Editors’ Introduction to the 40th Anniversary Special Issue, Part 2

Abstract

This is the second of two issues to celebrate 40 years since the initiation of the Journal of Psychology and Theology (JPT). As you saw in the previous issue, a lot has happened in those years. We began that issue with a review by Grimm, Barnett, Bassett, Pearson, Cornell, Morton, Scott, and Stevenson. Integration had clearly matured within the forty years of writing since JPT began. We saw this in increased sophistication of theorizing, more edited books, and more empirical studies. In addition, psychoanalytic thinking and writing about forgiveness had made important appearances of a critical mass of literature. We grouped the first 12 essays by our guest commentators in the Journal of Psychology and Theology, 40(1) in two large categories--(1) Theological, Philosophical, or Metasystemic Perspectives and (2) Macro Integration with a Complementarity (Both-And) Approach. The take-home message was a conceptual splitting into more subdisciplinary conversations and a multitude of pleas that valued both theological and psychological perspectives as unique contributors. In this second issue, we begin with a continued empirical look at the published literature within the pages of JPT and the Journal of Psychology and Christianity by Barnett, Bassett, Grimm, and Repass. Barnett et al. found that there was a substantial increase in the frequency of citations for book chapters and forgiveness-related books. Important (heavily cited) articles were often either theoretical or scale-development articles. Barnett et al. found a low frequency of multiple-study articles, which they see as a weakness in the integration literature relative to trends in secular psychology. That pattern suggests limited programmatic research. Again in this issue, the articles from our commentators seem to group themselves--without the coaching of the editors--into a few large categories. Five addressed the interaction of integration with culture (Hook & Davis, Yarhouse, Erickson, Dueck, and Abernethy). Three examined specific sub-areas: Reimer (Christian caregiving), Aten (disasters), and Walker (psychotherapy with children and adolescents). Four experts look at anticipations for integration and for training in integration in the future. Clinton and Sibcy focus on the promise of neurobiology. Tan considers integration across different levels and roles. Ripley speculates about the future examining six specific trends that provide a hope for the future. Finally, Garzon and Hall discuss trends in teaching integration. Multicultural Competence/Multicultural Humility Hook and Davis kick off this issue with an excellent overview of many multicultural considerations. They also examine the push--at least within their discipline of Counseling Psychology--for social justice. They critically evaluate the multicultural counseling and social justice movements from a Christian perspective. They recommend three bits of advice to provide advances in dialogue: seek God's heart for the needy, empathize, and hold convictions with humility. There could not be a better start for the remaining articles in the issue. Yarhouse considers integration in the areas of homosexuality, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) issues, and sexual identity. He observes that, in contrast to (1) the secular gay-narrative and the Christian healing and reorientation narratives, there are new narratives being used. Some Christians do not engage in same-sex behavior or identify with the gay community but they acknowledge same-sex attractions and have come to terms with that reality rather than attempting to change to heterosexuality. Eriksson examines practical integration with helping missionaries on the field. Missionaries are often caught in a difficult catch-22. They have little support on the field. They have few people to reveal problems and doubts to because their supporters back home want to hear success stories, not struggles. …