Of Psychology: American Protestantism In The Age

But as the 20th century rolled in, a new figure entered the room: the psychologist.

As the decades passed, the influence of psychology moved from the fringe to the center of the sanctuary. This created what historians call the "therapeutic" turn in religion. American Protestantism in the age of psychology

Sermons began to focus less on "wrath" and "judgment" and more on "self-esteem," "healing," and "wholeness." But as the 20th century rolled in, a

In the early 1900s, many conservative theologians viewed psychology as a "secular threat." They feared that explaining human behavior through biology or childhood trauma would make the concept of sin obsolete. Sermons began to focus less on "wrath" and

But this merger hasn't been without its critics. Some worry that by focusing so much on the self , we’ve lost the focus on the divine . They argue that when the Gospel becomes a self-help manual, it loses its power to challenge us. The Bottom Line

This is such a fascinating crossover. It’s the story of how the "pulpit" and the "couch" went from being rivals to becoming unlikely partners.