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Book Reflects on How Christian
Faith Relates to
Psychological Research
Posted July 22, 2003
HOLLAND -- Dr. Scott VanderStoep of the Hope
College psychology faculty is editor of a book that
considers how Christian belief relates to contemporary
issues in psychological research.
"Science and the Soul: Christian Faith and
Psychological Research" was released in June by the Rowman &
Littlefield Publishing Group of University Press of America
Inc.
The 364-page book, featuring multiple authors, is
designed for educated laity and students of psychology
interested in how Christian beliefs relate to findings in
psychological research. Each chapter covers an important
component of psychological research, followed by at least
one response or critique from another scholar.
The first section of the book addresses major
themes the authors believe Christian psychologists should
address, including understanding human nature; ways of
knowing in psychological science; the place of Christian
faith and scripture in doing psychology; and Christian
ethics and psychological research.
The second part of the book explores specific
research areas in psychological science that are often of
interest to Christians. The topics include: psychological
research methods; cognitive science; behavior genetics;
evolutionary psychology; motivation and social
determination; psychotherapy and Christian counseling;
gender and sexuality; and marriage.
In addition to VanderStoep, the book's
contributors include Dr. Marjorie Lindner Gunnoe of the
psychology faculty at Calvin College in Grand Rapids; Dr.
Clarence W. Joldersma of the Calvin education faculty; Dr.
Heather A. Looy of the psychology faculty at King's
University College in Canada; Dr. Alan C. Tjeltveit of the
psychology faculty at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania;
Dr. Donald H. Wacome of the philosophy faculty at
Northwestern College in Iowa; and Dr. Glenn D. Weaver of the
Calvin psychology faculty.
VanderStoep has been a member of the Hope faculty
since 1999, and is an associate professor of psychology and
director of the college's Carl Frost Center for Social
Science Research. He was also a visiting member of the Hope
faculty from 1992 to 1994.
His publications since joining the faculty also
include the 2002 book "Learning to Learn: The Skill and
Will of College Success," which he co-authored with Dr. Paul
R. Pintrich of the University of Michigan.
From 1996 to 1999, VanderStoep was an assistant
professor of psychology at Calvin College. He was a member
of the psychology faculty at Northwestern College from 1994
to 1996.
He graduated from Hope in 1987 with a major in
psychology. He completed his master's degree in social
psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
in 1989, and his doctorate in psychology and education at
the University of Michigan in 1992.
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