Flourishing in Faith
Flourishing in Faith: Theology Encountering Positive Psychology explores the fascinating dialogue between two scholarly traditions concerned with personal wellbeing, Christian theology and Positive Psychology, primarily from the perspective of theology. Although each works within different paradigms and brings different fundamental assumptions about the nature of the world, both are oriented toward that which leads to human flourishing and contentment. In such an encounter, can both disciplines learn from one another? Do they challenge each other? How can they enrich and or critique each other? With the widespread emergence of Positive Psychology in educational, church, and community settings across the world, many of which self-identify with the Christian tradition, many are wondering how this new branch of psychology integrates with traditional Christian belief and practice. This groundbreaking book explores this question from a diversity of perspectives: theology, biblical studies, education, psychology, social work, disability studies, and chaplaincy, from scholars and practitioners working in Australia and the United States.
1127094329
Flourishing in Faith
Flourishing in Faith: Theology Encountering Positive Psychology explores the fascinating dialogue between two scholarly traditions concerned with personal wellbeing, Christian theology and Positive Psychology, primarily from the perspective of theology. Although each works within different paradigms and brings different fundamental assumptions about the nature of the world, both are oriented toward that which leads to human flourishing and contentment. In such an encounter, can both disciplines learn from one another? Do they challenge each other? How can they enrich and or critique each other? With the widespread emergence of Positive Psychology in educational, church, and community settings across the world, many of which self-identify with the Christian tradition, many are wondering how this new branch of psychology integrates with traditional Christian belief and practice. This groundbreaking book explores this question from a diversity of perspectives: theology, biblical studies, education, psychology, social work, disability studies, and chaplaincy, from scholars and practitioners working in Australia and the United States.
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Overview

Flourishing in Faith: Theology Encountering Positive Psychology explores the fascinating dialogue between two scholarly traditions concerned with personal wellbeing, Christian theology and Positive Psychology, primarily from the perspective of theology. Although each works within different paradigms and brings different fundamental assumptions about the nature of the world, both are oriented toward that which leads to human flourishing and contentment. In such an encounter, can both disciplines learn from one another? Do they challenge each other? How can they enrich and or critique each other? With the widespread emergence of Positive Psychology in educational, church, and community settings across the world, many of which self-identify with the Christian tradition, many are wondering how this new branch of psychology integrates with traditional Christian belief and practice. This groundbreaking book explores this question from a diversity of perspectives: theology, biblical studies, education, psychology, social work, disability studies, and chaplaincy, from scholars and practitioners working in Australia and the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781498296403
Publisher: Cascade Books
Publication date: 07/07/2017
Pages: 240
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Gillies Ambler is a Uniting Church minister and lecturer in Practical Theology at St. Barnabas College, Adelaide, and Charles Sturt University.
 
Matthew Anstey is an Anglican priest, Principal of St. Barnabas College, Adelaide, and senior lecturer in Old Testament at Charles Sturt University.
 
Theo D. McCall is an Anglican priest, School Chaplain at St Peter's College, Adelaide, and a lecturer in Systematic Theology at St Barnabas College, Adelaide, and Charles Sturt University.

Mathew A. White is Director of Wellbeing and Positive Education at St Peter's College, Adelaide, a Principal Fellow in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne and Affiliate in the Well-being Institute at Cambridge University.

Table of Contents

Contributors vii

Foreword: Giving Transcendence and Spirituality Their Due Kristján Kristjánsson xv

Introduction Gillies Ambler Matthew P. Anstey Theo D. McCall Mathew A. White xix

Framing the Conversation

Chapter 1 Positive Psychology and Christian Theology: An Exchange of Gifts Ellen T. Charry 3

Chapter 2 Flourishing and Languishing: Testimony from the Psalms Ellen T. Charry 19

Chapter 3 An Introduction to Positive Psychology, Positive Education, and Wellbeing Mathew A. White 34

Biblical Perspectives

Chapter 4 "And God Saw it was Good": The Creation of Wellbeing and the Wellbeing of Creation Matthew P. Anstey 55

Chapter 5 Shalom, Gospel and the Mission of God Tim Harris 65

Chapter 6 Mary-Theotókos: Fulfillment of God's Grace and Embodiment of Virtues-A Strengths-Based Reading Mathew A. White 81

Theological Perspectives

Chapter 7 Drawn into the Inner Life of the Trinity: A Dialogue between Theology and Positive Psychology Theo D. McCall 99

Chapter 8 Gratitude: A Theological and Psychological Dialogue Carla Ford Andrew Ford 111

Chapter 9 Sailing Close to the Wind J. Harold Ellens 126

Practical Perspectives

Chapter 10 Grief Experiences: Potential Catalyst for Post-traumatic Growth and Wellbeing Gillies Ambler 139

Chapter 11 Flourishing in a Broken Body: An Interview with Professor Shane Clifton Shane Clifton Matthew P. Anstey 159

Chapter 12 "I Came that You may Have Life, and Have it Abundantly": Drawing on the Resources of Faith to Help School Communities Flourish Lisa Spargo 173

Chapter 13 Character Strengths and Christian Wisdom James Nelson 187

Chapter 14 Understanding the Role of Hope and Faith in Flourishing: Piloting a Measure of Christian Hope James Patrick Burns Jameela Conway-Turner Christopher Staysniak Melaine Malcolm Matthew T. McGonagle 200

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"The relationship between faith and positive psychological strengths of character has been under-explored in recent social science. The editors and authors of this much-needed and well-researched volume take a significant step towards overcoming this lacuna. I strongly recommend this book to readers."
—James Arthur, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor (Staffing) 
and Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, The University of Birmingham  

"This is a very important book. Far too often, psychologists of all hues reject spirituality out of hand. But I have always argued that the highest levels of happiness, joy indeed, are only experienced through a sense of profound harmony with oneself, with others, with nature, and the universe. This book breaks new ground and should be read with open minds by both psychologists and theologians."
—Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor, University of Buckingham

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