Resolving Anger toward God: Lament as an Avenue toward Attachment

Authors

Kimberly N. Snow
Mark R. McMinn, George Fox UniversityFollow
Rodger K. Bufford, George Fox UniversityFollow
Irv Brendlinger, George Fox UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

Psychologists have mostly overlooked the topic of anger toward God. The current study tested an intervention based on the biblical psalms of lament, a consisting of 20 devotional readings and weekly experiential assignments, delivered electronically over a four-week period. A total of 192 college students at Christian institutions across the United States completed the study, and were randomly assigned to the experimental condition, an attention control condition, or a no-contact condition. The expected findings--that the experimental intervention would cause decreased feelings of anger and complaint toward God, as well as increased intimacy with God over time--were not confirmed. However, those participants who reported maximum compliance with the intervention showed increased ratings on Communion with God. Implications are discussed.

Comments

Originally published in the Journal of Psychology and Theology, 39, 130-142.

http://journals.biola.edu/jpt/volumes/39/issues/2/articles/130

Recommended Citation

Snow, Kimberly N.; McMinn, Mark R.; Bufford, Rodger K.; and Brendlinger, Irv, "Resolving Anger toward God: Lament as an Avenue toward Attachment" (2011). Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program. 205.
https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/gscp_fac/205