Customer Reviews (2)

Jargon filled and depressing in tone
Do you suffer from lathophobic aphasia? If you are living in a foreign country, be careful. You may be suffering from this disorder. I am reading The Psychology of Missionary Adjustment. It's a sobering book, in which almost all of the case studies that are presented are of real missionaries who were abject failures in their endeavors. This book was overall a disappointment as most of the case studies ended in failure. It was all full of jargon and high-sounding terms that confuse the average reader. Find something else positive about missions before picking up this depressing volume.

It's a big help to those going to the missions field
As a new missionary I found this book to be very informative and well written.It motivates the reader to think and to prepare for the change is culture that they are about to experience. ... Read more

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The explosion of new research in cognitive neuroscience has revealed fascinating dimensions of the human brain/mind system. But even as it brings us closer to understanding how the mind works, science is producing more, and perhaps even larger questions. What further powers and abilities are latent within us? The Wondering Brain argues that the profound questions raised by cognitive neuroscience may bestbe answered through a dialogue with religion. Kelly Bulkeley argues that cognitive neuroscience, seen in the light of religion, is a unique source of insight into the natural groundings of faith, morality, love, ecstasy, and revelation. And religion, seen in the light of cognitive neuroscience, is a powerful cultural system whose most valuable function is to stretch and expand our basic cognitive capacities. Kelly Bulkeley's deep engagement with both religious thinking and the workings of cognitive neuroscience makes for a constantlysurprising book, full of stories that catch the reader in the unexpected place between two supposedly irreconcilable ways of being in the world. ... Read more

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Review of Bukeley's 'Wondering Brain'
This work serves effectively as an introduction to neuroscience of atypical activities like dreaming, sexuality, creativity and meditation. These experiences are all link by a religious studies perspective. The book contains an introduction to both computational neuroscience and religious studies, making it incredibly accessible. The author also introduces many of the key modern thinkers in both fields; both Damasio the neuroscientist and Doniger the religious scholar receive several long passages of admirable quotation. Steven Pinker, Freud, and others are also introduced.

This work is not highly organized or easy to use for research purposes. It is a series of essays best suited to leisurely reading. This is a layman's introduction. ... Read more

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A clear, concise presentation of how the mind functions, based on the Abhidharma teachings of Asanga, with citations, charts, tables of reference, terms, index to sources cited, and general index. Adopted for courses at 26 univerisities. ... Read more

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Esoteric Academic
This book in incredibly dense, a little mythical, and dry, dry, dry.That said, there are flashes of wisdom that I found helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
1910. Ames, who was the Professor of Philosophy in the University of Chicago writes that this work undertakes an investigation of the religious aspect of normal human experience. The point of view employed is that of functional psychology, which is necessarily genetic and social. The method adopted involves the use of much material from anthropology, the history of religion, and other social sciences, but an attempt has been made to organize this material and interpret it from the psychological standpoint. The hypothesis that religion is the consciousness of the highest social values arose from studies in these fields, and this conception has been strengthened by further investigations. These highest social values appear to embody more or less idealized expressions of the most elemental and urgent life impulses. Religion expresses the desire to obtain life and obtain it abundantly. In all stages the demand is for daily bread and for companionship and achievement in family and community relationships. Ames divides the Contents into four parts including: History and Method of the Psychology of Religion; The Origin of Religion in the Race; The Race of Religion in the Individual; and The Place of Religion in the Experience of the Individual and Society. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

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Spiritual practices, or awakenings, have an impact on brain, mind and personality. These changes are being scientifically predicted and proven. For example, studies show Buddhist priests and Franciscan nuns at the peak of religious feelings show a functional change in the lobes of their brain. Similar processes have been found in people with epilepsy, which Hippocrates called the sacred disease. New research is showing that not only does a person's brain activity change in particular areas while that person is experiencing religious epiphany, but such events can be created for some people, even self-professed atheists, by stimulating various parts of the brain. In this far-reaching and novel set, experts from across the nation and around the world present evolutionary, neuroscientific, and psychological approaches to explaining and exploring religion, including the newest findings and evidence that have spurred the fledgling field of neurotheology.

It is not the goal of neurotheology to prove or disprove the existence of God, but to understand the biology of spiritual experiences. Such experiences seem to exist outside time and space - caused by the brain for some reason losing its perception of a boundary between physical body and outside world - and could help explain other intangible events, such as altered states of consciousness, possessions,alien visitations, near-death experiences and out-of-body events. Understanding them - as well as how and why these abilities evolved in the brain - could also help us understand how religion contributes to survival of the human race. Eminent contributors to this set help us answer questions including: How does religion better our brain function? What is the difference between a religious person and a terrorist who kills in the name of religion? Is there one site or function in the brain necessary for religious experience?

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Following the standard progression of introductory study, the chapters of this book identify and discuss issues in tension between faith and psychology. Faw suggests that Christian perspectives bring needed diversity to the study of mind and behavior. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pretty good--but be careful
The book was very informative and easy reading. Considering the depth of psychological issues, Faw did a great job. There were some ways in which I thought the author was a little bit too accepting of certain things, suchas hypnosis. (He did, to his credit, say that he does not claim to be righton everything, but is merely suggesting possibilities to be considered.)Although I disagree with him in some areas, I appreciate Faw's willingnessto put aside prejudices and look objectively at the issues. I definitely donot recommend this book for anyone who believes things because they readthem and doesn't think for themself. However, if you can think foryourself, this book will give you some great things to think about. ... Read more

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This will be the standard study on the "body" in relation to the major religions. It highlights the distinctive and unfamiliar ways in which diverse religious traditions understand the "body" and notes the assumptions and problems of contemporary attitudes to it. Religion and the Body brings together essays by established experts in the history of religion, the social sciences and philosophy. The result is a rich source for comparative studies of the "body", its relation to society and to the divine. ... Read more

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This book is the first to present new medical research establishing a connection between religion and health and to examine the implications for Eastern and Western religious traditions and for society and culture.
The distinguished list of contributors examine a series of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) topics that relate to religious faith and behavior.PNI studies the relationships between mental states and the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems.Among the issues it focuses upon are how mental states, in general, and belief states, in particular, affect physical health.The contributors argue that religious involvement and belief can affect certain neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms, and that these mechanisms, in turn, susceptibility to cancer and recovery following surgery. This volume is essential reading for those interested in the relationship between religion and health. ... Read more

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Discover the Secrets of Psychology, Wisdom and Power

Integrity shows the level of excellence,
Love and help,
And it shows your decency,
Sanity, rationality, wisdom and sense,
From work and judgment.

The poet and philosopher Ronnie Lee is back with his seventh book that continues to unravel the mysteries of life. Philosophy: Back to Basics tackles the dynamics of power-where it springs from, how it is wielded, and ways to harness it. In Lee's unique form of narrative free-verse poetry, Philosophy: Back to Basics unleashes a powerful and rising intellect on the topic. Discover the source of sexual attraction. Learn the motivations of each gender. Acknowledge the purpose and place of fear. Explore the dynamics of race relations. Study good business practices. And heighten your sense of spirituality.

It's all contained in this remarkable and comprehensive volume. Through it all is the message that we can improve ourselves and our lot through a more philosophically aware, spiritual outlook that encompasses all aspects of life. In short, the goal is nothing less than a complete guidebook for better living-and, by extension, a better society. Philosophy: Back to Basics is the kind of life-changing book that will stick with you long after the cover is closed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A treasured addition to any personal reading list or community library poetry collection.
Dealing with issues arising from politics, business, psychology, religion and spirituality, the poetry of Ronnie Lee demonstrates the skills of a master wordsmith and the philosophical insights of an unusually gifted thinker upon contemplating how ordinary people can improve themselves, their circumstances, their societies within the context of extraordinary times. Using free verse structures, this 740-page compendium is a treasury of original thought originally expressed. 'Philosophy presented as poetry' is an apt description of what Ronnie Lee has created in this his seventh published volume. Deftly written, here is a poetry that engages the reader's total attention and will be a treasured addition to any personal reading list or community library poetry collection.

A fundamental book on philosophy that will open the doors to major and important wisdoms of life
This book has fundamental concepts of truth on all major subjects in philosophy. Uniting many difficult subjects to create a simplified understanding of complex politics, history, religion, psychology, sex, science, social studies and philosophy, this book leads the reader towards a great height of philosophy, hoping to inspire the reader to know true, whole and eternal philosophies that generate an ultimate reality of truth, wisdom and success. By showing you relevant, important, fundamental and essential realities of life, you will be able to align yourself with the best of life, whether religiously with God, socially in your relationships, psychologically in your work, politically in your understanding, morally in your hopes or philosophically in your spirit. The truth is the historical alignment of life. It has been written in this simple poetry book in simple chapters for you to read. It is the alignment of truth and logic for justice, wisdom and love. It is a book of peace.

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Spiritual Intelligence
This is a book I've been awaiting for years. Roberts develops a relevant understanding of the relationship between human emotions and Christina spirituality. His in-depth theological, psychological, philosophical, and ethical study culminates with a practical examination of the fruit of the Spirit. He highlights the process of Christlike character development that leads to our inner life increasingly reflecting the inner life of Christ.

Both rigorous and readable, "Spiritual Emotions" should be required reading for Christian counselors, pastors, psychologists, and students. The narrative examples and the theological formulations will engage minds and encourage hearts.

What Emotional Intelligence: 10th Anniversary Edition; Why It Can Matter More Than IQ was in the last decade for the secular thinker, "Spiritual Emotions" will be in this decade for the Christian thinker.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends, and Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction .
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Long Summary Coming Soon ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

No agenda just truth
Finally, a well written, to the point with no personal attacks whatsoever book using the power of the Word of God and surprisingly the words of actual secular psychologists and psychiatrists to make the point that "the Word of God IS alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart."A clear choice is presented and there's no gray area in Bulkley's conclusions.God is either woefully missing what every believer needs in the Bible to satisfy Romans 12: 1,2 or He is telling the truth and has provided EVERYTHING we need as believers to think clearly sans psychology/psychiatry.Pick one and good luck with adding secular humanism's ideas and its "science" of psychology to Christianity at the Bema.

Eye-Opening and Well Written
Praise God for this book! I had seen various psychologists and psychiatrists since I was young and I wanted to go into the field since none of the specialists I was seeing proved to be of any help. I wanted God to use me in the field to make up for what so many psychologists/psychiatrists were obviously lacking. Then on a whim I decided to admit myself to a psychiatric hospital to get a first-hand look at the way the system was set up. God met me there and upon my release -- (Praise God) I found this book and God used it to complete the work that he was doing in this area of my life. He saved me from a career of destroying the lives of people - my fellow Christians included! I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE!

Truly Great
I believe all Christians need to read this book.We need to stop putting our trust in man.The bible still has the answers once we follow its teachings.Neither Psychologists nor Psychiatrists can positively help Christian solve their problems.Trust God's Word, the Bible.This books helps us to understand that.Pastors, Christian leaders, and Christian Psychologists need to get a copy of this book and read it thoroughly.Its great, It is an eyeopener.

Exposing the Cult of Psychology
This book has tactfully exposed the deception Christians are experiencing by the untruths or half-truths of godless psychology.I had no idea how pervasive the so-called "science" of psychology is in some "Christian" counsel.I understand now why so many believers suffer and fall away from the church after referal to an integrationist counselor.I thank the author for explaining how psychology and Biblical truth are never compatible.The two belief systems have opposiing views of man's condition, sin, salvation, suffering, etc.Let's get the word out to the church that integrating Freud, Jung, Maslow (and others) with absolute truth in Christian counseling must end.

An Eye-opening Book
This is an eye-opener. Dr. Ed Bulkley has written a book that should be read and taught in every ministry training school, or church. As a devoted student of God's word, I have always approached secular psychology with an air caution. Now, I have greater reason and sound documentation to remain cautious. This has not only confirmed my suspicions of the failures of human psychology, but it has strengthened my faith in the all-sufficiency of the word of God to heal the human heart, mind, and soul. ... Read more

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This book provides an approach for understanding the psychological and spiritual possibilities of human experience, through Tarot divination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great for added depth of Tarot
I enjoyed this book, the Author has a unique way in incorporating tarot into the psychology filed, I recommend this book to anyone that is interesting in studying tarot in an in depth way.

Revealing New Vistas
With scant few exceptions, the Tarot's inherent ability as a powerful and practical tool in the psychotherapeutic realm has gone on relatively unrecognized in the publishing world. Rarer still is a work devoted specifically and solely to this fascinating topic. So the publication of Tarot and Psychology: Spectrums of Possibility by Arthur Rosengarten, Ph.D. (Paragon House/2000) is an unquestionably notable event. Happily, Dr. Rosengarten has provided us with a work marked by characteristics uncommon in any genre. His always-engaging text sparkles throughout with great humanity, warm humor, and profound depth. Furthermore, impressive research findings and extremely sane argument support his what-might-be-considered controversial use of the Tarot selectively in the therapeutic setting. Tarot and Psychology will be of equal value to the Tarot professional seeking wider horizons in which to assist clients, and the psychotherapist open to new techniques with the same valiant goal. With admirable eloquence, the author's thought-provoking approach reveals the significant and even sacred connection between these superficially-divergent subjects. In the role of Virgil-like guide, Dr. Rosengarten leads the reader on an awe-inspiring journey through the portal between the two and into an underground composed of the psyche, heart, and soul. For those daring enough to accept this challenge, the potential rewards are wondrous indeed. -Michael Orlando Yaccarino, Certified Professional Tarot Reader

Complex and rewarding......
TAROT AND PSYCHOLOGY: Spectrums of Possibility, by Arthur Rosengarten, is a complex but well-written book. Rosengarten is a Jungian psychologist who has written a book primarily for fellow clinicians. However, Tarot readers of any persuasion will probably find the book informative and interesting.

Rosengarten suggests psychoanalysis is based more on art than science, and as an art form Tarot can play a role. He says his method involving the use of Tarot cards is both effective and pragmatic. In his own practice, he has found Tarot can play a role in facilitating quality ananysis within time constraints (managed care). To support his claims of the effectiveness of his methods, he presents the results of some empirical work he conducted using Tarot with a purposive sample of adults in domestic violence treatment programs. He says his work can be replicated and is thus subject to empirical review.

Either Rosengarten's writing is incredibly clear, or I was in the right place at the right time, or both, but based on my reading of this book, I think I may finally understand what Jung meant by synchronicity. Rosengarten suggests each of the Tarot cards has a spectrum of meanings and that each of these meanings is augmented when viewed in conjunction with other cards (and their meanings) in a particular spread. The synchronic view contrasts with a linear interpretation of the Major Arcana of the Tarot cards which some see as representative of the stages of personality development or journey of the soul.

As nearly as I can tell, Rosengarten is suggesting that when one engages in a Tarot reading, a "higher power" takes over and a path to enlightment is opened. Having experienced the Transcendent I have to agree with him. However, whether your view is diachronic or synchronic I think you will find Rosengarten's book intriguing.

Doctor Rosengarten Advises Use of Tarot in Counseling
I purchased this book and somehow had overlooked the fact that Ph.D was behind his name.I was so surprised to find a Tarot book that delves so deeply into the many uses of Tarot and that a psychologist would recommend them!!
One of the most impressive comments I must make regarding this book is how easy it was to read.I have found in the past, that when one reads a book by a doctor, that they tend to use "big" words to prove they are educated enough to hold a degree.
Dr. Rosengarten, however, does not.
Each card is explained in full details but not so much as a card, but as a possibility for growth and needs.But if you are a professional reader and want to truly be able to go beyond predictive tarot readings, I suggest this book as your first purchase.

New insights for both psychologists and Tarotists
This is a book that challenges the thinking of both practicing clinical psychologist and practicing Tarot readers.The primary audience is the clinician, but that does not mean that the advanced student and practitioner of Tarot is left out, far from it.There are three mainsections of the book: The Tarot of Psychology, The Psychology of Tarot andEmpirical Studies, so there is something for both disciplines.The firstsection, The Tarot of Psychology, introduces the clinician to the world ofTarot's archetypal images.This is where this book distinguishes itselffrom other books that seek to connect Tarot and psychology.Most of theseother works give a brief introduction to Jung's theory of Archetypes andthen go on to be fairly pedestrian descriptions of the Major Arcana ofTarot.Unlike its rivals, this work is based on solid clinical trainingand the author's own extensive research and practical clinical experience. In the second section, The Psychology of Tarot, the clinician is notforgotten, but the emphasis here is more toward exposing the student ofTarot to the deeper psychological meanings in the cards.Dr. Rosengartendoes an excellent job here of leading the non-specialist, non-clinicianinto the often confusing world of psychology.For example, an error oftenmade by dilettantes who attempt to show the psychological meaning of Tarotis to equate it to the TAT or Rorschach tests.Dr. Rosengarten quitecorrectly states that Tarot is not at all like these tests, which, beingextrinsic, that is, being themselves meaningless, are in no way related tothe Tarot, with its deep symbolic and archetypal meanings.This secondsection is also where we see the reason for the subtitle, "Spectrumsof Possibility".The author has developed a Spectrum of Possibilityfor each card in the Tarot deck.These spectra are not the cut and dried"card meanings" found in the Little White Books that come withdecks of Tarot cards, but rich shades of psychological meaning.Appendix Aof the book provides the spectra for the entire 78 card Tarot deck. Thefinal section of the book is Empirical Studies.The first chapter of thissection alone is almost worth the price of the book.This chapter isentitled simply, "Synchronicity".In less than a score of pages,the author explains the Jungian Theory of Synchronicity, that is, thenotion of acausality.This is the most lucid and uncomplicated expositionof this important and oft misunderstood subject. The main part of theseEmpirical Studies come from the Tarot Research Project, a rigorouslyscientific study of the use of Tarot in clinical studies of both victimsand perpetrators of domestic violence.As both a serious Tarotist andscientist, this reviewer found this section fascinating.Appendix Bsummarizes composite Tarot spreads from the perpetrator's and victim'sreadings into a "Dialog".Finally there is an extensiveBibliography to supplement the end-chapter references and a very goodindex.This is a "must read" for clinicians who are looking fornew approaches to old problems and for Tarotists looking for a work withmore depth and meaning than yet another description of the archetypalimages of the Major Arcana.DISCLAIMER: This reviewer has, for some time,been a student of both Dr. Rosengarten and Forward author Lon MiloDuQuette. ... Read more

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Gorsuch seeks to provide a thoughtful introduction to relating spirituality and psychology in a postmodern era. Psychology provides an empirical base for many of the discussions. In addition he develops two methods of dialoging or integrating psychology and spirituality. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Integration

In this capstone book, Richard Gorsuch builds on decades of careful reflection on the process of integrating spirituality and psychology. It is permeated with hope and practical realism - hope because he believes theologians and psychologists can work together and practical because he thinks integration is more about working on problems together than it is about harmonizing their disciplines.He proposes that the disciplines of theology and psychology are radically different in their methodology and purposes setting the stage for complementarity rather than antagonism. Theologians, he suggests, do well to remain silent about the causes of phobias while scientific psychologists might be cautious about expounding on the meaning and purpose of life. When a discipline knows its limits, each can make a contribution to the greater common good.This is a book worth pondering.
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Today most people feel less interested in religion and more interested in spirituality.If you ask what they mean, they will tell you that organized religion tends to turn them off, but, nonetheless, they feel a hunger in the heart that they cannot seem to fill.They do not mean that they would rather have disorganized religion; they mean that institutional religion does not seem to satisfy their spirits and feel there must be something more, some better way of experiencing whatever that is for which they are hungry.Much new experimentation is going on as a result. Some of it is a search for the meaning to fill the soul and satisfy the spirit; much of it is a search for meaning on the spiritual level itself.Spirituality reaches always toward the question about the meaning of God, the meaning of relationships with others, the meaning of intimacy, and the meaning of soul gratifying insights into truth.Here, Ellens carefully and sensitively explores the full range of our spiritual natures and the variety of spiritual experiences of which we are capable, describing the way our souls and psyches work in our hunger and thirst for meaning. He explains in an enlightening and unconventional way why and how every human desires to reflect upon, learn, and share a heartfelt experience of God and of others.

Readers will find in this book a description of the meaning of the biblical stories about spiritual experiences in addition to descriptions of the kinds of spiritual experiences that ordinary people are having, how they are achieving them, and the ways in which they are filling their lives with meaning that goes beyond the horizons of material life.The author paints this picture in such a way as to let us in on what biblically based authentic spirituality and spiritual experience really is, and why it may or may not necessarily have anything to do with traditional institutionalized religion.He carefully and vividly explains the notion of spirituality as it is illustrated in the Bibleand discusses spiritual experiences such as prayer, epiphany, visions, and other experiences.He considers whether spirituality is mainly a connection with God, with others, or with both. Readers hoping to get a better sense of what it means to be spiritual will have many of their questions answered in these pages.

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At his death in 1987, Paul W. Pruyser of the Menninger Foundation was widely recognized as one of America's foremost authorities on the psychology of religion. His book A Dynamic Psychology of Religion set the stage for creative dialogue on the subject. In this volume, two leading practitioners in the field present a compilation of Pruyser's seminal articles, providing an overview of the major themes in Pruyser's thought. Newton Malony and Bernard Spilka evaluate Pruyser's viewpoint and suggest how his position continues to influence the psychology of religion. ... Read more