Counseling in Christian Religion

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

Marriage is a foundering institution in the present American society, and the pressures that have eroded its cultural support have had a severely erosive effect upon marital and family life within the Christian community as well. This dissertation looks upon this new situation and its changes as a challenge for Church theologians in The U.S. This study addresses the need for Christian Theology to continue attending to the pressures and problems eroding the institution of Christian marriage and family. This study addresses the need for Christian Theology to continue attending to the pressures and problems eroding the institution of Christian marriage and family. The main conclusive data is the result of a thorough analysis of the material found online. The research involved analyzing the news postings on the web over a phase of years Church care ministry should consider resources that are part of the family's capabilities for confronting the demands that are associated with marriage and family conflict.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background1

Institution of marriage2

Statement of the Problem2

Significance of the study3

Research questions4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Biblical basis of marriage and family5

Counselors6

Counseling9

Christian Counseling10

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY13

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION14

Premarital counseling14

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION19

REFERENCES20

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background

Interest in religion/spirituality and counseling has flourished during the past ten to fifteen years. The increased interest within counseling in religion/spirituality has led to several changes across the landscape of the field of counseling. Scholars have conducted numerous studies focused on religion and/or spirituality. In addition, a search of the PsycInfo database reveals an increase in the past ten years in the number of studies, though not focusing exclusively on religion/spirituality include an investigation of religious/spiritual variables. What once appeared to be ignored or perhaps thought to be unimportant is now rapidly gaining acceptance as a meaningful area of research.

An increase in research is not the only change concerning religion/spirituality that has recently occurred in the field of counseling. Many new professional organizations have emerged. And older organizations have seen a tremendous leap in membership in just the past ten years. As just one example, the American Association of Christian Counselors has had an increase from 2.000 members in 1993 to over 24.000 members in 2000. Both the number of counseling workshops concerning religion/spirituality and the number attending workshops has greatly increased of late. Finally, religious doctoral training programs continue to produce large numbers of religious counselors.

One result of the increased emphasis on religion/spirituality in counseling is that the larger number of religious/spiritual counselors are competing with secular counselors for clients. What has this influx of religious/spiritual counselors into ...