Law and grace in Saint Augustine: a fresh perspective on mindfulness and spirituality in behaviour therapy

Authors: Vandenberghe, L.¹; Costa Prado, F.²

Source: Mental Health, Religion & Culture, Volume 12, Number 6, September 2009 , pp. 587-600(14)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

The secular, acceptance-based philosophy of third wave behaviour therapy has easily absorbed the notion of mindfulness that originated in Eastern spirituality, entailing a secularised approach to transcendence. The present article seeks to connect mindfulness with existing efforts to integrate the Western client's spirituality into psychotherapy. For that purpose, we show how Christian grace theology and mindfulness theory overlap in the way they construe transcendence and self. Both approaches enhance openness to experience and deemphasise verbal control as a tool for personal progress. It is argued that awareness of this overlap can make it easier for the therapist to understand and appreciate the client's religious perspective. It can also help turn a client's spirituality into a relevant personal strength for therapy. Finally, explaining the overlap can enhance the credibility of mindfulness interventions with traditional Christian clients and make these interventions relevant to their spiritual concerns.

Keywords: behaviour therapy; spirituality; self; mindfulness

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13674670902911872

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Universidade Catolica de Goias, Goiania, Brazil 2: Private scholar, Atlanta, GA, USA

Publication date: 2009-09-01

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