A personal sojourn to spiritualize community psychology

Bibliographic Data

ID11045259
AuthorsRichard Walsh‐Bowers (Wilfrid Laurier University, corresponding author), Richard Walsh-Bowers
Year2000
Volume28
Issue2
Pages221-236
Publication date2000-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-4392 • E-ISSN: 1520-6629
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/(sici)1520-6629(200003)28:2<221::aid-jcop8>3.0.co;2-s
OpenAlexW2035727139
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited13

From a personal perspective on the tensions experienced in my career as a community psychologist, I advocate spiritualizing community psychology. I draw heavily from my teaching and research of the history of the discipline, as well as from teaching introductory psychology to Native students. Using the critical concept of scientism to examine the historical dialectic between objectivity and subjectivity, I show how a quasi-religion of psychology has prevailed, while excluding soul, spirit, and spirituality. Radical developments in Christianity (i.e., liberation theology, the historical Jesus scholarship, and feminist theology) further challenge community psychologists seeking rapprochement with religion and spirituality. I conclude by discussing the implications of a conversion to spirituality for community psychology. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Asian psychology · Christianity · Community psychology · Critical psychology · Dialectic · Epistemology · Objectivity (philosophy) · Political science · Scholarship · Social science · Sociology · Soul · Spirituality · Subjectivity · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Community Health and Development · Philosophy · Psychology · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious studies · Social Psychology

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