The
Washington Post discusses some recent changes with regard to the
self-esteem movement. Promoting self-esteem, regardless of success, has met
with some academic failings. Though confidence levels are often high,
performances are not. As Christian psychologists, examining the construct of
self-esteem from a biblical worldview may be a useful endeavor.
One of the distinctives of Christian psychology seems to
gain wisdom by looking backward. We learn about psychology not only from modern
conceptions of mental health, but also by considering biblical wisdom, church
history, and Christian philosophy. Recently, the American Academy
of Pediatrics released a statement based upon two decades of scientific
research that has shown that children raised in toxic environments grow up with
problems. Laurie
Fendrich, writing for the Chronicle of Higher Education, identifies a
common modernist bias. She writes, “No matter how obvious the observation, how
eternal the topic, how great the works of literature that have tackled any
given theme, or how insightful the philosophers who have studied a matter, the
modern mind cannot fathom reaching a conclusion without relying on scientific
studies.” We can learn from a variety of disciplines and traditions and should
continue seeking to do so.
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