Humanistic Psychology and the Judeo-Christian Heritage

Abstract

Having "turned East" in the 1960s and 1970s, the human potential movement urgently needs to look again at the Judeo-Christian heritage, in all its richness and diversity, in order to get in touch with its roots in the West and, thereby, bring a whole new dimension to its work and continued growth. Similarly, dialogue with existential, humanistic, and transpersonal psychologies can revitalize the therapeutic and pedagogic aspects of the Judeo-Christian traditions, thus making them more relevant to contemporary society. Such cross-fertilization can be of great importance in the development of a truly Western "yoga" that is theologically and philosophically articulate, as well as psychologically and spiritually effective. Furthermore, closer cooperation between contemporary humanistic psychology and the radically anthropocentric tradition within Judaism and Christianity would bring to the human potential movement a much needed sense of tradition and continuity with the past, a deeper awareness of human historicity. Such cooperation also could demonstrate the importance of eschatology, as well as ontology, for a radical humanism.