Caring for Souls: Counseling Under the Authority of Scripture

by Harry Shields, Gary J. Bredfeldt, Gary Bredfeldt

Book Overview

Caring for Souls is a helpful primer on the intersection of psychology and Scripture.

How psychology fits into Christianity is a thorny and often confusing subject for many. There is a great deal of disagreement about the integration of the two, even among experts.

In Caring for Souls, Gary Bredfeldt and Harry Shields address the intersection of Scripture and psychology in Christian counseling. The authors address...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802437419
• ISBN13: 9780802437419
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Length: 568 Pages
• Weight: 1.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Very Good

The book is very good, informative, and not to hard to read and understand. The book was shipped in a timely manner, and arrived in great condition.

Great tool for overview and introduction

Shields and Bredfeldt give a thorough review of secular psychology theories as well as the different approaches to biblical counseling. It is written from a biblical worldview and a useful tool for those in the ministry.

A Balanced, Broad Introduction

In "Caring for Souls," co-authors Gary Bredfeldt and Harry Shields offer an introduction to soul care and spiritual friendship. In Part I, Bredfeldt highlights a theology of soul care beginning with an examination of biblical authority and sufficiency, beginning with a historical overview of positions taken. He continues with a study of the continuum of approaches regarding integration versus non-integration. In his next two chapters, Bredfeldt examines a biblical anthropology (a biblical psychology of the nature of human nature). Like the first chapter, the materials compare and contrast views along a wide spectrum. Chapters four through eight explore Bredfeldt's analysis of five psychological models, evaluated from his Christian counseling grid. This serves as an interesting introduction to one Christian appraisal of secular theory. In Part II, Shields shares his methodology of spiritual counsel. His opening two chapters provide a broad intervention model. His model, however, does not seem to directly relate to the theological model presented in Part I. It appears to follow general counseling intervention practices without building upon a biblical intervention approach. He then offers five chapters on how to intervene in specific situations (hopelessness, fear, anger, guilt, and marital conflict). Overall, "Caring for Souls" can provide a fine college-level introduction to one model of Christian counseling theory and practice. Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction," "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."