American Protestantism in the Age of Psychology

Transcription

1 American Protestantism in the Age of Psychology Many have worried that psychology has corrupted American faith, eroded citizens virtue, and weakened community life. But the social history of three major psychospiritual movements since World War II Alcoholics Anonymous, The Salvation Army s outreach to homeless men, and the clinical pastoral education movement finds the opposite. These groups innovated a practical religious psychology that nurtured participants faith, fellowship, and responsibility. They achieved this by expanding the definition of what constituted therapy to include religious traditions and spiritual activities. They turned to clergy and lay believers to deliver therapy. These efforts enhanced the three movements success in reaching out to people who were socially alienated and religiously disenchanted. By fostering community and responsibility among some of America s most disaffected citizens, psychologically infused religious programming helped foster the kind of society our liberal democracy requires. Dr. is an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. She holds a PhD in American History from the University of Virginia and was previously a Fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. in this web service

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3 American Protestantism in the Age of Psychology STEPHANIE MURAVCHIK Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture University of Virginia in this web service

4 cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Tokyo, Mexico City 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, ny , usa Information on this title: / C 2011 This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of. First published 2011 Printed in the United States of America A catalog record for this publication is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data Muravchik, Stephanie, 1970 American Protestantism in the age of psychology /. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn (hardback) 1. Pastoral psychology United States History. 2. Protestant churches United States History. 3. Clinical pastoral education (Movement) History. 4. Alcoholics Anonymous History. 5. Church work with men Salvation Army History. I. Title. bv4012.m dc isbn Hardback has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. in this web service

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7 Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations page ix xi 1 The Fall and Rise of Psychoreligious Cooperation 1 part one. therapy as ministry in clinical pastoral education 2 The Priest Must Drink at the Scientific Well 28 3 Being the Love of God 60 part two. therapy as fellowship in alcoholics anonymous 4 Democracy Is a Therapy 83 5 Came to Believe 112 part three. therapy as evangelism in the salvation army 6 Freud Is Not a Suitable Psychologist New Creatures in Christ Conclusion: American Psychology in an Age of Faiths 215 Bibliography 223 Index 239 vii in this web service

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9 Acknowledgments Many people made it possible for me to complete this book. My biggest intellectual and professional debts are to Brian Balogh, who offered an excellent education in how to study and teach American history. But, as all Brian s students know, his most important lesson is the example he sets of truly extraordinary generosity, honesty, and creativity as a scholar and a citizen. I also want to thank Grace Elizabeth Hale, who made time repeatedly over the years to assist me professionally and to clarify my ideas about this study. James Davidson Hunter supported this project and created the perfect setting for interdisciplinary research in religious history at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Gary Laderman graciously agreed to help mentor me on this project, and he even traveled from Atlanta to do so! Edward H. McKinley and Rodney J. Hunter both offered guidance on sources and interpretation. I am grateful to Cita Cook, Joseph Davis, Ellen Herman, Sarah Igo, Robert Kugelmann, Christopher Loss, Catherine Gavin Loss, Heather Anne Warren, and my two anonymous manuscript reviewers. I deeply appreciate the patience and support of my editor at, Eric Crahan. It was a pleasure to work with James Dunn, Senior Production and Design Controller at, and Shana Meyer, Senior Project Manager at Aptara, Inc. I was very fortunate to have been a graduate fellow at the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. Its unique American Political Development fellowship program provided me financial support and invaluable academic opportunities. My research also benefited from fellowships from the Corcoran Department of History and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. ix in this web service

10 x Acknowledgments Like every historian, I depended on the assistance of knowledgeable archivists and librarians throughout this project. The Salvation Army was not only very hospitable to researchers, but it even fed me lunch every day I worked in its archives! Its head archivist Susan Mitchem and assistant archivist Scott Day were friendly and helpful. At Emory University s Pitts Theology Library, I relied on Joan Clemons and her assistant archivist Anne Graham. The library s director M. Patrick Graham offered me coffee and useful suggestions. At the General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous, I was ably assisted by Judit Santon and Erin Lange. Writing this book, especially while having primary responsibility for three small boys, made me heavily dependent on family. My parents supported this project in every way possible from the very beginning to the very end. This book would simply not exist without the help they provided, and I dedicate it to them. My husband has been not only an exhilarating interlocutor on the themes of this study during the ten years I worked on it, but he also made its completion possible in the roles of patron, cheerleader, and babysitter. My mother-in-law has supported and encouraged this work in ways both moral and practical, including countless hours of loving childcare. I also want to thank my sister Madeline, aunt extraordinaire, and Garrett Brown for their critical and gracious assistance at key moments. in this web service

11 Abbreviations Clinical Pastoral Education ACPE CCT CCTTS CPE DPCC JPC Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Council for Clinical Training Council for the Clinical Training of Theology Students clinical pastoral education Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling Journal of Pastoral Care Alcoholics Anonymous AA Alcoholics Anonymous AV Alcoholics Victorious GSO General Service Office GSOA General Service Office Archives, New York City JSA Journal of Studies on Alcohol 12 & 12 Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (1952) The Salvation Army ARC CO MSSC MSSD SFOT SAA Adult Rehabilitation Center commanding officer men s social service center men s social service department School for Officer Training Salvation Army Archives, Alexandria, Virginia xi in this web service