A clínica pastoral dos psicólogos cristãos no Brasil.

Abstract

In this dissertation we inquire about the characteristics, conditions, variants and current expansion of the field of "Christian Psychology" in Brazil. Through the analysis of publications, public documentary sources and interviews, we describe the heterogeneous identity of Christian psychologists, their main agents of articulation and propagation throughout the country. Within this universe, we place special emphasis on the Corpo dos Psicólogos e Psiquiatras Cristãos (CPPC) the main organization of this segment in Brazil. In order to discuss the Christian psychology approach, we explore the notion of "pastoral clinic" evoked in this context. This construct transcends the therapeutic setting, to operate an articulation between Psychological clinic and Protestant preaching. Finally, we explore the conflictive relationship between Christian psychologists and their local Psychology Councils, generated by controversial stands regarding homosexuality notoriously taken by Marisa Lobo and Rozangela Justino. In these controversies, we analyze, on the one hand, the public stand taken by certain Christian psychologists who, from a deistic perspective, subordinate scientific knowledge to religious dogma; and, on the other hand, the official position of Psychology Councils, in line with a secular Human Rights, and sexual diversity perspective. Despite the public impact of this dispute where, as the identity of Christian psychologists admits a variety of modulations , we highlight disagreements about the homossexual issue within this universe.