Co-presented with Dr. Karin H.K. Wondracek at Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) International Conference - Indianapolis/IN, April 2011
Goals: introduce you to James Loder, to his generic model of transformative knowing, and to applications of this model in human development and counseling
We believe that Loder is most underappreciated interdisciplinary academic of the Twentieth Century; the “Einstein” of practical theology, whose theoretical project awaits (and merits) discovery and examination by a larger audience. Why he remains undiscovered is a whole other discussion that we don’t have time for today, since we only have 30 minutes and therefore must leave out an examination of Loder’s theoretical upbringing. Suffice to say that primary influences are Soren Kierkegaard, T.F. Torrance, & Michael Polanyi.
Hope to whet your appetite enough today that you’ll want to know more about Loder tomorrow…and we’d be happy to help you explore his thought and its implications further.
An intentionally scientific definition of spirit – yes! The great themes of the 21 st century according to Loder would be “science” and “spirit,” and events thus far have borne out this prediction/prophecy.
“ Strange loop” model of relational epistemology – not enough time to explain it here, but if interested, can recommend sources for more detailed information.
We believe that Loder’s work is a crucial attempt to rescue the word “spirit” from abstract or hyper-spiritualized understandings...”spirit” is an embedded dynamic of human being that involves all aspects of life, including, but not restricted to, religious experiences.
It is at this point that Loder’s model becomes theologically significant. The five-step process can be functional or calculative in nature, in terms of the knowledge it creates; however, when the knowledge in question involves matters of life and death, the nature of knowing becomes existential, and the void and the Holy are dealt with in more ultimate than proximate terms.
Different from linear, bell-curve, progressive models…a conception that is more in line with physical science models of reality.
Dynamics of physics, analagous in psychosocial phenomena.
Not a strictly religious issue, but a transformational issue that may very well involve religion, should be encouraged as patient, client permits
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