Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-298) and index.

A new conversation / Earl D. Bland and Brad D. Strawn -- Tradition-based integration / Ron Wright, Paul Jones, and Brad D. Strawn -- Contemporary Freudian psychoanalysis / Brad D. Strawn -- Ecumenical spirituality, Catholic theology and object relations theory : a threefold cord holding sacred space / Theresa Tisdale -- Self psychology and Christian experience / Earl D. Bland -- Intersubjective systems theory / Mitchell W. Hicks -- Relational psychoanalysis / Lowell W. Hoffman -- Attachment-based psychoanalytic therapy and Christianity : being in relation / Todd W. Hall and Lauren E. Maltby -- Psychoanalytic couples therapy : an introduction and integration / Earl D. Bland -- Brief dynamic psychotherapy / Michael W. Mangis -- Christianity and psychoanalysis : final thoughts / Brad D. Strawn and Earl D. Bland.

Unsurprisingly, given Sigmund Freud's understanding of religion, the conversation between Christianity and psychoanalysis has long been marked by mutual suspicion. Psychoanalysis originated within a naturalist, post-Enlightenment context and sought to understand human functioning and pathology--focusing on phenomena such as the unconscious and object representation--on a strictly empirical basis. Given certain accounts of divine agency and human uniqueness, psychoanalytic work was often seen as competitive with a Christian understanding of the human person. The contributors to Christianity and Psychoanalysis seek to start a new conversation. Aided by the turn to relationality in theology, as well as by a noncompetitive conception of God's transcendence and agency, this book presents a fresh integration of Christian thought and psychoanalytic theory. The immanent processes identified by psychoanalysis need not compete with Christian theology but can instead be the very means by which God is involved in human existence. The Christian study of psychoanalysis can thus serve the flourishing of God's kingdom. --From publisher's description.