Two Sides of the Same Coin: The Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Abstract

Evaluative knowledge is a ubiquitous—and seemingly indispensable—human phenomenon. Yet, writers from multiple disciplines (e.g., psychology, theology) have proposed that evaluating, categorizing, and judging—made possible by both verbal and nonverbal language—can directly contribute to human suffering. For example, Dietrich Bonhoeffer—the 20th century German theologian—argued that knowledge of good and evil produces disunion with God and death, rather than union with God and life. Likewise, Steven Hayes—a prominent theorist of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)—explained that particular applications of evaluative knowledge increase human suffering. Thus, the purpose of this article is threefold: (a) to elucidate Dietrich Bonhoeffer's exegesis of the Genesis story involving the tree of knowledge of good and evil; (b) to introduce basic tenets of ACT; and (c) to explore how similarities between these theological and psychological perspectives offer ripe potential for an integrative approach for pastoral counselors working with Christians.