Can Christians Practice Mindfulness Without Compromising Their Convictions?
In the past few decades, the social sciences have generated a great deal of research on the topic of mindfulness, both as a state and as a practice. The mental and physical health benefits of mindfulness practices are profound, and the excitement generated by these findings has created a bonanza of...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2018
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| In: |
Journal of psychology and christianity
Year: 2018, Volume: 37, Issue: 3, Pages: 247-255 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Christianity
/ Watchfulness
/ World view
/ Mysticism
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| IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality |
| Summary: | In the past few decades, the social sciences have generated a great deal of research on the topic of mindfulness, both as a state and as a practice. The mental and physical health benefits of mindfulness practices are profound, and the excitement generated by these findings has created a bonanza of interest within and without the psychological research community. The popular psychology, self-improvement, and corporate development pipelines now brim with mindfulness content. As this focus continues to take center stage in the forums that deal with contemporary wellness strategies, traditional Christians may struggle to accept this healthy modality. One of the primary reasons for this is mindfulness' rooting in Buddhism and other Middle Eastern mystical religious traditions. The other reason has to do with more secularized versions of mindfulness in which the non-judgmental component of mindfulness practice may appear to stand in ideological opposition to the idea of moral standards or absolute truth. As a result, Christians may feel the practice of mindfulness might require them to deviate from or dishonor deeply held mainline Christian convictions. Within this paper, the construct of mindfulness is briefly reviewed along with its health benefits. Thereafter, the seeming disparity between mindfulness and Christianity is discussed, and a potential way to resolve the apparent dissonance is presented. |
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| ISSN: | 0733-4273 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of psychology and christianity
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