The soul as seen through evangelical eyes .1. Mental health professionals and 'the soul'

Journal/Book: J Psychol Theol. 1995; 23: 13800 Biola Avenue, Biola University, La Mirada, CA 90639-0001. Rosemead School Psychology. 151-160.

Abstract: Theologians generally avoid the word soul, because of an anti-Plato battle that occurred between 1926 and 1958, leaving the word discredited. Searching for a substitute, most evangelical theologians use the word spirit instead, meaning the anthropological spirit. This article proposes that the word soul cannot be omitted from the theological vocabulary without leaving a vacuum. While soul and spirit are synonyms in the Bible, they are not complete synonyms. Soul emphasizes the earthly, carnal, and uniquely individual aspects of the inner person. When that word is omitted, theologians have a semantic blind-spot with regard to human psychology It provides no theological vocabulary for discussing the relationship between psychology and theology. ''Psyche'' is the Greek word for soul, and secular psychotherapists routinely treat the soul, but not the spirit. The word 'soul' refers to the inner or subjective person in the natural state (whether saved or unsaved).

Note: Article JH Boyd, 10 Maplewood Rd, New Haven, CT 06515 USA

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