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Psychology and the cross: The early history of Fuller Seminary's School of Psychology
Book by Malony, H. Newton
259 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
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August 20, 2024
A MARVELOUS HISTORY OF THE FOUNDING AND EARLY YEARS OF THIS SCHOOL
Author H. Newton Malony [editor of Psychology and Faith: Christian Experience of Eighteen Psychologists] write in his Preface to this 1995 book, "I have been a part of Fuller Theological Seminary's Graduate School of Psychology for all but four years of its life... Thus, I am not an unbiased writer... Fuller's Graduate School of Psychology was the first of several, serious attempts to train psychologists who are Christian in their personal lives, in the principles they espouse, and in the professional help they offer." (Pg. v)
He says in the first chapter, "[R. Donald] Weber thought that the time had come for [psychologist Lars] Granberg to play a significant role in the training of pastors to meet the needs of troubled persons. Training in 'pastoral counseling' had become prominent in the curricula of many theological seminaries in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Weber wanted Fuller to play a central role in this movement." (Pg. 1) He recounts, "Feeling that the time was ripe for the church to take the lead in guiding the world out of the confusion into which two-dimensional theories had led psychology, [John G.] Finch called for someone to think through and compose an essay detailing the content of a genuinely 'Christian' psychology." (Pg. 6-7)
He also notes, "Weber had seen the emotional struggles of his brother-in-law and Fuller's former president, Edward John Carnell. Carnell was becoming increasingly disturbed emotionally in that spring of 1961... Carnell, by this time, was undergoing psychiatric treatment for depression and anxiety which had overwhelmed him... Don Weber was keenly aware of Carnell's travail and yearned for him to experience relief from his distress. He also knew that Carnell was but one among several colleagues in the Fuller community who had suffered from emotional disturbance." (Pg. 2)
He records, "The public announcement ... stated that the School of Psychology would open in the fall of 1965. The name 'Fuller Graduate School of Psychology,' by which the program was to be subsequently known, first appeared in this announcement. The program was described as one in which graduates would receive the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after six years of studying both psychology and theology in a curriculum that included practice clinical training." (Pg. 74) He states, "What began as a class of 19 in the fall of 1965 has become a student body of 254 women and 155 men in 1995 studying in two divisions: Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Psychology." (Pg. 85)
They applied for American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation, and a visiting committee reviewed the program in a 1972 report, which said: "Judging psychology to be a behavioral science, the report concluded that the Fuller program did not match the intentions of the Boulder 'scientist/practitioner' model... The question of academic freedom was also raised in light of the requirement that faculty sign the seminary Statement of Faith each year. The report stated: '...In the site visiting team's view, the required Statement of Faith at the least represents a limitation on the diversity to which the students can be exposed and at most represents a totally unworkable burden with regard to academic freedom and the nature of liberal education.'" (Pg. 115) However, after a 1973 second visit, "No evidence was found that the Statement of Faith compromised academic freedom," and in January 1974, it was awarded full accreditation. (Pg. 118-119)
A series of lectures were given in 1971 by Walter Houston Clark [author of Chemical ecstasy: Psychedelic drugs and religion], and "The troubling aspect of these first lectures pertained to Walter Clark's well-known penchant for emphasizing the taking of psychedelic drugs as triggers for religious experience... He had come to feel it was the only thing that would work in the modern world... Fuller Seminary faculty understood his analysis but were uncomfortable with his solution to the problem of the dearth of religious experience in the modern world... they decided to say nothing to Clark but pray that drugs would not be mentioned. They hoped he would have better social judgment than to mention this idea in his addresses. Their worst fears were confirmed, however. Clark mentioned drug-induced religious experience in every lecture!... The lectures were well attended and received without acrimony. The event passed with little comment one way or the other." (Pg. 133)
This is an excellent, very detailed and informative history that will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of this aspect of Fuller Seminary, or for the integration of psychology and Christianity in general.
Author H. Newton Malony [editor of Psychology and Faith: Christian Experience of Eighteen Psychologists] write in his Preface to this 1995 book, "I have been a part of Fuller Theological Seminary's Graduate School of Psychology for all but four years of its life... Thus, I am not an unbiased writer... Fuller's Graduate School of Psychology was the first of several, serious attempts to train psychologists who are Christian in their personal lives, in the principles they espouse, and in the professional help they offer." (Pg. v)
He says in the first chapter, "[R. Donald] Weber thought that the time had come for [psychologist Lars] Granberg to play a significant role in the training of pastors to meet the needs of troubled persons. Training in 'pastoral counseling' had become prominent in the curricula of many theological seminaries in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Weber wanted Fuller to play a central role in this movement." (Pg. 1) He recounts, "Feeling that the time was ripe for the church to take the lead in guiding the world out of the confusion into which two-dimensional theories had led psychology, [John G.] Finch called for someone to think through and compose an essay detailing the content of a genuinely 'Christian' psychology." (Pg. 6-7)
He also notes, "Weber had seen the emotional struggles of his brother-in-law and Fuller's former president, Edward John Carnell. Carnell was becoming increasingly disturbed emotionally in that spring of 1961... Carnell, by this time, was undergoing psychiatric treatment for depression and anxiety which had overwhelmed him... Don Weber was keenly aware of Carnell's travail and yearned for him to experience relief from his distress. He also knew that Carnell was but one among several colleagues in the Fuller community who had suffered from emotional disturbance." (Pg. 2)
He records, "The public announcement ... stated that the School of Psychology would open in the fall of 1965. The name 'Fuller Graduate School of Psychology,' by which the program was to be subsequently known, first appeared in this announcement. The program was described as one in which graduates would receive the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology after six years of studying both psychology and theology in a curriculum that included practice clinical training." (Pg. 74) He states, "What began as a class of 19 in the fall of 1965 has become a student body of 254 women and 155 men in 1995 studying in two divisions: Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Psychology." (Pg. 85)
They applied for American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation, and a visiting committee reviewed the program in a 1972 report, which said: "Judging psychology to be a behavioral science, the report concluded that the Fuller program did not match the intentions of the Boulder 'scientist/practitioner' model... The question of academic freedom was also raised in light of the requirement that faculty sign the seminary Statement of Faith each year. The report stated: '...In the site visiting team's view, the required Statement of Faith at the least represents a limitation on the diversity to which the students can be exposed and at most represents a totally unworkable burden with regard to academic freedom and the nature of liberal education.'" (Pg. 115) However, after a 1973 second visit, "No evidence was found that the Statement of Faith compromised academic freedom," and in January 1974, it was awarded full accreditation. (Pg. 118-119)
A series of lectures were given in 1971 by Walter Houston Clark [author of Chemical ecstasy: Psychedelic drugs and religion], and "The troubling aspect of these first lectures pertained to Walter Clark's well-known penchant for emphasizing the taking of psychedelic drugs as triggers for religious experience... He had come to feel it was the only thing that would work in the modern world... Fuller Seminary faculty understood his analysis but were uncomfortable with his solution to the problem of the dearth of religious experience in the modern world... they decided to say nothing to Clark but pray that drugs would not be mentioned. They hoped he would have better social judgment than to mention this idea in his addresses. Their worst fears were confirmed, however. Clark mentioned drug-induced religious experience in every lecture!... The lectures were well attended and received without acrimony. The event passed with little comment one way or the other." (Pg. 133)
This is an excellent, very detailed and informative history that will be an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of this aspect of Fuller Seminary, or for the integration of psychology and Christianity in general.
Displaying 1 of 1 review