HUMANISTIC AND TRANSPERSONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
(Part One)
Many of the unbiblical trends throughout society are rooted in
the development of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology: The
"Third" and "Fourth Forces". This includes
trends in the evangelical church and the government school
system. In the psychology establishment, the "First
Force" was considered to be Psychoanalytical Psychology. The
"Second Force" was Behavioral Psychology.
THE THIRD FORCE
Humanistic Psychology has played a major role
in obsessing this generation with "Self". It was
developed by such men as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers.
Exemplified by Maslow's "Hierarchy of Needs," the goal
of Humanistic Psychology is "Self Actualization" and
the liberation of individuals from the bonds of society and their
individual psychological condition. (Humanistic Psychology should
not be confused with "Humanism", although their
anti-biblical results are similar.)
Carl Rogers' theory of "Self Actualization" was
centered on the importance of the "Self-concept".
According to Rogers the goal in life must be to achieve the
"Ideal Self". Maslow said that individuals develop
according to a hierarchy of needs: First the physiological needs
must be satisfied (nourishment, safety, and comfort), then the
psychological needs (affection and esteem), and then the need for
Self-Actualization. A Self-Actualized person, according to
Maslow, will exhibit spontaneity, independence, social
involvement, self-acceptance, sense of humor, and a lack of
hostility. He will have had what Maslow called "peak
experiences", including "mystical" experiences
that he calls "transient moments of
Self-Actualization".
Rich Watring, a human resources development expert wrote in
his book, New Age Management:
"The central concepts [of Humanistic Psychology] are
personal growth and human potential. They imply that people
can change by "working" on themselves. Humanistic
Psychology has developed a number of different methods for
self intervention which can be grouped under four headings:
1. Body Methods: Reichian therapy, Bioenergetics,
re-birthing, Rolfing, Feldenkrais method, Alexander
technique, sensory awareness, holistic health, etc. 2.
Feeling methods: encounter, psychodrama, Gestalt awareness,
primal integration, Rogerian counseling, co-counseling, etc.
3. Thinking methods: transactional analysis, personal
construct approach, family therapy, neuro-linguistic
programming, rational-emotive therapy, etc. 4. Spiritual
methods: transpersonal counseling, psychosynthesis,
enlightenment intensive workshops, dynamic meditaton, sand
play, dream-work, etc."
As often happens, the "Wisdom of man" can sound good
on the surface, but upon closer examination it is in direct
conflict with the "Wisdom of God". One cannot
reasonably derive "Self-Actualization" from reading the
Bible. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ said,
"If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew
16:24)
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
(Matthew 16:25)
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of
wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but
if it dies, it produces much grain." (John 12:24)
Maslow's idea of human development through the Hierarchy of
Needs is the exact opposite of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Jesus
acknowledges that it is the pagans who chase after their
"felt needs": "what to eat" and "what to
wear". But Jesus says,
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness
and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew
6:33) .
In Part Two, Transpersonal Psychology will be explored along
with the connection of Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers to New Age
Paganism and the Occult.
Humanistic & Transpersonal Psychology
2 of 2
Lucifer, the Garden of Eden, & the Tower of Babel
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