DECEMBER FEATURE OF THE MONTH

Psychology and “God image”

Theory and Research

theology’s understanding of imago dei from psychology’s “god Image” theory & research

Theology

•          Consider on the natural level, how our children are like us, they bear our image and reflect our being and our human nature. Somewhat similar, we are humans persons, as the Trinity is made of divine Persons, and we are made in the image of the Trinity. We have the ability to know objective truths and we can freely choose the good and avoid evil. So on some level, being made in God’s image, we reflect God’s being and nature, like a copy or finite mirror of God

•   Thus, as the International Theological Commission puts it:  “the mystery of man cannot be grasped apart from the mystery of God.”

• And having the Image of God is not enough, it is completed in the  imago Christi, being formed, via sanctifying grace, into more of the image of Christ

• So, in Christ, anthropology (what it means to be human) is intimately linked with Christology

Psychology

·         The concept of “God image” in psychology is not nearly as laudable a focus, to say the least, as theology’s understanding of the  Imago Dei but..

·         Properly understood, it is “psycho-spiritual”

•    Neither constitutes nor implies an effort to empirically measure immaterial spiritual realities that by definition resist quantification.

•      It denotes a focused attempt to consider spirituality and spiritual experiences “from below” that is, from within the human person’s experience of encountering spiritual Persons/persons.

• Such psycho-spiritual experiences may include related general patterns of mal/adaptive thoughts, feelings, behaviors, fears, insecurities, desires, etc. of the individual toward God.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Sinning, God Images and Reslience – Episode 23.  33 minutes.  We dive into how our God images impact us, and how they compromise our deep, abiding confidence in God, with practical suggestions to begin correcting those God images through experiencing God in a new relational ways in prayer. 

 God Images and Self Images – Episode 24.  43 minutes.  In this episode we examine God images, God concepts, self images and self concepts throughout the life of Susan, from early childhood all the way through middle age, drawing from her experience to more clearly identify how these images and concepts interact. 

 Drill Sergeant Gods, Statue Gods, and Preoccupied Manager Gods, Oh My…-- Episode 25.  45 minutes.  We go deeply into three common problematic God images with their corresponding self-images and how they develop, with stories to illustrate. 

 Dictator Gods, Pharisee Gods, and Scrooge Gods – Episode 26.  42 minutes. We examine how we can have multiple negative God images, and go into three more kinds of problematic ways of feeling about God -- the Unjust Dictator God Image, the Vain Pharisee God Image, and the Critical Scrooge God image. 

 Robber Gods, Aristocrat Gods and Marshmallow Gods – Episode 27.  34 minutes.  In this episode, Dr. Peter discusses the malleability or changeability of God images, and dives into the Robber God image, the Elite Aristocrat God Image, and the Marshmallow God image. 

 Police Detective Gods, Pushy Salesman Gods, and Heartbreaker Gods – Episode 28.  41 minutes.  In this episode, Dr. Peter Malinoski reviews three more problematic God images, how they develop, the self-images that go with them, and how they are exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis, with stories to illustrate. 

 Magic Genie Gods and Party-Pooper Gods – Episode 29.  40 minutes.  In this final episode in our God image series, we cover two more problematic God images, how they develop, and how they impact relationship, using stories to illustrate. 

IHMCC Project related to God Image

  Vocational Assessment Project

•    Potentially 100s/1000s assessments from different locations around the country

•    Includes 1) entry-level candidates and 2) transitional formees for priesthood and both women’s and men’s religious life and 3) subsequent to ordination and/or final vows

• Adult Attachment assessment

  • ECR-RS: General, Father, Mother, Best Friend, Romantic/Spiritual Director

  •    AGI: Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Mary

  • HTMD – Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Mary in series of 4 drawings (picture is worth 1,000 words)

There are currently 3 sites around the country providing assessment data. We kindly invite any person conducting vocational assessments to contact us to be a part of this project.

For more information, please contact Dr. Peter Martin: pmartin@cssisus.org