...Discussion Board One This discussion board deals with reasons for Christians to study secular literature and the pros and cons thereof. One of the main contentions of the presentations is that the written word or literature provokes critical thinking whereas television does not. The assertion is that literature whether it is secular in nature or not promotes critical thinking while television reduces critical thinking and promotes emotional thought. I agree with this premise and believe that it can be supported through observation. I have been involved with the instruction of adult learners, teens, and young children for many ears through various venues. One thing that I believe to be common among all three is that as a group they would all rather watch an entertaining video or movie that read the same story in book or short story form. What are the reasons for this? The first reason it that is just simply easier and requires less work to watch the video. People have become conditioned to the “easy” way of leaning and do not resent being told what to think. Secondly to read the material requires a personal investment of time and energy. The individual must read the material then digest it and from their own opinions based on their experience and life lessons. The third reason is that once you have read the material and formed your own opinion is that in many instances you are asked to present your beliefs or finding s to the group at large, or to present your understanding...
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...I believe that the study of secular literature can be a legitimate Christian pursuit if one studies literature to glorify God. First, it is necessary for Christians to be rooted in the Word of God so that everything that is put into their mind is screened through “biblical lenses”. As we read in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, knowledge without the love of God “puffs up”, produces arrogance (1 Cor. 8:1). In addition, Christians need to be careful of the material that they put in their minds. In the same letter, Paul commanded the church to expel any evildoers from their presence because of the influence they would have on the others (1 Cor. 5:11). Christians should fill their minds with things that will inspire worship of God and service to others (Phil. 4:8). Moreover, it must be understood that many people claim to be Christians, but trust in their own understanding rather than Scripture, which is a direct contradiction of the Word of God (Prov. 3:5-6). People have become wise in their own eyes after consuming knowledge based on human wisdom. Society often influences and dictates the actions of most people and one finds it difficult to see a difference in the behavior of many professing Christians and the rest of society. One does not need to study literature to understand the problems with society. The Bible is sufficient for all of our needs (2 Tim. 3:16). The debate of evolution vs. creation or the age of the Earth are good examples how knowledge and science...
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...Secular Humanism Vs Biblical/Christian Worldview Richard Puller Liberty University Secular humanism is defined as a theory of ethics and human fulfillment devoid of spirituality, the supernatural, or God. Man becomes the measure of all things, (Secular Humanism and Evolution by Caleb Colley, PH.D). Tom Flynn executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and editor of Free Inquiry magazine defined Secular humanism as a comprehensive nonreligious life stance that incorporates a naturalistic philosophy, a cosmic outlook rooted in science, and a consequentialist ethical system. Secular Humanistic beliefs regarding origin, identity, meaning/purpose, morality and destiny are as follows. The Secular Humanist believes in the Evolutionary Theory. They believe that the universe already existed, that man is a part of nature and that he has emerged as a result of a continuous process. Secular Humanist believes man is a result of naturally occurring chemical reactions that have occurred through the evolutionary process and that we have no particular purpose. Secular Humanist see mankind’s existence again as a result of the evolutionary process, mankind is just matter and has no more importance than any other living thing. Secular Humanism utilizes the Ethical relativism theory, where morality is relative to the norms of one's culture. Whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced. Secular Humanist believes that...
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...Running head: Biblical & Secular Views Biblical & Secular Views on Counseling John Smith Liberty University Abstract Whether a counselor comes from a strong Christian background, or a secular one, the goals of the professional should remain in the best interests of the client. Still, it remains important where the views of that counselor originated from and where the source of their motivation and ethical standards are derived. This paper attempts to compare and contrast the viewpoints of secular and biblical worldviews, as it relates to the counseling profession. Biblical & Secular Views on Counseling No matter what philosophical background counselors come from, the theme of their work should remain the same: It is all about the client. Whether a counselor uses the Code of Ethics adopted by the American Counseling Association, (2005) or the code adopted by the American Association of Christian Counselors, (2004) the goal of the professional still need to keep the client’s best interests at heart. Still, with this thought in mind, Christian and secular groups differ in the ways in which they go about not only helping clients, but how they define their perspective roles in the exchanges between the therapist and the client. In order to accurately evaluate the ways in which Christians view the role of the counselor, it is first important to go to the source of their opinions of the matter;...
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...A Study Comparison of Biblical Counseling with Secular Counseling Theories Demetrius E. Hurt Liberty University CCOU 201 A Study Comparison of Biblical Counseling with Secular Counseling Theories In the world today issues surrounding mental illness are in the forefront of our healthcare systems, legal systems, social circles and yes, even in our churches. Though each of the aforementioned systems takes a different approach on how to tackle the problem of mental illness, one thing is for sure-the need for more qualified counselors is on the rise. Luckily, the counseling profession has grown and employs theories from the secular world as well as the religious world. Though the strategies and treatment goals may be different, both groups of counseling professionals work diligently to support those suffering from mental illness and bring them into a sense of well-being. To that end, the author of this paper will examine the theories and ideologies of both groups of counseling professionals, examine therapeutic remedies that are alike between the two and how they differ in the way they interact with clients and mental illness. The Goal of Christian Counseling The goal of any counseling professional is to assist the client with identifying skills and tools that will help them to achieve mental well-being. Each counselor no doubt uses a multifaceted approach with a wide menu of therapeutic options to achieve this goal. However, the Christian Counselor not only seeks...
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...religious authority from the state .The opposite of secularism is usually theocracy; that is, where religion has a major role in government. Religion in the Civil War pervaded virtually all aspects of American society. Not all Americans held religious beliefs and values, but many did. Religion was not confined to one particular group, but soldiers and civilians, Northerners and Southerners, freed and slave, males and females, and Jews and Christians all made use of religion. Furthermore, a reciprocal relationship existed between the Civil War and religion, with both influencing and being influenced by each other. As a result, religion during the Civil War did not remain a static entity during 1861-1865; instead, it became an institution that constantly changed and adapted itself, as well as its devotees. Americans used religion to interpret their experiences during and after the war. People on both sides of the conflict believed in a God who was actively involved in their affairs. To them, the war was not a secular event, but one guided by God. The God of the Civil War judged, chastised, and liberated people. Religions is a very serious topic, there is all types of beliefs on religion. Enlightenment thought gained influence in Europe and elsewhere,...
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...three different themes throughout his book to help the counselee bring people back to God. The integration of Theology, the study of God and Psychology, the study of the soul, can cause concern in the Christian community. Wondering who is responsible for integrating God into the secular counseling can be easily answered. Defining mental health to alleviate some of the suffering related to the natural and spiritual realm. Keywords: discipleship counseling, integration, theology, psychology, secular, mental health Discipleship Counseling Caring to the desires and problems of hurting people today is difficult and can be overwhelming at times. As today’s generations search for purpose, meaning, and significance, many are experiencing a pervasive sense of emptiness and loneliness. Obviously, from a Christian approach the problem is a spiritual one and so must be the cure. Anderson explains that one of his basic themes is the idea that one’s identity in Jesus Christ can be nurtured by the counselor derived from a model based on integration of both Theology and Psychology. Methods are given to help counselee to overcome traumatic experiences in their lives. Traumatic experiences are deeply etched in people’s minds. They shape their beliefs about God, themselves and the world in which they live (Anderson p.78). This seems rational in that the studies of human minds are revealing laws and process that were given to them by God. The counselee that understands the biblical framework...
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...professor in Sociology and Asian Studies, rightly asserts (47). It has multifaceted expressions and it means different things...
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...As Christian counselors, it is vital for the long-term validation of our field of work to be respected by professional psychological institutions to provide empirical scientific studies of our treatment programs. Most of us will be lay counselors, some of us will move to become licensed in order to be allowed conduct professional counseling. However, professional psychological institutions base their counseling doctrine based upon empirical scientific research and study. Therefore, as Christian lay, and hopeful licensed Christian counselors it is imperative for us to also evaluate ourselves to the same standard as our professional psychological peers do as-well. To be able to prove that Christian counseling models are effective we must conduct...
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...SECULAR LITERATURE | Important Reasons for the Christian to Study Secular Literature | | When thinking of secular literature it could be defined as literature that is not bound by religious views, but rather literature that is based on worldly views and not on religious principles. My first thought will be on the importance of Christians reading secular literature. It is my belief also that Christians should read secular literature because even though it may be based on principles of “secularism,” does not mean it is not good reading material. To be a good student, one must be aware of what is going on in the worldly readings, as well as scriptural readings. This is what will make us good scholars in the natural and spiritual. The thoughts that stick with me most from the presentations are: “Seek God’s wholeness for your life, the how and why is important, Jesus is the Master Teacher, Literature helps you be exposed to the world around you, and Television has inundated American Culture.” Seeking God’s wholeness for your life, the how and why is important really struck me. It is imperative that we make sure we are not trying to fill our lives with things that will give us temporary satisfaction. While we all have flaws about us, Jesus shedding His blood on the cross for us, has given us an entrance into becoming whole; once we become one through His transforming power, then we can begin to seek answers for the how and the why concerning our lives. This leads us to Him...
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...Crabb and Secular Counseling: A Comparison/Contrast Paper Gerald Williamson Liberty University Crabb and Secular Counseling: A Comparison/Contrast Paper Dr. Larry Crabb is an award winning biblical counselor who happens to author a book entitled Effective Biblical Counseling. In this book, Dr. Crabb presents important points and guidelines that other counselors like him can do in order to provide advice and aide to persons who need them the most. The books contains model of counseling, which is also integrated to the church. Placing the importance of God in his model, Dr. Crabb is a firm believer that God has granted the church to be its instrument in providing support to people who are experiencing pain and tribulations. In this paper, we particularly compare and contrast Dr. Crabb’s ideas with that of scientific studies assigned for the class. More specifically, we point intersecting points there are in the areas of Christian Counseling and developing a counseling program that could be aligned with the church and religious experience. This paper also includes discussion on the similarities and differences there are on the basic concepts and strategies of Dr. Crabb and other authors from the secular counseling community. In conclusion, we note how Dr. Crabb’s Effective Biblical Counseling contains important points that are similar to the scientific studies relative to the importance of religious elements in mental health therapy as well as training counselors in order...
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...This section examines three words related to counseling as a means of bringing clarity to Biblical counseling expectations. The words wisdom, counsel, and wicked were closely examined using Strong‟s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Vines Concise Dictionary of the Bible, as well as a variety of online bible dictionaries and commentaries. Additionally many different translations of the Bible were consulted. These included the New American Standard, King James Version, New International Version, New English Translation, and the New Living Translation. The relatively obvious relationship between the words wisdom and counsel provide sound reasoning for their choice as words for the context of this study. However, including the word wicked in this examination requires somewhat of a brief explanation. Students of the Bible are not unfamiliar with Psalm 1:1. The Psalmist admonished his readers with clear instruction regarding the type of counsel a well adjusted and successful person must avoid when he penned the words, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…” At first glance, and taking this verse at face value, one could assume the Psalmist is offering insight into the influence, authority, and inherent responsibility a counselor possesses. Naturally, as a student of the scriptures and the art of counseling, this leads to the question what is “the counsel of the wicked?” The obvious place to begin if there is to be an understanding with regard to the...
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...Chastain Lubbock Christian University April 16, 2013 BUA 4301 Business Law With millions of civil cases filed yearly involving everything from hot spilled coffee to arguments among neighbors, lawsuits have become a common occurrence in today's society. America has often been referred to as the “litigious society”—and rightly so. Our nation has placed an overwhelming amount of reliance on the litigation system to resolve any and all kinds of disputes. According to Michael Lewis in an article on Money Crashers online, “there is a new lawsuit filed every two seconds in America” (Lewis, 2008). At this rate, one has to question if the collateral transgressions supporting these lawsuits is something of material value or simply a hopeful shot in the dark. In a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, “most Americans surveyed (55 percent) strongly agreed (and another 32 percent somewhat agreed) that the justice system is used by many as a lottery, to start a lawsuit and see just how much benefits and compensation they can win” (www.SixWise.com, 2003). If one desires to gain worldly compensation at the personal expense of another, especially when the intent of the lawsuit is not material or substantial, one begins to wonder where the moral decency ended and the selfish ambitions began. According to an extensive survey directed by the Pew Forum, the U.S. Religious Landscape Survey finds that “78.4 percent of all American adults consider themselves to be a Christian” (Lugo, 2009)...
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...The Importance for Christians to Study Secular Literature - APA Style After careful review and analyzes of this week’s material the topic I believe that has one of the greatest impacts on our American society is the electronic curriculum verses traditional classroom/printed curriculum. Research shows that the average child has viewed over 20,000 hours of media. To me that is an alarming amount for a child! Electronic curriculum does have its place in our society in this century but there is a time and place for that type of curriculum and the amount must be balanced. The electronic media stimulates the individual and does the work for them. Where with a traditional curriculum one must read, comprehend and think in order to process what was read. Being an informed and habitual reader a person is able to control what they are retaining and learning verses what television is feeding their mind. Prior to World War I morals and values were taught in the educational curriculum. Honoring God and His Word was the very thing our nation was founded upon and is what kept it strong for so many years. After World War I this was no longer the case. As Christians it is vital to be diligent and intentionally motivated to keep a balance of what is allowed to enter our minds and what we allow to go out. Often what we say and how we behave will have a major impact on the outcome of our studies, our daily Christian walk, often affecting those around us and most importantly our intimate relationship...
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...10). For over 2000 years, the proportion of Christians in the world has been high as compared to that of other religions. Christianity has been led by laws given in the Bible and by what is believed to be morally upright (Frend, 1984, 20). It is for this reason that Christianity is contradictory when compared to modernity. This is because; while Christianity believes that there is a supernatural force leading humans, modernity mostly believes in a secular world led by humankind only with no other supernatural force (Asad, 2003, 15). Modernity mainly believes in what it sees and in the current living style only. It is for this reason that modernity is greatly affected by factors such as fashion trends, money, and status. On the other hand, Christianity believes that there is something more to staying alive and surviving in the world (Asad, 2003, 18). Therefore, clearly it appears modernity may be a threat to Christianity (Augustine, Pusey & William, 2000, 32). However, despite these threats caused by modernity, it has been found that it is actually Christianity that has fuelled modernity into place. Through a large number of factors, Christianity has significantly nurtured modernity and caused it to develop in the society. Although modernity has brought about poor moral values that were not there in the traditional world, most of these traits mainly arise from Christianity in a broad sense. In addition, the way in which Christian beliefs are changing with time, they may give...
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