Christian counseling

Christian Counseling: Understanding Metaphysical Integration of Brain and Soul

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Atheistic guided neuroscience has proudly proclaimed the death of the soul with advances of understanding how the brain operates and functions.  As DJ Dobbins in his article, “Does the Soul Exist” proclaimed, “There is nothing left for the soul to do (Dobbins, 2013)”.  It would seem with every emotion, abstract thought and “spiritual” function mapped out throughout the brain that the soul itself is an antiquated ideal.

What is the boundary between brain and soul? Is there one? Are they separate, integrated or merely a physical phenomenon.

 

Take into consideration the brain itself.  Within the amygdala, various emotional reactions related to fear and anger are monitored and controlled.  Within the hypothalamus, stress response triggers tied closely to pituitary gland are regulated giving the body its ability of fight or flight.  Within memory itself, the hippocampus creates and stores memory through a flash work of neurons and neurotransmitters creating a pattern of responses that correlate to abstract memory itself.  Upon the cerebral cortex, exist various lobes of the cortex that regulate further emotions, inhibitions, understanding, consciousness, memory and language.   Furthermore, neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine can greatly alter emotional moods based on excess or less amounts. What one is left with is an astounding explanation of many metaphysical attributes once solely thought as free of matter and scientific observation.  The intellect and the will, the hall mark classic identifiers of the soul, are left with material explanations that live and die with the functioning of the brain itself.

In fact, all moral behavior can be explained by brain function.  How can one sin or bear responsibility for damaged frontal lobes, mood disorders, or chemical reactions that affect thought and moral decisions.

Also, consider this.  If part of the brain is damaged, one can lose important information of one’s life.  Amnesia and dementia and physical injuries to the brain can alter identity and self through theft of oneself.  If part of one’s brain is altered, taken, or injured, personality and behavior can be greatly altered.  If the left and right hemisphere of the brain is divided, there can become two autonomous actions independent of each other.  So is the idea of the soul merely a mechanical action that exists and dies with the brain’s activity?

Reactions in defense of the soul

Dualism is the most common reaction to the atheistic neuroscience.  Dualistic ideals teach that the brain and soul operate simultaneously.  Rene’ Descartes believed that both the brain and soul operated in parallel of each other.  He properly dictated that something spiritual cannot be spiritual divided unlike the brain and hence the soul operates at a independent level.   Opponents point out that a dual consciousness can arise when the hemispheres of the brain are split.  What does this say of the soul they contend?

Others point out that the soul communicates through the brain.  The fullness of the soul exists independent of the brain but is manifested in the brain.  Of course, this is theological discourse, not scientific observation.

What type of soul?

When incorporating dualism it is important to understand one’s own definition of the soul.  Ideas of the soul and its connection with the body differ from traditions.  From a philosophical Platonic school of thought, the body is a temporal vessel of the soul.  In Buddhism and Hinduism, the soul travels from different material bodies through reincarnation.  In these religious and philosophical traditions, the importance of the body is regulated to a shell.  Hence once the soul escapes the body, what explains its consciousness if the body was just a shell but yet still produced such spiritual activity within its own very functioning?

The soul and the brain are intimately connected in Christian theology. Human nature is both body and soul

 

It is important in Christian Counseling to understand the human nature.

In Christian theology, the body and soul are inseparable .  Before the fall of Adam, the body and soul communicated perfectly.  Adam’s control of his passions and great intellect all pointed towards a body that worked perfectly with the soul in regards to balance of emotion.  Hence Adam’s brain operated at full capacity without defect.  Adam’s endocrine system did not create chemical imbalances.  His neurotransmitters did not create imbalances of serotonin or dopamine to create mood disorders.  In essence, his body was in complete harmony with his soul.

His soul in fact was never created prior to his body.  Unlike Platonic ideas of the soul,  Christian theology teaches that the soul and the body were made for each other.  Hence the intricacies of the brain operating and the soul operating are in many instances one mind.  The fact that metaphysical realties would manifest within matter are no surprise.  The brain, like an interpreter, is able to process abstract spiritual concepts and physically manifest them.  The partnership of the brain and soul is so intense that it is not truly even dualistic.   They were never intended to be separated.

It was the sin and fall of humanity that caused death.  Death, from a Christian standpoint, is an unnatural event.   It is the tearing of the soul from the body.  It is the cost of sin itself.

With the death of the broken body due to sin and its displaced spiritual component, one pays the price for the sin of Adam.  One’s entire life has been a struggle until that moment of death.  The body does not respond to the intellect and will perfectly, the body breaks down, the soul is open to passionate and uncontrolled inclinations.  Due to this temporal dysfunction within the the fallen world, death arrives.

A purely dualistic system of thought sees the soul as an independent rider of the bike that can be cast off the bike at death to exist independently, but the Christian system views the bike and its rider as one system. While the consciousness absorbed through temporal life exists beyond the death, it is through God that it incompletely still exists  awaiting judgement and the return of the body.   While the temporal connection was broken, one’s human nature was not completely corrupted on earth and still yearns the perfect reunion.  The body and soul were made for each other.

Christ’s Resurrection

Christ is the New Adam and hence it is only fitting through His resurrection, His Body was a glorified Body.  Christ was already perfect, but His Body on earth was still temporal despite the Divinity within Himself that allowed Him to perform miracles.  After His Resurrection, Christ’s Glorified Body was the body that is intended for all humanity.  Like Adam’s pre-fall body,  the soul has complete mastery of the body, but it is also glorified.  From Scripture, Christ can manifest differently with light and make it hard for individuals to know who He is.  Furthermore, He is able to transport from different areas, however, due to the wounds on His Hands, Side and Feet, it is clear it is the same Body that was crucified but transformed.

Christ’s glorified Body on earth showed the return of the body to the soul

 

Humanity will share in Christ’s Resurrection. Through Christ’s death, He conquered sin and through His Resurrection promises a full reunion of body and soul.  The temporary exile of the soul from the body is removed.  The body and soul then are reunited in a perfect way.  It is of no wonder then that the brain and soul are so close to each other.  It is natural that they exist side by side and work together in expressing a full human nature.

The Brain as a Metaphysical Organ and Partner of the Soul

While atheistic neurosciences see the brain as the soul from an only observational and empirical standpoint, they cannot philosophically deny possibility of a spiritual component within human nature.  The brain in itself is a metaphysical organ.  It translates spiritual emotion, thought and memory in a material code through the patterns of firing neurons.  Like the ability of radio waves to interpret human words on the radio, the brain and its certain components have the amazing ability to translate the soul.  The soul receives all information through the senses.  The branch of Epistemology or how humans gain knowledge can be divided into the concept of realism.  Within realism, knowledge is gained by the senses.  This was championed by St. Thomas Aquinas.  Hence the soul gains its primary knowledge from its surrounding areas via the senses.  The brain interprets and aids the soul in this material exploration.  Albeit imperfect in the temporal reality due to sin, the partnership still functions.

The brain hence is immersed within the soul and vice versa.  They were never intended to be separated at creation.   The brain is a partner of the soul and all its manifestations aid the soul in understanding reality.

“Proofs” of the Soul 

While the brain is not the soul itself but a partner intimately interwoven with it, the soul after the Fall, was deemed to be separated from the body.  Death is unnatural but the soul still exists beyond as conscious energy.  The amount of time one is separated from the body is not measured in minutes since time is no longer a player after death.  It could be seen like an instant upon the refusion of the soul and body upon where it will enter into its heavenly reward or hellish curse.  However, due to sin, the unnatural state of death kills the broken body and snatches an incomplete human’s soul into eternity without his/her body.

Yet, the conscious energy of the soul, albeit incomplete still has abilities to exist due to God’s plan to reunite it with the body. How this is accomplished is a matter of faith.  The immortality of the soul is a mystery that science cannot explain.  Yet one can see instances of the soul and its operations beyond its interwoven material expressions within the brain.

In Christianity, the notion of spiritual eyes and spiritual senses is well understood.  For instance, knowledge that is gained not through the physical senses explain a deeper existence beyond broken matter in this world.  While empirical science does not accept these ideals or looks for logical explanations, individuals, saints and mystics have all experienced out of body, mystical, and innate discourses that do not permeate from the senses.   For instance, beyond the natural REM dreaming, one can review prophetic dreams or communications.  In some cases, the senses can be utilized but in most cases, the subconscious void of sense perception is open to Divine or angelic communication.  In addition, many who experience Near Death Experience describe their surroundings in detail without seeing the surroundings with their own physical eyes which were closed and brain activity was comatose.   The spiritual eyes yet were able to see and then later recount the instance utilizing memory of the event from a spiritual source.

Moral Implications of Sin and Choice

It would be criminal not to at least react to atheistic neuroscience’s assault on moral theology.  If the brain and its chemical reactions account for all of reality, then how can one be accountable for sin or wrong?  If moods due to neurotransmitters are altered, or parts of the brain are altered or removed hence affecting behavior, how can the soul be a source of morality?

Of course, as stated, the manifestation of inhibitions, decisions,  and thoughts within the brain are clearly listed.  Morality is a complex system of biology, genetics, social norms and learned behavior.  Certain maladies do play a key role in altering behaviors.

For the Christian, it is understood there is a complex and intimate connection between the soul and body.  It is also understood due to the fall of Adam, there is a conflict between mind and flesh.  Due to sin, sickness and death exist as well.  Hence, in many, anti-social disorders, depression and other mood disorders, certain behaviors can manifest.  In fact, removing certain areas of the brain can have staggering effects on moral behavior.   This though in no way complicates the existence of the soul and its connection to the brain.  Again, Christians maintain a intimate relationship between the body and mind albeit a broken one.  Hence explanations for behavior from a purely neurological point are expected but they are not the sole source.

Christian moral theology takes into account mental maladies that reduce culpabilities of the agent committing the offense but conscience, morality and free choice in most cases still exist.  One is not programmed to sin and do evil.  It is through disease, broken nature, environment, and habitual vice that lead to many neuro factors that contribute to a mentally disturbed person as well.  The sickness of the brain that leads to immoral deeds is a sad story but one due to Original Sin.  It exists and plays a factor because the soul and brain are interwoven but it is not the only aspect of the story that dictates what someone is or not.

Conclusion

It is of no wonder to the Christian who understands the unity of human nature that the brain and soul closely are correlated.  While separate, they are still intimately interwoven so closely that manifestation of the spiritual is possible.  To atheistic neuroscience this may be hard core evidence that the functions of the brain are the soul but to the Christian it only reinforces the idea that the soul and body are meant to be together forever.  Unlike platonic and dualist ideals that view the body as the inferior partner or temporary shell, the Christian understands that only due to sin does this fallen temporal reality exist.  It is because of sin that the body and soul are not in complete unison and that elements of our body affect our soul and elements of our soul affect our body. It is with this understanding that the Christian can marvel how wonderfully created he/she truly is and how while sin scarred it temporarily, it will one day be completely and perfectly restored.  Human nature is both flesh and soul!

The brain and the soul are tied intimately together. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

Christian Counselors need to understand how the brain, its parts, and neurotransmitters play a role in moral action.  It is not a indictment against the existence of the soul but a manifestation of the innate partnership between the brain and soul.  Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

Additional Readings :  Some articles are from an atheistic neuroscience stance and others support Christian belief of the soul. Others are merely educational

“The brain and memory: Understanding how the brain thinks”. NIH. (2022) Access here

“What Part of the Brain Controls Emotions?”. Paxinos, G.  (2018). Healthline.  Access here

“Does the Soul Exist? Evidence Says ‘Yes’”. Lanza, R, MD. (2011). Psychology Today.  Access here

“Why psychology lost its soul: everything comes from the brain”. Paxinos, G. (2016). The Conversation.  Access here

“Neuroscience and the Soul”. Hobson, A, MD. (2004). Dana Foundation.  Access here

 

 

 

 

Christian and Biblical Counseling and Its Proper Use

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian and Biblical Counseling is important to spirituality and development.  Individuals need spiritual guidance and aid throughout their life from a Biblical perspective.  However, spiritual care is not mental care.  Biblical Counseling is for salvation of the soul but it is not a clinical book for mental health.  When these things are confused and interwoven, it becomes a serious problem and misuse of the Word of God.

Furthermore, Christian Counselors who are not Clinical or Licensed Counselors cannot help those suffering from pathology.  They require proper training at the clinical level.  Some clinical and licensed counselors may specialize in Christian Counseling and can treat individuals but they still should know where Scripture starts and ends when treatment is involved for pathology.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.

Christian Counseling Certification Video on Just War Theory

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Just war theory looks at the difference between murder and killing, invasion and defense, and aggression versus protection.  Good nations and good people must stand firm against evil in a fallen world.  It is hence sometimes the duty of the just to defend the weak against the evil of aggression.

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling.

 

 

Please review the video below on Just War Theory

Christian Counseling Certification Blog on Just War and Putin’s Failure to Adhere

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The recent war in Ukraine is an atrocity that screams to heaven for justice.  Vladimir Putin has disregarded all norms of civilized war and like the “Hitlers” before him has become an international war criminal hiding behind a large nation and army.  His war in Ukraine not only fails the standards of justification according to civilized nations and secular society but completely fails all standards of Christian conduct.

This is amazing since many right extremist Christians once hailed him as a good Christian man.  His own puppet regime church in Moscow quietly ignores his atrocities as he unfolds an unjust war in Ukraine and the true un-Christian mask is removed from the face of this dictator. Putin has no care for just war or anything remotely Christian and his behavior in past wars such as in Syria, Georgia, Chechenia and other regions also show the atrocities towards civilians and un-needed death that follows his immoral orders.

The just man and woman though ask questions how a Christian may take up arms against such monsters.  In WW2, millions took up arms against Hitler and were forced into bloody conflict.  Hence how does one retain Christian teaching of “Thou Shall not Murder” in response to unjust aggression.  It seems almost comical to call upon violence to stop violence within Christian teaching.  It seems contradictory but due to the fallen world we live in, we do not have the luxury of living in a white and black world and unfortunately, sometimes, force is needed to stop a greater evil.   This blog will review Aquinas’ theory on just war and also look to understand what it means to be a Christian during war.

What makes a war just? Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification

 

Self defense is a key concept.  One is always entitled to defend oneself within appropriate response as the matter dictates.  If one tries to assault another, oneself is entitled to resist and fight back, even if injury is incurred upon the aggressor.  The intent was never to hurt another person but to protect oneself.  The secondary result in defending oneself is the injury to the aggressor.  This falls within a remote and often unheard moral concept known as the Double Effect.  An action with good intention produces two ends, one good and one not good.  The good result is willed while the not good result is a byproduct.  Hence in self defense, one’s primary vocation to life which is self-preservation is undertaken.  In this endeavor, one seeks to preserve one’s life through appropriate force against an aggressor which results in one’s preservation but also the byproduct of injury to the other.

One often can become confused since Christianity if improperly interpreted produces a pacifism in all cases.   Christ did say to turn the other cheek and warned those who take up the sword will die by the sword.  Do these words contradict self defense and defense of the weak?  Christ never came as a political savior to the Jews despite the horrific treatment they received from the Romans.  Christ was a spiritual redeemer and presented no political doctrine.  What he intended to teach was how we deal with people in our daily life.  We are to accept wrong doing patiently from our neighbor.  We are to turn the other cheek rather than seek revenge.   We are not to take up the sword in revenge or fight with others over trivial things.

Christ, never presented self defense of Himself, in His holy passion.  He accepted the brunt of sin as the sacrificial victim.  It was His vocation.

This does not apply to closing one’s eye to cruelty in this world against the weak or self defense of ourselves.  As long as the intent is just and the force appropriate, then it is justified to help others with the use of force.  Sometimes helping one’s neighbor requires a rise of force.  Is this not true of the great Archangel Michael and his holy war against Lucifer?

Hence, the 5th Commandment rightly states, “Thou shalt not murder”, not kill.  The intent to kill is never primary but always secondary.  The intent is to defend oneself or others against great evil that causes greater harm if one would not act.

In case of WW2, we clearly see the allies response to Hitler as a just cause but lets review the criteria of just war from the Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas and apply it to both WW2 and war against Putin.

St Thomas Aquinas outlined the measures to justify force against an aggressor within Christian morality. Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program

 

  1. Aquinas points out that all violence against evil must be a last resort.  Diplomacy must be exhausted.  Other venues to avoid bloodshed must be examined before a defense is established.
  2. Aquinas dictates that the war must be pursued by legitimate authority against the opposing force.
  3. Aquinas requires the war to be a just cause.  Hence defense of oneself or others is a prerequisite for any violence
  4. Aquinas considers probability of success as also a notion, unless of course the war is for one’s very survival itself such as the case of Ukraine.
  5. Aquinas lists right intention as a key as well.  The intention is to restore peace and repel the aggressor.  Revenge is not sought but only justice
  6. Aquinas elaborates that proportionality be equal to the aggression.   Hence justice demands only the required violence to end the conflict and not punish beyond the initial offense of the aggressor.  This also mirrors modern laws which outlaw certain weapons.  This also includes mercy to surrendering combatants.
  7. Aquinas finally demands that the war and violence only be directed at military operations and not against civilians.  This mirrors modern day war which considers attacks on civilians to war crimes.

Like Hitler, Putin fails on every criteria.

Hence the WW2and today’s war against Putin is justified.  Christians must pray for an end of war, forgive their enemies, and promote peace, but if war is needed, good individuals must arise.  The quote attributed to Edmond Burke but truly stated from John Stuart Mill proclaims, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.   That is the rally cry to end pain and suffering when evil arises with the appropriate force of good Christian men and women to take up arms when history calls.

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Christian Counseling

 

Source

Wikiepedia: “Just War Theory”

Christian Counseling Certification Article on Exorcism

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

One of the most frightful aspects of Christianity is exorcisms.  Exorcisms though have a deep rooted history in Christianity dating back to Christ.  Christ himself cast demons out and taught the apostles how to.  Today, the practice continues in the Church, but most especially within the Catholic Church.

Demons play a dangerous role in our spirituality. Exorcisms cast them from our body. Please review our Christian Counseling Certification
Demons play a dangerous role in our spirituality. Exorcisms cast them from our body. Please review our Christian Counseling Certification

The article, “Exorcisms have been part of Christianity for centuries” takes a closer look at exorcisms and their history in the church.  The article states,

“The Exorcist,” a horror film released 45 years ago, is a terrifying depiction of supernatural evil. The film tells the story of a young American girl who is possessed by a demon and eventually exorcised by a Catholic priest.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review the Christian Counseling Certification program from AIHCP and see if it matches your academic goals

 

 

Christian Counseling Training Article on Becoming Closer to Christ

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

As Christians, we are always looking for ways to develop a closer relationship with Christ.  Many turn to many devotions, such as the Sacred Heart, others find recourse to the Eucharist.   Some delve deeply into scripture and meditate upon the life of Christ and his message.   In order to grow, we must all have a closer and more personal relationship with Christ.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please also review our Christian Counseling Training
The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Please also review our Christian Counseling Training

The article, “21 Ways to Revive Your Relationship With Christ” lists a variety of ways we can remember Christ and become closer.  The article states,

“Even the most dedicated Christian may sometimes struggle with their relationship with God. They love Christ and want to be close to Him, but for whatever reason, they have begun to drift away from Jesus. It may have been the result of a tragedy or simply from allowing spiritual growth to take the backseat while they focus on more immediate seeming concerns. Once your spiritual growth stagnates, however, it can be difficult to find your way back to Christ.”

To read the entire article, please click here

By becoming closer to Christ, we can become better Christians and bring Christ to the world.   Christ is our Redeemer and as our Redeemer, we need to find faith in Him, and what better way to strengthen faith than to become closer.    Please also review our Christian Counseling Training.

Christian Counseling Article on Raising Teens

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

The teenage years and later adolescent years can be filled with turmoil for the teen.  Physical changes, social dealings, and trying to find identity can create havoc in study, home life and moral values.   In adhering to these moral values, teens can struggle if not properly supervised or cared for by a loving parent.  It is essential to encourage values and practices to keep the teen on track.

Raising teens with good Christian morals is a vocation. Please also review our Christian Counseling
Raising teens with good Christian morals is a vocation. Please also review our Christian Counseling

The four moral virtues, which when applied to teenage life can be very beneficial.  If they do not always manifest, as long as the seed exists, their advancement no matter how dormant they may seem may reemerge in early adulthood.   The reason being is that many of the norms of teenage behavior due to hormones and development prevent their manifestation.

For instance, the virtue of prudence is associated with wisdom.   Wisdom is not for the young, but we hope at least, our teens are able to form logical and good moral decisions against the most blatant of wrongs.   We hope they will utilize prudence in not drinking and driving, or not taking drugs, or not being involved in various serious illegal activities.   It is difficult to expect a teen to show prudence in all decision making, but as chemicals in the brain stabilize and the mind develops, clear thinking with prudence can develop later if it is already there.

In the case of justice, teens can sometimes have a distorted view of right and wrong.   They may not have the ability to understand all the angles of what one should or should not do in their relations with others, but if parents can at least instill the basics of the Ten Commandments as a paradigm, then a good foundation can prevent disaster.

Fortitude is an important moral virtue as well, but many teens fall to depression, or give up so very easily.  Teens need praise and self esteem boosting.   They need to be told they are can succeed and when things go wrong, to properly adjust and persevere.  The virtue of fortitude helps someone deal with spiritual, mental and physical problems.

Finally, the virtue of temperance is definitely a struggle for teens who are experiencing urges and pressures to experiment and push the limits in many ways.  Drinking and sex are all temptations that overwhelm a teen.  Temperance is put to the ultimate challenge with these urges both internal and external.   Unfortunately, through consistent bad habit, the virtue of temperance can be extinguished in a young soul if not protected.   Satan understands how he can influence the youth during this difficult phase and corrupt their innocence.

So the moral virtues are extremely important at any phase in our life, but especially important in the teen years.  While hampered due to the phase of life, teens with parental guidance can overcome many of the temptations associated with this age.

We pray our teens will have virtue in their life to know the differences between right and wrong
We pray our teens will have virtue in their life to know the differences between right and wrong

Parents need to though understand that mistakes can occur.  It is up to parents to properly manage their teens during this period and understand the conflict.   Culpability for the moral offenses can even be less before the eyes of God, but although teens are experiencing these new feelings, it is important to still hold accountability.  As parents, we stand before God for what our children become and it is important to help our children weather the storm of the teen years with proper guidance, restrictions and consequences.

A good moral life can be developed despite the storm of adolescence, but parents need to be willing to take the time and effort to water the seeds of virtue that were planted at Baptism and childhood.   The world and Satan will take your child if you let it, but it is ultimately up to you to say “NO”

If you would like to learn more about Christian Counseling, then please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional needs.

Christian Ecumenism or Indifferentism?

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and Ecumenism:  What Type of Dialogue

Christian Counseling and Christian Dialogue with the world involves a sharing of ideas and values, it does not mean denying core beliefs of Christ or trading them for other ideals.  In essence, many mistake Christian ecumenism as indifferentism.  People interpret that since Christians are open to dialogue, then they are willing to compromise or water down.   When people discover that this dialogue is not about compromise but sharing the truth, then Christians are accused of evangelization under the guise of ecumenism.
The problem lies in what Christian Ecumenism really is.  It is a dialogue with the world, but it is not a compromise of truth.  It also is not direct evangelization but a more passive form.  A form where the Christian does not come as a missionary but a brother.  The dialogue seeks to find common cultural and religious ideals that can begin a relationship of understanding that seeks unity instead of division.  Christian Ecumenism looks to unite all of God’s creatures and hopes to expose the truth of Christ to other brothers and sisters as equal partners in God’s world.
So many past images have existed where missionaries treated the indigenous people as savages.  While both sides have their stories from history, Christian Ecumenism looks to other people as enlightened and equal in human dignity.  While Christian Ecumenism can never lower Christ to Buddha or Mohammad, we can find value in some of the moral teachings in our open dialogue in understanding other people.
Christians involved in ecumenism do not seek to convert via debate but via example.  The open dialogue allows Christians an opportunity to share the gospel in an non-evasive way via example.  Through interaction, the ideal is not to weaken one’s faith but to understand others and to show others the value of Christ through action.
If you are interested in counseling for Christians and learning more about our program, then please review the site.

Mark Moran, MA

Keeping Our Conscience Sharp

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Christian Counseling and a Certain and Right Conscience

Christian Counselors need to constantly remind people of sharpening their conscience.  Our consciences can become weak overtime when we are overexposed to secular life and immoral conversation, pictures and friends.

Keeping a strong conscience requires examination and prayer
Keeping a strong conscience requires examination and prayer

With this in mind, it is extremely important to watch our company and to constantly train ourselves to feel the slightly prick from the slightest sin.  By examination of conscience each night, we can review our daily activity and acknowledge if our actions conformed with Christ.  We should not fall into the despair of scruples, but maintain a healthy reaction to each failure.  In our failures is our human nature and Christ does not wish to haunt us with them but merely to acknowledge them and have a firm purpose of amendment.

It is truly amazing when one begins to realize the “pleasures” of past that are truly seen in their true light.  The will pursues these illusionary goods, as Eve purused the forbidden fruit.  With a sharper conscience, we are more attuned with the Holy Spirit and his grace.  We are able to detect the dirt of sin and the littlest stain on our soul upsets us.  This is the type of certain and rightly formed conscience we need.

If you are interested in learning more about Christian Counseling Courses, then please click here.

Mark Moran, MA

Ignatian Meditation

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Ignatian Meditation

St. Ignatius Loyola presented a disciplined version of meditation that while disciplined also gave freedom to the soul to explore numerous images of contemplation about Christ and sin.  As founder of the Jesuits, he incorporated a military type religious movement that not only characterized his order but also his meditation techniques.  This disciplined form of meditation is key in helping the soul overcome the weakness of one’s fallen nature and creating a soul better equipped to reform and avoid sin.  Christian Counselors as well as merely spiritual counselors can all find value in the writings of St. Ignatius and his spiritual exercises in regards to meditation.

One of the primary themes found in meditation by St. Ignatius is his great emphasis on sin and repentance.  Many of the contemplations deal directly with the soul’s sins and how horrible sin is to the life of the soul.  Hence many reflections revolve around the passion of Christ, Hell, and how sin has corrupted the human race.  It is St. Ignatius’ goal to inspire within the soul a complete aversion of sin via perfect contrition that burns for the love of Christ.
This Christocentric form of meditation is obviously best suited for Christian Counseling but the rich spiritual nature of the meditations and exercises can also be applied to general spiritual counseling because it focuses on discernment and vocational choices as well.  While Christocentric, the primary goal is help the soul escape sin and rid itself of earthly attachments.  This is the key for most meditative processes.

By Mark Moran, MA, GC-C, SCC-C