest she asks the church to help solve her daughter's problems.

On the other, we meet Father Damien Karras, a priest with a troubled faith. As a result of his training in psychiatry, the conflict between faith and science had started to get too much. After encountering the possessed Regan, however, he begins to change his mind. In the McNeil household, Father Karras comes face to face with a mystery that science could not explain.

Both journeys expose the myth that science explains all. Once Father Karras has grasped this, he commits the ultimate act of self-sacrafice to save Regan. He takes the possession onto himself and ends his own life.

What a film!

London life in Swansea

Only been back to work for a week and already Christmas and New Year feel like a distant memory. Four deadlines and a discussion group to lead all before the end of January, looks like I won't get to ease myself slowly into 2006. I thought life in Wales was going to be much more laid back than this!