A critique of the “theistic psychology” movement as exemplified in Bartz's (2009) “Theistic Existential Psychotherapy”.

Abstract

From the perspectives of existential philosophy, existential psychotherapy, philosophy of science, and theology, we critique Bartz's (2009) “Theistic Existential Psychotherapy” as another example of the argumentation of the “theistic psychology” movement. Twenty-one points highlight troubling inadequacies. Introductory and concluding paragraphs provide the broader context of this movement and focus the chief concern: Amidst current epistemological and philosophy-of-science uncertainty, the concerted effort to validate other-worldly religious beliefs as scientific principles within the empirical field of psychology of religion.