Noetic Hamartiology: a Theological, Canonical and Historical Vision of the Causes, Mechanisms, and Artifacts of Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Pathology

The purpose of this monograph is to demonstrate that good theology makes a rich, multi textured and authoritative contribution to a fuller understanding of the intricacies and complexities of a disordered existence, and the origins, experiences and cures of madness. I will argue that the Bible speaks intelligently, practically and candidly about the inner life, how it goes wrong and what can be done to restore it. It communicates a hopeful, fresh, and compelling outlook about man's potential for radical positive transformation (metanoia) and psychological growth despite his long-standing penchant for toxic living and unhealthy responding. In this disquisition the commonly held view that affective and behavioral disturbances are primarily contingent on genetic, chemical or biological substrates will be reviewed and critiqued. It will be demonstrated that no psychiatric disorder has an authentically provable medical etiology.