HUMANISTIC AND TRANSPERSONAL
PSYCHOLOGY
(Part Two)
Transpersonal Psychology attempts to be the
"science" of spirituality. However, it is by no means
"science" and its spirituality is pagan. In the last
article we noted that in the psychology establishment, the
"First Force" was considered to be Psychoanalytical
Psychology. The "Second Force" was Behavioral
Psychology.
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. Recall that Humanistic Psychology is characterized by the
doctrines of "Self-Actualization", "Felt
Needs", and the "Hierarchy of Needs" each of which
is refuted by Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew 6
as well as the rest of God's Word. It was founded by such men as
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers who were also instrumental in
developing the "Fourth Force".
THE FOURTH FORCE
While Humanistic Psychology emphasized the potential within
the Self, Transpersonal Psychology developed to focus on
transcendence of Self. This "transcendence" refers to a
development of consciousness towards a unity with what Carl Jung
called the "collective unconscious".
"Transpersonal Psychology seeks to explain the meaning of
everything... [and] is a remarkable synthesis: a monistic
worldview merged with third-force psychology, and an evolutionary
theory enfleshed in a religious hope that humans, by their own
choice, can save the world." (Frances S. Adeney in New Age Rage)
The Aquarian Conspiracy,
is a book written by Marilyn Ferguson
in 1980. Called the "Handbook of the New Age" by
"USA Today", it describes an "underground
network" that is "working to create a different kind of
society based on a vastly enlarged concept of human
potential." In preparing to write this book, Ferguson
conducted a survey of many of the most influential leaders of the
Human Potential - New Age Movement. One of the questions on this
survey asked what individual had the greatest influence on the
respondent's ideas. The people that were most often named were
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, C. G. Jung, Abraham Maslow, Carl
Rogers, and Aldous Huxley.
In The Aquarian Conspiracy, Carl Rogers is quoted in reference
to his concepts of the "emerging man", "a new kind
of autonomous human being", and an approaching "great
evolutionary leap". By several accounts Carl Rogers, like
Carl Jung, explored and absorbed the Occult. Carl Rogers, for
example, communicated (or so he thought) with his dead wife using
a Ouija board.
Abraham Maslow is quoted by Marilyn Ferguson as referring to
our "hunger and meaning for transcendence" and that we
should "thrill to the godlike possibilities we see in
ourselves". Maslow was closely associated with Esalen
Institute which, in the early 1960's, was instrumental in
promoting the "human potential - New Age" revolution.
Esalen published The Farther Reaches of Human Nature as a
posthumous collection of Maslow's works. In this book Maslow
said, "The value life (spiritual, religious, philosophical, axiological, etc.) is an aspect of human biology and is on the
same continuum as 'lower' animal life (rather than being in
separated, dichotomized, or mutually exclusive realms)." In
the same book Maslow speaks of his psychology of ultimate
concerns and transcendence: "...mystical experience - Mystic
fusion, either with another person or with the whole cosmos or
with anything in between. I mean here the mystical experience as
classically described by the religious mystics in the various
religious literatures."
Richard Watring, in New Age Management, quotes from an article
called, "Transpersonal Psychology: A Working Outline of the
Field" by Marcie Boucouvalas. In this article the writer
speaks of the goals of fostering "individual self-knowledge
and realization of the Transpersonal". She refers to the,
"...avenues to Transpersonal awakening: mystical
experiences, meditation, yoga, sensory and sleep deprivation,
therapeutic assistance and guidance, psychedelic ingestion,
hypnosis, biofeedback, mental imagery and relaxation training,
physical disciplines and centering exercises."
Transpersonal Psychology effectively embraces the eastern
mystical concept of pantheism by declaring consciousness to be
the "ultimate reality" and unity with transcendent
conscious the ultimate goal. The Bible teaches that God is
Creator and is distinct from his creation. We are to worship the
Creator rather than created things (Romans 1:25). Our only means
of approaching God is through a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ, not through human techniques. In Transpersonal Psychology
the call to "transcendence" and
"self-realization" is the call of the Serpent in the
Garden of Eden. (Genesis 3)
The means of "transpersonal transcendence" must be
seen for what they are: the ancient techniques of eastern
mysticism and the occult strictly forbidden by God's Word
(Deuteronomy 18:9-12). May the Lord give us discernment to
understand the historical roots of modern influences in our
society and in the Church. May we recognize the fads and trends
that have developed from Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology.
May we recognize the hopelessness of the "wisdom of
man" and realize that the Lord, through his Word and the
Holy Spirit, "has given us everything we need for life and
godliness". (2 Peter 1:3)
Humanistic & Transpersonal Psychology
1 of 2
Questions for Christians about Psychology
A State Religion?
The Human Potential Movement
Positive Thinking
Four Ways Christians Are Deceived
Lucifer, the Garden of Eden, & the Tower of Babel
Site Map
