Foundations for Soul Care - by Eric L Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

Eric L. Johnson proceeds to offer a new framework for the care of souls that is comprehensive in scope, yet flows from a Christian understanding of human beings--what amounts to a distinctly Christian version of psychology. This book is a must-read for any serious Christian teacher, student, or practitioner in the fields of psychology or counseling.

Book Synopsis

In this groundbreaking work of first-order scholarship, Eric Johnson makes a vitally important contribution to the field of Christian counseling. He first presents a detailed overview and appreciative but critical evaluation of the reigning paradigms in the field of Christian counseling, particularly biblical counseling and integration. Building on their respective strengths, he seeks to move beyond the current impasse in the field and develop a more unified and robustly Christian understanding. Drawing upon the Bible and various Christian intellectual and soul care traditions, and through a Christian reinterpretation of relevant modern psychological theory and research, Johnson proceeds to offer a new framework for the care of souls that is comprehensive in scope, yet flows from a Christian understanding of human beings--what amounts to a distinctly Christian version of psychology. This book is a must-read for any serious Christian teacher, student, or practitioner in the fields of psychology or counseling.

Review Quotes

. . .a major work -- voluminous, comprehensive, and profound. This book is not only a Christian psychology proposal, but could be a useful starting point as a reference for those who might want to more precisely understand where Christian psychology fits in the broad spectrum of counseling models. While this is not the first book written on the topic of Christian psychology, it is a major effort in helping to define this field.

--Craig Strohbach, Shrinkwrap Resources, August 15, 2008

"Eric Johnson combines scriptural interpretation with astute observation to develop a deep, thoughtful, intellectual and complex (in the best senses of those words) approach to Christian psychology. Yet Johnson's work is eminently practical in its purpose. He shows how insight into human nature leads to Christlikeness--maturity in reflecting the Creator of human nature. I highly recommend Foundations for Soul Care to biblical counselors as a core text that expands the conversation regarding what makes Christian counseling truly Christian. Readers won't agree with every point, but with eminent scholarship Johnson thoroughly addresses every point worth discussing."

--Robert W. Kellemen, chair of Christian Counseling and Discipleship, Capital Bible Seminary, director of the Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Formation Network, and author of Soul Physicians, Spiritual Friends and Beyond the Suffering

"Eric Johnson's Foundations for Soul Care is an important book. Thorough, scholarly and provocative, this work calls us to reclaim the centrality of the Christian faith as we care for souls."

--Mark R. McMinn, coauthor of Integrative Psychotherapy

"Ever since the words Christian and psychology were put together in the 1950s, there has been debate and division. But the potential good in exploring the human condition within a consistently Christian worldview remains enormous. Dr. Johnson's book paves new ground that will carry us toward a biblically congruent, spiritually clean and intellectually responsible understanding of people, our destiny and how to get there."

--Larry Crabb

There are differing opinions on psychology and Christianity, but this is a major contribution to the discussion. We need to return to thinking of our pastoral labors as "soul care."

--Preaching.com, Bible and Bible Reference Survey 2007

About the Author

Eric L. Johnson (PhD, Michigan State University) is Lawrence and Charlotte Hoover Professor of Pastoral Care at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary inLouisville, Kentucky. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology, the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, and the Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. He is the director of the Society for Christian Psychology (AACC) and editor of Psychology and Christianity: Five Views.